Ralph Gracie Challenges Roy Jones, Jr.
EDDIE GOLDMAN
RALPH GRACIE MEETS, CHALLENGES ROY JONES, JR. TO NO-RULES FIGHT
by Eddie Goldman
NEW YORK, October 2 - Who would win a fight between a champion boxer and a
champion martial artist? That was the question posed today, as the man
considered by many to be boxing's best, was publicly challenged by a man
from the family considered by many to be composed of the martial arts' best.
Roy Jones, Jr., the undefeated IBF Super Middleweight Champion, and the
man Ring Magazine called the best "pound-for-pound" boxer, was in New York at
a press conference promoting his October 4 title defense at Madison Square
Garden. Sitting dead center in the first row at this press conference was
another champion fighter, Ralph Gracie, undefeated Battlecade Extreme Fighting
Lightweight Champion. Ralph is a member of the renowned Gracie family, whose
style of Brazilian jiu-jitsu revolutionized both no-holds-barred fighting and
martial arts in general.
Gracie's purpose in being there was to get a response to a challenge he
had delivered to Jones by telegram for a fight to see just who is the best
all-around FIGHTER in the world. The idea would be to put these two
undefeated champions against each other in a no-holds-barred contest,
winner take all. The proposed event would be promoted and financed by
Battlecade Extreme Fighting.
Since there were no questions and answers during the press conference,
at its conclusion I asked Roy Jones what he thought about the challenge,
and who would win.
"I do my thing," he responded. "I box. I am a great boxing champion.
I'm BEST at boxing." Little argument there. "Anybody care to strap on a pair
of boxing gloves and challenge me is welcome to do that."
As far as the challenge for a no-holds-barred fight, Jones' management
had expressed some interest. But today Roy Jones seemed less than enthusiastic.
"Myself, I'm not that type of guy who goes out to do the fight, to be the
ultimate warrior." He added, "I don't care to go out and waste my body trying
to prove a point to somebody else."
Jones made clear his reluctance for a no-holds-barred fight was not based
on fear. If someone really wanted to fight him, he matter-of-factly stated,
"we don't have to publicize it, we could do it right here, wherever. I
don't mind."
But there was to be no fight or confrontation here today. Ralph Gracie
and Roy Jones were introduced, and the two champions spoke and shook hands.
Both are professional fighters and gentlemen, seeking to advance along
their own chosen paths.
So who would win in a fight between these two? Would boxing or
Brazilian jiu-jitsu triumph? Today we can speculate, but one day we
may know. The promoters of Battlecade Extreme Fighting have said
they are still trying to put this fight together.
For the present, however, we are in luck. Both of these fighting
champions will be showcased on upcoming televised broadcasts. Roy
Jones' fight with number one contender Bryant Brannon will headline
a fight card on October 4 that will be shown on HBO.
Ralph Gracie will face French kempo karate champion Ali Mihoubi as
part of the Battlecade Extreme Fighting 3 card on October 18 from Tulsa,
Oklahoma. This show will be aired on pay-per-view television.
We can they try to judge for ourselves based on these fights which
champion, and which fighting style, would emerge victorious if they were
ever to clash.
Perhaps if the public demands it loudly enough, one day these two will
meet for real in a dream match-up that will once and for all settle all
the debates.
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monte christensen
[whole thread deleted]
Only problem is that Jones fights for big money on HBO or PPV. Gracie fights
in freak show like theatres where the winner gets 50k. Hell jones makes more
in 1 fight that Gracie will make in his entire career. Now if you were the
manager of Jones would you even consider this fight?
If gracie was able to beat Jones in a boxing match he would immediately change
sports. Nobody who does UFC will ever make 1 million for a fight. But if
Jones could switch over and beat Gracie he would be crazy to do so. Why? No
money in the sport.
The answer of course is that Gracie win easily in a UFC match and Jones wins
easily in a boxing match. But it is about as likely to happen as Michael
Jordan playing golf against Tiger Woods just to prove Tiger is a better
athlete. And when they are done they can then play 1 on 1. Wow, how exciting.
--
Monte Christensen | People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for
| merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a
| conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance
Mon...@Microsoft.com | to raise prices. -- Adam Smith
Fiend
I also challenge
both of the to a no-limit Texas Holdem tournament. Yeah, it is pretty
silly because
Jones is a BOXER and he is already very well paid for it. Gracie is a
UFC fighter
and if he can't make enough money at it, maybe he should learn how to
box and then
he could get the big bucks if he was good. Actually, he could make a
lot of money
if he was good enough to win a major marathon...8-)
fiend
E3p2
Marathon eh Fiend?
I'm going to run my first at the end of this year.
Julian Reyes
Asking who would win between a Boxer and a Martial Artist is like
asking who would win between a Fish and a Bird and the fight would take
place under water.
Well, of course we know the Fish would clearly have the advantage and
vice versa if the fight took place in the ground.
Can't we just say that in this weight class Ralph Gracie is the best
Martial Artist and in the same goes for Roy Jones Jr. in Boxing?
Julian
In <531ann$k...@news4.digex.net> egol...@access5.digex.net (EDDIE