book opens on jones/ajamu

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 28 May 2006, 18:25

With stan james. Ajamu at 7/2.

I'll be bumping this thread a day or so before Jones loses his millionth in a row. I think other bookies will be able to do better though.

COMMENCE MONETARY WINNAGE

states · Post by **states** » 28 May 2006, 19:43

Now, I can't confess to ever seeing the Prince in action, and I'm loath to bet on a fighter I know nothing about. But given that Roy looks to be in terminal decline, that looks a value bet.

Anyone know anything about Ajamu? Has Jones gone so far that he can't hope to compete even at a level so far below his once great best?

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 28 May 2006, 22:22

Ajamu is terrible. Jones is past it but he probably has enough to beat this stiff, which is exactly why Team Jones have made the fight.

Ajamu isnt even in the top 30 at 175.

Zhuge · Post by **Zhuge** » 29 May 2006, 00:16

Ajamu is not terrible.

I've seen 6 or 7 of his fights, and while he's not great, he's also not garbage. His only losses are to Rico Hoye (and he had Hoye out of it, but took his foot off the pedal and let Rico get back into the fight) and Otis Grant (and reports indicate that's a dubious decision, but I did not see this fight and can't honestly say).

He doesn't have many KO's on his record, but he's shown that he can hold his power late. He was being thoroughly outboxed by Freddy Moore (a decent fighter at 175) not long ago and managed to rally back and stop Moore with less than a minute left in the fight. He also holds late stoppage wins against Galen Brown and Olando Rivera (both B- level fighters).

The draw on his record was against Anthony Bonsante of the Contendor several years back when he was still a novice fighter (although, I think Teddy Atlas scored the fight for Bonsante).

He has the power to stop Jones, but he's not truly a knockout artist. I suspect Jones will outbox him for most of the fight, but Ajamu will have a chance to hurt him. I should also mention he's shown that he can finish well when he gets a guy hurt. He's being trained currently by Buddy McGirt, who seems to know a decent formula for beating Roy.

Much will depend on how scared Roy is of getting hit. If he's only afraid of Tarver, he will likely win -- but if he's scared in general, Ajamu could pull off the upset. Roy should be the favorite, but it's not a walkover fight for him.

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 29 May 2006, 02:31

Zhuge wrote:Ajamu is not terrible.

I've seen 6 or 7 of his fights, and while he's not great, he's also not garbage. His only losses are to Rico Hoye (and he had Hoye out of it, but took his foot off the pedal and let Rico get back into the fight) and Otis Grant (and reports indicate that's a dubious decision, but I did not see this fight and can't honestly say).

He doesn't have many KO's on his record, but he's shown that he can hold his power late. He was being thoroughly outboxed by Freddy Moore (a decent fighter at 175) not long ago and managed to rally back and stop Moore with less than a minute left in the fight. He also holds late stoppage wins against Galen Brown and Olando Rivera (both B- level fighters).

The draw on his record was against Anthony Bonsante of the Contendor several years back when he was still a novice fighter (although, I think Teddy Atlas scored the fight for Bonsante).

He has the power to stop Jones, but he's not truly a knockout artist. I suspect Jones will outbox him for most of the fight, but Ajamu will have a chance to hurt him. I should also mention he's shown that he can finish well when he gets a guy hurt. He's being trained currently by Buddy McGirt, who seems to know a decent formula for beating Roy.

Much will depend on how scared Roy is of getting hit. If he's only afraid of Tarver, he will likely win -- but if he's scared in general, Ajamu could pull off the upset. Roy should be the favorite, but it's not a walkover fight for him.

Ajamu has virtually nothing on his resume. Moore was far, far past his best, and everything else is not worth mentioning. And for a 175er to get a draw against Bonsante...

Jones is just trying to get win #50, thats all this fight is.

Zhuge · Post by **Zhuge** » 29 May 2006, 10:09

Axe wrote:
Zhuge wrote:Ajamu is not terrible.

