Convicted Artist Magazine

Two things became obvious while watching the recent Roy Jones versus Jeff Lacy match. First of all, Lacy is taking beatings, and probably needs to retire.  Secondly, the meaningless strap Jones was given was part of the WBO fragility. Could this be the big money payday that might actually lure long-time belt holder Zsolt Erdei to actually face someone with a pulse? 
 
Ever since winning the belt from Julio Gonzalez over five and a half years ago, Erdei has fought in anonymity in Germany and his native Hungary. He is on Ring Magazine's "Put up or shut up" list every year. The only time he has taken even a half step up to decent competition, he won two close decisions against future WBA belt holder Hugo Garay. Let's not forget, Erdei is a protected Universium fighter.  This is the same promotional outfit that allowed Dariusz Michalczewski to waste away, and did not time the aging process of Roy Jones properly. Their man lost the title only a month before Jones began his brisk slide down the light heavyweight ladder. 
 
Instead of Dariusz benefiting, Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson were the beneficiaries.  Michalczewski instead surrendered the belt, and ended his long career with meaningless losses to Gonzalez and Fabrice Tiozzo.  As Erdei is 35 years old, let's hope Universium doesn't make the same mistake twice.  Jones now has his own promotional outfit, Square Ring; therefore the paranoia about appointed officials will likely not hinder his willingness to compete overseas.  Erdei is likely near retirement, as European fighters don't typically fight even to his age, let alone past it. 
 
Why go out with a whimper, when you can go out with a bang? While Chad Dawson would probably box his ears off, Erdei can perhaps hang with Jones, or even pull off the upset. Either way, it's the best business move for both men. Jones can pick up the one trinket he has never earned (WBO), and be able to (however erroneously) call himself a champion, while Erdei can retire with a big payday. And if Erdei pulls off the upset, then losing to Dawson will pay big money as well, as the American fans will now know his name.
 

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