Boxing Update: Furious Hanshaw Rips Roy Jones Jr

Undefeated Tony “The Tyger” Hanshaw is done kissing up to his Saturday night PPV TV opponent, boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. Hanshaw is furious that Jones ordered hotel officials and security at the host IP Casino-Resort-Spa not to let Hanshaw and his training team use the first-class ring and other boxing equipment, which had been set up for both fighters.

When Team Hanshaw went to train in the hotel-casino Monday, they were barred by an armed security guard who told them the premises were “off-limits” to anybody except Roy Jones Jr. The boxing ring and the various bags are all owned by Jones, who trucked them over from his Florida home.

“We fly in from Las Vegas and they tell us we are barred from the training center,” the usually soft-spoken Hanshaw said. “What kind of nonsense is that? Is this the great, legendary Roy Jones who pretends to be a classy gentleman, or is this Roy Jones the egomaniac who thinks he is running boxing?”

Hanshaw, taking a page from Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s pre-fight quote book, said that being relegated to an off-site training facility was an indignity that Jones will regret.

“I had so much respect for this guy and it has all gone out the window,” the 29-year-old from Warren, Ohio said. “This is just a chicken-spit tactic designed to get in my head. Don’t worry about my head, Roy Jones, you need to worry about my fists because I am going to whip that ass like Antonio Tarver and Glenn Johnson did. Now I am going to enter the ring to give Rude Roy the KTFO treatment and make sure he goes into a permanent retirement. He got knocked out by Tarver and Johnson and now he is going to get knocked out by me.”

Hanshaw, who is promoted by Gary Shaw, had to take a 40-minute ride each way through heavy traffic to train at the Gulfport Boxing Gym. This also upset Hanshaw’s manager, Bryan Justus.

“I do not blame promoter Murad Muhammad or the nice folks at the IP,” Justus said. “Everyone in Biloxi has shown us great Southern hospitality. The only rude dude, the only classless person, so far has been Roy Jones. But who cares after Saturday night?

“Roy Jones will be yesterday’s news after Tony knocks him out,” Justus said. “We got our most serious training done in Las Vegas anyway.”

Trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. also put the blast on Jones.

“He is a glass-chinned bum who will get starched by my Tyger in six rounds,” Mayweather said. “He’s not even in Biloxi today, he’s over in Pensacola playing basketball and he wouldn’t let us use the gym? He thinks it is all about Roy but what it’s really all about is Tony knocking this guy out. Good riddance to bad rubbish I say!”

Call your local cable operator or dish provider for more information on “He’s Baack! Witness The Return Of A King: Jones vs. Hanshaw,” accompanied by a sensational undercard and all for an affordable price of $29.95. The scheduled 12-round light heavyweight bout will take place at Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Jones has a 50-4, 38 KOs career record while Hanshaw’s pro record is 21-0-1 with 14 KOs.

Doors at the Coliseum will open at 5 pm Saturday with the first bout starting at 5:30. Good seats are still available at prices ranging from $500, $300, $100, $50 and $30. Tickets are available at the Coliseum box office and through Ticketmaster. The event is being promoted by Murad Productions and Square Ring Inc. in association with the IP Casino-Resort-Spa.