The notion of when to hang up the gloves is not a new one to boxing, and it is always sad to see fighters struggle to make that decision.

That is why we are imploring Roy Jones Jr. this morning to retire...immediately.

On Saturday night, the 46-year-old former world champion was knocked out in the fourth round of a fight against 35-year-old Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli in Russia. It is the ninth career defeat for Jones and fifth by knockout.

Maccarinelli was ahead on the cards after the first two rounds before Jones Jr. got back into the fight with a strong third round highlighted by a timely left hook-right uppercut combination. But in the fourth, Maccarinelli dropped Jones Jr. with a devastating uppercut, and although he beat the count to resume the fight, the former WBO cruiserweight champion pinned Jones Jr. against the ropes and stunned him with another uppercut before a right hook sent him face first to the canvas.


This loss represents a new low in the fading career of Jones Jr., who was once regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world for almost a decade, when he won five titles in three different weight classes during the mid-1990s through early 2000s. But after he was knocked out by Antonio Tarver in a 2004 light heavyweight title fight, Jones. Jr. hasn't been close to his former greatness.

In 2011, Jones Jr. was knocked out by Russia's Denis Lebedev. He had won eight straight bouts, all of them against cupcake fighters, since that defeat heading into this fight, which undoubtedly gave him a false sense of confidence. 

But after this debacle, we can only hope that Jones Jr. has had some sense knocked into him. He has already proven to be a strong commentator for HBO and has loads to offer as coach to younger fighters. He does not need to fight anymore.

Jones Jr. has stepped into the ring 71 times in his career and emerged victorious 62 times. Judging by this last fight, our fear is that if he steps into the ring a 72nd time, he might not step out at all.

Hang 'em up Roy!