I've seen 6 or 7 of his fights, and while he's not great, he's also not garbage. His only losses are to Rico Hoye (and he had Hoye out of it, but took his foot off the pedal and let Rico get back into the fight) and Otis Grant (and reports indicate that's a dubious decision, but I did not see this fight and can't honestly say).

He doesn't have many KO's on his record, but he's shown that he can hold his power late. He was being thoroughly outboxed by Freddy Moore (a decent fighter at 175) not long ago and managed to rally back and stop Moore with less than a minute left in the fight. He also holds late stoppage wins against Galen Brown and Olando Rivera (both B- level fighters).

The draw on his record was against Anthony Bonsante of the Contendor several years back when he was still a novice fighter (although, I think Teddy Atlas scored the fight for Bonsante).

He has the power to stop Jones, but he's not truly a knockout artist. I suspect Jones will outbox him for most of the fight, but Ajamu will have a chance to hurt him. I should also mention he's shown that he can finish well when he gets a guy hurt. He's being trained currently by Buddy McGirt, who seems to know a decent formula for beating Roy.

Much will depend on how scared Roy is of getting hit. If he's only afraid of Tarver, he will likely win -- but if he's scared in general, Ajamu could pull off the upset. Roy should be the favorite, but it's not a walkover fight for him.
Ajamu has virtually nothing on his resume. Moore was far, far past his best, and everything else is not worth mentioning. And for a 175er to get a draw against Bonsante...

Jones is just trying to get win #50, thats all this fight is.

Ajamu started off at 168, which is where Bonsante spent most of his career prior to just before the Contendor started when he went down to 154.

vargas · Post by **vargas** » 29 May 2006, 12:08

I can't see even a faded Roy Jones losing to Ajamu. I see him racking up enough rounds early and coasting out a decision. With a win he'll probably find his way into another title shot, and then he'll get knocked out again. It's a shame that Jones still feels the need to prove himself after what he's achieved in his career.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 29 May 2006, 12:16

I've never been a big Roy Jones Jr fan but I really thought Jones Jr would have been a rare breed of fighter and walked away whilst on top such as after the John Ruiz fight.

I really thought Jones Jr was smarter than this but Boxing is addictive and Jones Jr has a big ego so it will sadly take a few more loses to convince him that his time as a professional fighter is over.

I would not be shocked if Jones lost this fight, if he does lose this fight would anyone here class it as a big upset?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 30 May 2006, 07:05

Roy is absolutely terrified of getting hit. Look at his performance against Johnson, who isn't known as being a big hitter at 175. I think it's a good bet on Jones losing a very negative fight.

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 30 May 2006, 16:15

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Roy is absolutely terrified of getting hit. Look at his performance against Johnson, who isn't known as being a big hitter at 175. I think it's a good bet on Jones losing a very negative fight.

Naw. Look at the Tarver 3 fight. He won like 4 or 5 rounds. He's a tad better than what he showed against Johnson, where he simply didnt expect Glen to show him absolutely zero respect.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 17 Jun 2006, 05:54

bumpus. odds update: Ajamu 4/1 with pinnacle and I think 8/1 by KO.

If you don't get on this you're stupid

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 17 Jun 2006, 06:40

Jones beats this bum and mves onto BHOPs 2

Axe · Post by **Axe** » 17 Jun 2006, 15:37

Riddick Blowe wrote:bumpus. odds update: Ajamu 4/1 with pinnacle and I think 8/1 by KO.

If you don't get on this you're stupid

Jones wont be knocked out, you can take that to the bank. If Tarver couldnt do it last time, Ajamu sure aint doing it.

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 17 Jun 2006, 15:44

Difference is Tarver didn't need to, Ajamu should be out to make a statement...knocking out a shot Jones will do that..

