The last time Roy Jones won a fight he was struggling against the ropes and dominating Antonio Tarver in the centre of the ring of their first fight in November of 2003. He then went on to get knocked out by Tarver in the rematch, starched by Glencoffe Johnson in 2004, and behaved more like "Coy" Jones Jr. in the rubber match loss to Tarver in 2005.

Last night in - of all places - Boisie, Idaho's Qwest Arena, Jones dominated Prince Badi Ajamu for twelve rounds before taking his NABO (not another boxing organization!) in front of an adoring star-starved crowd. Jones would have destroyed Ajamu in his prime.

Jones, 50-4 (38), gave himself a "C" for his performance, and though he won the fight on the judges' scorecards 119-106 (three times), he did little to prove that he will ever be a serious threat to the light heavyweight division again, let alone a world champion. Ajamu, 25-3-2 (14), came out for the first round with all guns blazing, but absorbed Jones' bodyshots early and headshots late as he lost for the first time in two years. Jones, arms dangling at his sides, slipped punches, strutted like a peacock and threw exaggerated uppercuts at his outclassed opponent, but it remains to be seen whether that will be good enough against the top fighters at 175.

After the fight Jones announced, "The champ is on the way back, baby. Don't pay attention to what people say." But it will take more than a decision victory over an unknown fighter to shut those people up, Roy.