Newsbits: Boxing

Jones Jr. - Trinidad

updated 2/6/04

Roy Jones. Jr.

The WBC has announced that as of January 30th (2004), WBC light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr.

(49-1, 38 KO's) has until February 17th to negotiate a fight with the mandatory number one challenger

Antonio Tarver (21-2, 17 KO's). If Tarver declines the bout, the next highest ranked light heavyweight will

take his place - in this case it would be number two ranked Paul Briggs (21-1, 17 KO's) of Australia. If

Jones Jr. declines, the title will become vacant. The WBA has also mandated that Jones Jr. must defend

his heavyweight title against former/interim champion John Ruiz (39-5-1, 27 KO's).

Which title Jones Jr. will vacate, if any,  is anyone's guess.

Jones Jr. won a controversial majority decision over Antonio Carver this past November (2003) to recapture

the WBC light heavyweight title (along with the IBF light heavyweight title) from Tarver. 

Felix Trinidad

ESPNdeportes.com, in an exclusive interview with former champion (in three weight divisions) Felix

Trinidad (41-1, 34 KO's), is reporting that Trinidad is considering a comeback if he gets an offer that suits

him, otherwise he'll stay retired. Trinidad went on to say that an offer has been made to Oscar De La Hoya

(36-3, 29 KO's) but that Oscar felt it was an insult. Trinidad mentioned that he'll come back at 160 lbs. only

and would like to fight De La Hoya, Shane Mosley (39-2, 35 KOs) or Bernard Hopkins (43-2-1, 31 KO's).

When asked if the money fight wasn't there with De La Hoya, Trinidad responded that if he could only have

one more fight, he would like to fight Hopkins as he is the only one who has beaten him and that he would

win the rematch.