Still think Roy should have enough left to outbox Ajamu, but agree Ajamu is a good value bet.

fried bread · Post by **fried bread** » 19 Jun 2006, 04:06

who would want to see this? they should of buried this fight in Egypt, like they were going to

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 21 Jun 2006, 06:31

Get this, Roy Jones Jr blames his father for his last lose to Tarver.

From Pensacolanews.com.

Fans and reporters are used to hearing Pensacola's Roy Jones Jr. spout off about his boxing career.

But the bombshell he dropped Saturday morning in Memphis, Tenn., might be the biggest yet.

Jones, speaking to a large group of national boxing media, said part of the reason he lost his last fight against Antonio Tarver was because he didn't want his father, Roy Sr., to get all the credit.

"You want the truth?" Jones said when asked why his September 2005 performance against Tarver deteriorated after the fifth round. "I'll tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"If I go on and win that fight, who gets the glory? Not me. Not God. All the glory would've went to Roy Jones Sr., and he didn't deserve it. Where was he the last eight or nine years. Now, would that've been right?"

Jones, who is returning to the ring July 29 to fight light heavyweight belt holder Prince Badi Ajamu, and his father's relationship soured about a decade ago. The former heavyweight champion trained under Alton Merkerson, who helped him become one of the world's top pound-for-pound boxers.

Surprisingly, Jones Sr. re-joined the camp before his son's third bout against Tarver. But now Jones claimed that bringing his dad back was a mistake.

When asked if losing was worse than his dad getting the glory, Jones replied:

"It was, but at the time I didn't see it like that. If I win the fight, my father gets all the glory. That's all anybody would've talked about ... not the guy who'd got me there (longtime trainer Alton Merkerson). I didn't realize that until we were five rounds into the fight, and then you wouldn't believe what I had to deal with after that."

Jones said his dad was supposed to be the point man in the corner, while Merkerson would be his backup. Instead, Jones said his dad was "pushing Merk" out of the way during the fight and trying to get an assistant trainer he had brought along into the action and on camera.

As a result, Merkerson grew furious and then quiet, unhappily deferring to Jones Sr.

Jones said this left his head a mess: Why his father was causing conflict in his corner during such a career-defining fight?

"All he had to do was stick to the plan," Jones said. "We know now he can't do that."

Jones said he found himself fighting more than Tarver that night, adding that he lost the focus he had coming into the bout.

"People had no idea what was going on," Jones said. "It was something I never expected. My dad agreed to stick to the plan, and he didn't. When I came out after the fifth, I wasn't sure how to deal with it, but I knew my dad didn't deserve (any glory)."

Jones never said he purposely lost the bout, although that's how many in the media have interpreted his comments.

Tim Smith's article on the boxing Web site, SecondsOut.com, asserted that "Jones is saying he deliberately lost a fight to spite his father."

However, USA Today boxing writer Chuck Johnson attended the news conference and said that wasn't what Jones meant.

"The word 'fix' or 'threw the fight' never came out of his mouth," Johnson said Tuesday. "He was looking at the loss in retrospect and now could see the whole picture. He was dealing with so much on his mind -- mainly the sudden realization (during a big title fight) that bringing back his father was a big mistake -- and he just couldn't go out and put forth his best effort."

After coming out strong to take an early lead on the scorecards, Jones lost the final seven rounds during a unanimous decision defeat (116-112, 116-112, 117-111).

Jones' dad will not be in the corner for his upcoming bout against Ajamu, but his admission left reporters at the news conference with one final question: After such a long time apart and so much bad history, didn't he see this coming?

"He's the sharpest guy I've ever known in boxing," Jones said in defense of his dad. "If he would've just done what we all agreed to in the first place, it would've worked out for everyone."

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 21 Jun 2006, 06:36

Jones is a tit. He's totally delusional, bordering on mental illness, I suppose his dad was standing there with his cock out and distracted him when Glen Johnson knocked him out?

