Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr will be fighting more than just each other on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
They'll also be fighting perceptions that both are far past their prime.
Jones, considered the best kilo-for-kilo boxer for the better part of a decade, turned 39 this week. He showed up to a news conference on Tuesday with a beard that made him appear much older, though he promised to shave it off when he makes weight of 77kg.
PHOTO: AFP
He's fought just twice since losing a unanimous decision to Antonio Tarver in 2005, both lackluster decisions against lesser opponents. For Jones (51-4, 38 knockouts), this 12-round bout represents one last step before a potential super-middleweight title bout -- a road block to a ninth world title.
"A lot of them think I ain't got it anymore," Jones said, stealing glances at a flat-screen TV with footage of his past performances, including him becoming the first former middleweight champ to claim a heavyweight title in more than 100 years. "This is a chance to show them I still got it."
Trinidad, meanwhile, was lured out of retirement after promoter Don King flew to his native Puerto Rico and promised him a bout with Jones. The five-time world champion has fought just twice since 2002, beating Ricardo Mayorga before sustaining a punishing 12-round loss to Ronald "Winky" Wright in May 2005.
Backed by an entourage 21 strong, Trinidad (42-2, 35 knockouts) defiantly said that nothing would slow him down -- not the long layoff, fighting at a weight 4.5kg heavier than ever before, or the high expectations that the large Puerto Rican fan base in New York City almost certainly will heap upon his shoulders.
"I'm feeling very good with a lot of passion," Trinidad said through a translator. "I trained and worked very hard to win, and this weekend we're really going to celebrate."
If nothing else, the two fighters are taking it seriously.
Trinidad has been training for the past six months in Puerto Rico, slowly putting weight on his slender frame while trying to retain the quick, heavy hands that have yielded a stunning 80-percent career knockout rate.
His father and trainer, Papa Trinidad, said Tito is in "one of the best conditions of his life."
Then, turning to Jones and cranking his voice up a notch, the father added: "You are going to fight against the best Tito Trinidad that anybody has ever fought against."
Jones, in a departure from his norm, left his home in Florida for a small, secluded training camp in the northeastern US with longtime trainer Alton Merkerson. Slowly he chiseled a his body down to fighting weight, and bared a ripped midriff on Tuesday.
"Unfortunately the only person I'm going to be facing is Tito. I really hate it I can't beat the dad, too," Jones said, smiling broadly to jeers from the opposing camp. "I can't even begin to tell ya'all how raw I'm going to be on Saturday night."
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