Frater Roy Jones Jr. Wins Clash of the Titans

NEW YORK - The chassis was immaculate. And the engine still works, too. Frater Roy Jones Jr. (Tau-Psi, Univ. of West Florida) sped into Manhattan Saturday night with a purpose and departed with a new lease on his boxing career.

The former four-division belt-holder, now 39, added another impressive name to his victims list by unanimously out-pointing fellow veteran and ex-champion Felix "Ttio" Trinidad over 12 rounds in their 170-pound "catch weight" bout at Madison Square Garden January 19.

The win, which lifted Jones to 52-4 overall, was his third straight since a three-fight losing skid in 2004-05.

He swept the three scorecards by counts of 116-110, 116-110 and 117-109. Trinidad, who turned 35 on Jan. 10, lost for the third time in five fights after beginning his career at 40-0.

It was the Puerto Rican's first ring appearance since a May 2005 loss to Winky Wright, which was followed by a two-year retirement.

And to hear Jones who'd last fought in July in Biloxi, Miss. tell it, the outcome was never in doubt.

"I'm pretty much unstoppable," he said.

A former champion at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight, Frater Jones weighed in at a remarkably fit-looking 169 pounds on Friday, the first time he'd been that low since a 168-pound title defense at the Garden nearly 12 years ago.

Trinidad fared well early, staying busy and doing strong work to the body while occasionally pinning Jones along the ropes through the first five rounds. Jones rallied at the bout's midway point, however, and began to score effectively with quicker and sharper punches, dropping Trinidad with a left-hook, right-hand combination in the seventh and a similar left-right in the 10th (picture shown above).

"He was very fast in the fight," Trinidad said. "It was a great fight and a great night. Roy put on a great fight. I take nothing away from Roy, but I think I could have avoided the knockdowns. Roy was very fast and strong and he threw great punches. I have no excuses."

The fight began with a little extra incentive for Jones, after he was forced to change gloves. He wasn't allowed to wear colored boxing gloves honoring our fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, in his 170-pound fight against Felix Trinidad at Madison Square Garden.

Jones hoped to sport a special pair of Grant gloves in cherry and gray to match his trunks with the TKE crest and colors. After Jones met with Trinidad's father and lawyer on the morning of the bout, promoter Don King said Jones agreed to switch back to Everlast gloves, as specified in the fighters' contract.

"I tried to put him away a few times but I was missing those punches by about an inch," Jones said. "And he's got a hard head. I jammed my knuckle early in the fight."

"I'm flying to Wales tomorrow (Sunday, Jan. 20)."

Jones had promised a four-round KO in the event build-up, repeatedly claiming that "Tito must go, in four."

Correct or not, though, the dominating performance leaves Jones with a handful of attractive future options.

"I'll fight anybody in the world. I don't care," Jones said.

He's expressed interest in meeting unified 168-pound champion Joe Calzaghe, if the Welshman gets past -- or doesn't end up agreeing to -- a rumored springtime date with Bernard Hopkins.

He's also been mentioned as a possible opponent for the winner of next month's Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor rematch, which is scheduled for Feb. 16 at 166 pounds. Pavlik stopped Taylor in seven rounds in their first fight, winning Taylor's middleweight titles.

Or there's always a personal revenge factor, which could put him in for a fourth time with Antonio Tarver, who now holds the WBO belt at 175 pounds; or Glen Johnson, who'll meet incumbent Chad Dawson for the WBC title at 175 in April in Tampa. All were mentioned at one point or another prior to the Trinidad bout, and all seemed possible on Saturday.

"I weighed 169 pounds tonight," Jones said. "A former heavyweight champion of the world coming back and weighing 169 pounds - - When have you ever seen that before?"

The Offices of the Grand Chapter extend a heartfelt congratulations to Frater Roy Jones, Jr. on a great fight and for representing the TKE Nation with such class.