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 21 Jun 2006, 07:02

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Jones is a tit. He's totally delusional, bordering on mental illness, I suppose his dad was standing there with his cock out and distracted him when Glen Johnson knocked him out?

That may have distracted Jones as he is a big lover of fighting cocks.

I've never been a huge fan od Roy Jones Jr but I honestly thought that he was going to be the type of fighter (and man) to retire at the right time.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 21 Jun 2006, 09:38

Jones' delusion will win me much

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:o ... neybag.jpg

..and could you too!

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 21 Jun 2006, 12:44

Don't go too mad guys, Prince is no world beater. Roy should still have speed to win this.....looking at Ajamus record, he got beat by Grant, and Drew to Bonsante (dude off contender)

Goodluck!

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 21 Jun 2006, 17:03

The prince http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:G ... _photo.jpg

to beat

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:J ... 0Jones.jpg

Bet your http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:T ... rtgage.jpg

on it!

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 28 Jul 2006, 04:07

I'm officially bumping this for you Riddick.

I honestly don't know what's going to heppen here, but you're totally right spotting some of the crazy prices knocking about on Ajamu.

Currently, Ajamu is 7/2ish outright. Ajamu pts win 10/1. Stoppage at anytime 5/1. Or to win by stoppage in 10-12rds is 12/1; 7-9rds 14/1 (those latter 4 are with bet365, the outright price is widely available.)

Incidently, RJJ is generally 1/3 outright and evens the points win. If RJJ is going to win, I don't see the ko personally.

Prices done, what to do? I've never seen Ajamu. His record is ok, although you could pick holes in it. He's beaten been in with a few guys who do not have pretty records but are there to give you the rounds and a pretty good fight. Comfortable loss to Hoye, but ran Otis Grant close 2 years ago.

It all depends hugely on both fighters' state of mind. Will Ajamu realise this is his big chance and come out guns blazing, or will he try to out box Jones? If he picks the former, does Jones go down or does he clam up until the end?

I'm predominantly talking to myself here, but after this little chat, I think I'll go with the Ajamu pts win. With some on the outright too.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 28 Jul 2006, 05:49

it seems pinnacle sports are having the same doubts as many. From 4/1 to 3.7(!)/1 for the Prince. This is still the best price.

Bafflingly, Hills have no odds yet...

Haven't decided about my betting pattern yet, i may have a sprinkling on some rounds and a chunk on the ajamu win.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 28 Jul 2006, 12:05

