Bernard Hopkins & Roy Jones / Photos © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

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Jeff Pryor takes a look at the motivations behind the rematch between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones.

Seventeen years and 43 days later, here we go... the sequel to what was a competitive, but clear and passionless victory of one future hall of famer over another. "Roy Jones jr. and Bernard Hopkins 2: Judgement day" coming this spring. We all know the history between the two and the individual marks of their glories in the ring apart. A strong argument can be made that either man has the better accomplishments now, but it's probably unfair to set this matchup for all the marbles given Jones fall from grace. So what exactly is the reason we are finally privy to this encore bout?

One of the more interesting facets of what some might call a fairly useless fight, is what each man's motivations are at this point in their career and what brought them finally into the ring against the other.

For Roy Jones jr. it's probably a last bow in the limelight of big time prizefighting. It's a payday. He is willing to cash out, in exchange for his name and in some respects dignity. The thrice brutally KO'd former phenom is all talk these days, only looking moderately capable against equally faded stars. Something that, so far, Hopkins has shown little evidence of being.

For Hopkins, it's a vendetta. As with so much of Hopkins life and career exploits, it appears Bernard has felt disrespected or slighted and is using it as motivation to get some back pay owed to him. According to Hopkins, Jones had the clout to make the rematch several times over the years and the resources, being an HBO fighter whom they seemed willing to put in the ring with any stiff available, and could have made the match happen if he really wanted it.

But according to "The Executioner", Roy played games when negotiations came for the rematch. Jones may have a valid argument to refute that, (I don't know that I've heard one), but regardless, Hopkins certainly believes it and that's all that matters here. He felt disrespected when he came in against Trinidad, against Tarver and Pavlik; according to him he wasn't given his due. So he took it. Emphatically in all three cases.

Whether we think so or not, to Bernard Hopkins, this is as important a fight as he's fought in seventeen years. This is a grudge match and it means more to Hopkins than it does to Jones. That alone makes this a hazardous match for Jones health. A Hopkins win, to fans right now, matters little. Diehards of each fighter will take note, but by and large it won't be a serious feather in Hopkins cap when his career wraps up sometime in the near future. However down the line, perhaps a generation removed from the flashy antics of a live Roy Jones combo or the thuggish mastery of a Hopkins wipeout, perhaps to those that don't know better, a split between the matchups of the two will be enough to teeter all time favor towards Hopkins (if his late career run hasn't nosed him ahead of Jones already).

Hopkins isn't fighting for the opinions of us, the current or recent fight aficionados. He's fighting for the opinion of future fans. Those who didn't live through the decades long rise and sharp fall of Jones, or the interminable cresting of Hopkins to ever greater heights. When their careers are boiled down to a line or two in ellipsis, and the key matchups are briefly listed, seeing one win, one loss each, levels the playing field. And that's seemingly all Hopkins wants out of this. Some get back. "Roy, you edged me when I hadn't yet mastered my skills, I'll take you down when your peerless athleticism has eroded". Likely words to come from the loquacious legend, except it'd take Bhop ten minutes to talk his way to that point.

And that in itself is the key to understanding Hopkins the man and boxer, and why he is still pursuing his old foe, so many years after the prime time to do so. It's uncanny how his character permeates everything about him.... the length it takes for him to come around to his point in a sound bite... the methodical ring performances, grinding and punishing... the long career arc, a slow burn epic touching four decades.

Patience, preparation, vigilance, an undying tenacity, bitterness and the ability to endure on Hopkins part, brought us to this point. A point he's long wanted to make, and will finally get the opportunity on the third of April.

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