Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jnr should bow out now -- Liverpool Echo

By Nick Peet, Liverpool Echo

WHILE David Haye was single-handedly changing the face of boxing in Manchester on Saturday night, across the pond fight fans could only glance in envy from ringside in Las Vegas as two dinosaurs of the ring fouled their way through 12 disastrous rounds.

Bernard Hopkins’ win over Roy Jones Jnr would have been the biggest fight of this era had it happened 10 years ago, but 17 years late it was an absolute stinker.

Filled with low blows, rabbit punches and butts and elbows, the slug-fest was a major turn-off in the States and all but ended both of their drawn out careers – finally!

Undoubtedly two of the greatest champions of the last 20 years sure, but it’s high time both of them walked away with what’s left of their dignity and credibility.

Not surprisingly Haye quashed any talk of a scrap with old man Hopkins, who must be 60 if he’s a day, while Jones has only himself to blame for destroying his legacy – he’s gone from Superman to journeyman in one long sweeping uppercut.

Thankfully, credibility will be restored to the US scene at the end of the month when another ageing former champion steps back into the ring for one last crack at top.

Sugar Shane Mosley may be in the twilight of his career, like the two previous practitioners, but he’s at least enjoying an Indian summer right now with some big wins in the tank and he’ll be a game match for Floyd Mayweather in three weeks.

Mayweather, of course, is marking time before reconvening for talks ahead of his mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao which, hopefully, will finally come off later this year.

But make no mistake Mosley is nobody’s fool and certainly won’t be training to get paid.

The former lightweight great has got a similar free-spirited style to Floyd and, while he may not be as sharp as he used to be, he’s got good power in either fist and seems to be something of a party spoiler these days, having won seven of his last eight against world class opposition.

Whether that will be enough to see him become the first man in 41 tries to defeat ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd is yet to be seen. But, with a ringside ticket in hand, I can’t wait to find out.

Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk