Hanshaw has his sights set on Roy Jones Jr. bout

The Warren native could raise his profile considerably.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

Kelly Pavlik isn’t the only Mahoning Valley boxer who wants a shot at Jermain Taylor.

Warren native Anthony Hanshaw (21-0-1, 14 KOs), who fought both boxers as an amateur seven years ago, will fight five-time world champion Roy Jones Jr. in a light heavyweight bout July 14 in Biloxi, Miss.

“When I win this fight, it will open up a lot of doors,” said Hanshaw, who is moving up a weight class to meet Jones. “After this, I want to go down to super middleweight and fight Jermain Taylor. That’s who I really want.”

Taylor is the WBC middleweight champion and is in negotiations to fight Pavlik in September, although Taylor has not yet signed off on the deal. If Taylor chooses not to fight Pavlik, it’s likely he will move up a weight class.

Like Pavlik, Hanshaw lost to Taylor during the 2000 Olympic trials. Hanshaw’s father, Henry Russell, died two weeks before the fight.

Distraction

“My mind wasn’t into it,” Hanshaw said of the Taylor fight. “My father was like a god to me.”

Fighting Jones, who was once considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing, should raise Hanshaw’s profile considerably. The fight will be broadcast on pay-per-view (the suggested price is $29.95 for the three-hour card) and Jones is still a big-enough name at age 38 to draw plenty of fans.

Jones (50-4, 38 KOs) is hoping to use the fight as a stepping stone to another championship bout, but he insists he’s not taking Hanshaw lightly.

“One of my promoters wanted me to fight a nobody, but that does nothing for me, nothing for the fans and nothing for the other guy,” said Jones, who joined Hanshaw on a national conference call Tuesday afternoon. “I don’t need that. You should put the best up against the best. Anthony Hanshaw is a good up-and-comer and he’s on the way to the top.

“Most promoters wouldn’t allow their fighter to take a fighter as dangerous as Anthony, but I’m not going to lose, so I’m not worried about that.”

Hanshaw, whose nickname is “The Tyger,” is similarly confident. He went on Stevie Wonder’s radio show earlier this week and guaranteed a win, saying the fight wouldn’t even last “four or five rounds.” He’s also told reporters he’s going to “retire Roy Jones.”

When asked Tuesday if he still felt that way, Hanshaw said, “Absolutely. I looked up to Roy when I was coming up and I used to watch his fights. But he’s had his time and this is my time and I’m undefeated and I can’t be beat.

“I’m in the best shape of my life and on July 14, I’ll be ready to go.”

Background

Hanshaw said he moved away from Warren when he was in sixth grade and now lives near Massillon. Hanshaw was 22 when he defeated Pavlik, who was 17 at the time. Hanshaw’s victory was a close decision and there was talk a few years ago that the two fighters would meet, although that discussion has cooled.

“He’d have to move up [in weight],” Hanshaw, 29, said of the possible bout. “Kelly Pavlik is 6-2, 6-3 and he’s not going to be able to hold on at [160] that long. He’d have to move up to [168]. I’m not going to kill myself to make weight.”

Hanshaw hasn’t fought much over the past few years — he even took a 15-month break in 2003-04 — but said he’s ready to focus on boxing full-time again.

“I’ve boxed all my life, ever since I was 5 years old, and I needed a break,” said Hanshaw, who is being trained by Floyd Mayweather. “I was getting wore out.

“Now I’m back, I’m focused and I’m with one of the top trainers in the world. I’m ready to go.”

scalzo@vindy.com