Jones Jr. To Defend Title
Music by a string quartet, chocolate-covered strawberries, champagne and the fighters in tuxedos.
It was not just another boxing news conference to announce on Monday that Roy Jones Jr. will defend the undisputed light heavyweight championship against David Telesco on Jan. 15.
But it will be the first fight in Radio City Music Hall.
Telesco said he felt like he was getting married when he was escorted down a staircase by two Rockettes. And married, he said, is what he's going to be to the mother of his three children after the fight win or lose.
The historic fight in legendary showplace is taking place because on Jan. 15 the NBA's New York Knicks will be playing in Madison Square Garden. The Garden and the Music Hall are owned by Cablevision.
It was announced that 5,500 seats will be available for the fight that will be televised by HBO.
"This is a dream I've thought about for years, many years," said the 31-year-old Telesco, who has been after Jones for some time to give him a shot.
Telesco is 23-9 with 19 knockouts; Jones 40-1 with 33 KOs.
"Sometime you've got to watch out for what you wish for, you might get it," said the 30 year-old Jones. "I hope he comes to do his best that night. I'll come to do my best, and when I come to do my best bad things happen to the other side."
The telecast will begin at 9:30 p.m. EST. A 10-round heavyweight match between David Izon (24-3, 20 knockouts), a native of Ghana, and Derrick Jefferson (22-0-1, 18 knockouts) will precede the main even.
The news conference was held between performances of the Music Hall's Christmas Show.
©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed