In what surely should be the final fight of his legendary career, former pound-for-pound champion and future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. was knocked out cold in the final second of his clash with cruiserweight Denis Lebedev moments ago in Moscow, Russia. His reflexes slowed and his legs not even close to what they once were, Jones had the look of a badly faded former all-time great being battered from pillar to post in their final fight.
The majority of the fight saw Jones on the retreat, appearing unwilling to engage against an opponent who wasn't even really turning up the heat. Lebedev, at times, looked as though he was simply carrying Jones as he would back him up to the ropes with ease, land a combination of punches and then let him off the hook. Meanwhile, Jones looked content to simply potshot on the retreat for the first minute of every round, looking gassed and fatigued in the second half of rounds while he covered up against the ropes.
By the middle rounds, Lebedev began to press the action behind a stiff jab that punctuated the night. There were times when Jones would show a very rare glimpse of his former greatness, performing some of his trademark moves while he taunted. While the crowd cheer for Jones on occassion when he was able to land, as he slow and old as he looked, it was a sad reminder of how far he's fallen from the fighter he once was.
A right to the body badly hurt Jones in the 8th round, staggering him backwards to the ropes, but again, Lebedev was unable, or perhaps unwilling, to capitalize on finishing the fight. Whe the final round began, it was clear that Jones was hoping to just survive as he spent the majority of the round trying to stay away from Lebedev. Jones would have one final moment in his career, landing a right hand that caught Lebedev off balance and causing him to the stubmle, but unfortunately, that moment was quickly overshadowed by what happened next. Backing Jones up to the ropes, Lebedev unleashed a blistering right hand followed by two uppercuts and a left hook that literally knocked Jones out on his feet. When referee Steve Smoger hesitated to jump in and stop the punishment, Lebedev followed that damage up with a crushing right hook that landed flush, sending the once great legend face-first to the canvas.
It was a truly sad sight to see Roy Jones Jr. in the ring today. The old tricks that once worked in combination with his speed and reflexes looked more like a slow-motion instant replay of some of the highlights from his career. "I had a great time, I enjoyed Russia. I don't give up easy. I still may come back," Roy would say to the fans in attendance during the immediate post-fight interview. For his sake, let's all hope and pray that he does give up easy and he doesn't come back, because after seeing that performance, Roy Jones Jr. should not be fighting anymore.