Cassius Baloyi on points is a sure bet tomorrow. In South Africa, the gifted local man makes the first defence of his IBF super-featherweight title against unheralded Guyanan Gairy St Clair.
Baloyi won the vacant title with an impressive 11-round stoppage of Tijuana veteran Manuel Medina in the States in May. It was something of an upset. The Johannesburg stylist had suffered a points beating in his previous fight against the bigger Isaac Hlatshwayo and struggled in two 12-rounders with the smaller Lehlohonolo Ledwaba before that, though he scraped both on points (Ledwaba was robbed in the first one, plain and simple).
They seemed to indicate the 31-year-old former brilliant WBU champion was on the wane, but he looked back to his best against crafty Medina, pacing himself superbly and jumping on the tiring Mexican in the later rounds. He dropped "Mantecas" three times in the 11th to force the stoppage.
It was the culmination of a dazzling early career for Baloyi, who turned pro in 1994 and reeled off 26 wins against the likes of Frank Toledo, Hector Lizarraga, Steve Robinson, Peter Harris, Brian Carr and Anton Gilmore, before the naturally bigger Phillip N'dou outscored him in a cracking 12-rounder in 2001. He bounced back with wins over Mbulelo Botile, Juan Cabrera and Ledwaba, but the Hlatshwayo loss was a punishing one and when he jumped straight into the Medina box-off nine months later in America looked up against it. Class always tells.
In 33 fights, he's lost only to N'dou and Hlatshwayo.
The silky-skilled, solid-punching champion came to the fore 10 years ago. He won the WBU super-bantamweight title outscoring southpaw Toledo in Florida in 1996, made three defences, then picked up the WBU featherweight crown decisioning Argentina's Sergio Rafael Liendo in California in 1998. Liendo, you will remember, was once frighteningly poleaxed by Nassem Hamed. After seven successful defences, Baloyi moved up again and was outscored by N'dou for the vacant WBU super-featherweight belt. But he picked up the vacant IBO super-featherweight title with a six-round stoppage of rugged Filipino Tiger Ari in 2002 and has held it ever since (the title is also on the line tomorrow, but no one really cares).
European super-featherweight champ Alex Arthur, ranked in the IBF top five, will be keeping a close eye on this one.
Slick-boxing St Clair represents a risk himself. The Sydney man has lost only to Diego Corrales, Vivian Harris and Leonard Dorin in 42 fights - world champions all. Nicknamed "Superman", the 31-year-old has flown all over the globe in a career dating back to 1994: turning pro in his native Guyana, proving tough in American rings and fighting out of Australia since 2001 under Johnny Lewis, the trainer who brilliantly pulled Kostya Tszyu out of the Ricky Hatton fight.
St Clair served regularly as Tszyu's chief sparring partner (ouch).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Gairy has found meaningful fights hard to come by in Australia - his last examination there came in December 2003 against Uganda's feared Jackson Asiku, the current Commonwealth featherweight champion. In a cracking eight-rounder, the aggressive Asiku forced the action and threw plenty of punches, but St Claire, quick of hand and feet, scored with counters on the move to get home unanimously over a man who has made a big impression in this country.
Since then, defining fights have slipped out of St Clair's grasp. In 2004, he was desperately close to a fight with Filipino great Manny Pacquaio before a Thai got the nod. In May this year, he was five days away from challenging WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison before Harrison now famously pulled out. But now comes this chance. Better late than never.
St Clair has a story worth telling. Back in 1994, he represented Guyana in the Commonwealth Games in Canada, where he was outpointed in the bantamweight second series by Aussie Robbie Peden (who went on to win the gold and, as a pro, the IBF super-featherweight title). St Clair made the switch and went unbeaten in his first 16 pro fights - nine in the States - before suffering his first loss at the hands of unbeaten Corrales in Sacramento in 1998. "Chico" couldn't budge the talented, elusive St Clair and settled for a unanimous 12-round decision.
St Clair bounced back to win the Guyanese super-featherweight crown in Georgetown, then returned to the States and was outscored in a Philadelphia 10-rounder by fellow Guyanan "Vicious" Vivian Harris.
Another beauty.
A fight later, Gairy ventured to Montreal and took on future WBA lightweight champion Leonard Dorin and was outpointed after a 10-round war.
That was September 2000. St Clair has never lost since. Unbeaten in six years and his last 21 fights (20 wins), he was held to a thrilling 10-round draw by Adelaide ex-amateur star James Swan in November 2002, a man he had previously stopped. He's won 13 on the spin since the Swan draw. Phenomenally durable (never stopped; never floored), the challenger has gone 10 rounds or more 14 times; 12 rounds five times. Not for nothing was he Tszyu's main sparring partner.
On the flip side, he's been out of the ring since last July when he stopped a Thai in four rounds in Perth (his recent opposition has been mediocre). He's also quite small at 5ft 5ins - five inches shorter than Baloyi. And he's not a puncher. His style reminds me of Terrence Alli, the Guyanan speedster who had three cracks at major world titles in the 80's and 90's and always built up a lead with rapid combinations. But lack of power enabled Harry Arroyo, Jose Luis Ramirez and Julio Cesar Chavez to wear Alli down and force victory.
St Clair, a quality operator, will probably build a lead in the early running with movement and handspeed, but the heavier hands of Baloyi will take their toll down the stretch. He forces a decision.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 28 Jul 2006, 13:29