NEW YORK -- There's no doubt in the mind of Roy Jones Jr. that David Telesco is just a bit player who will share center stage with him Saturday night in Radio City Music Hall.

"What has David done to deserve a world title shot?" Jones asked.

A world title shot in the showcase theater? At stakes will be Jones' WBC, WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles.

Telesco (23-2, 19 knockouts), of suburban Port Chester, got the fight, which will be televised on HBO, when a mandatory WBC bout between Jones and Graciano Rocchigiani of Germany could not be made.

The first fight show ever in the Music Hall is being held because the historic theater is owned by Cablevision, also owner of Madison Square Garden. The NBA's New York Knicks will play in the Garden on Saturday night.

Fight shows already have been held in the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem and the Roseland Ballroom. Next October, the first of a series of monthly heavyweight cards will be held in the Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Theater, where operas once were performed.

Jones, who often enters the ring wearing glittering spangled jackets or tails, said he is pleased to be a part of history, but that his ring entrance won't be anything more than it usually is even though he will celebrate his 31st birthday Sunday.

"I'm not going to put on a special show, but I am going to put on a special show when I get between the ropes," Jones said Thursday. "He's going to play my game. He can't upset me."

Telesco doesn't seem to be bothered, either.

"He's got two hands, just like I have," he said of Jones.

Jones' hands, however, arguably could be the fastest in boxing. He's also very quick on his feet.

"I had a dream, but I won't tell you what it is until it comes true," the 31-year-old Telesco said.

His dream could became a nightmare in fairly short order if Jones -- criticized at times for carrying an opponent -- is at the top of his game because of the unique surroundings and his apparent annoyance at some of his opponent's comments.

Telesco has won 19 straight fights dating to Nov. 26, 1991. But he served three years in prison for selling cocaine, and he did not fight in 1994-96.

Jones, a former IBF middleweight and super middleweight champion, won the WBC light heavyweight title in 1996. He lost it when he was disqualified for hitting Montell Griffin while he was down March 21, 1997, but regained it by knocking out Griffin in the first round Sept. 7 of that year.

Jones won the WBA title in 1998, and added the IBF championship by outpointing Reggie Johnson in his last fight on June 5.

Also on the HBO telecast that begins at 9:45 p.m. ET is a 10-round heavyweight bout between Derrick Jefferson (22-0-1, 18 knockouts) of Detroit and David Izon (24-3, 20 knockouts) of Nigeria, who lives in Jones' hometown of Pensacola, Fla.