Huge Roy fan. But looking at his record sometimes I do wonder why he wasted him time fighting fighters who just weren't on his level, when there were so many better challages out there.
Etc.....
-Antoine Byrd (Cound't even win the USBA Title going into the fight and had already been KNOCKED OUT by journyman Larry Musgrove who had a record of 12-8-3) IBF Super Middleweight Title Fight
-Vinny Pazienza (33 year old who been defeated in Light Welterweight Title fights by the likes of Roger Mayweather & Hector Camacho)
-Tony Thorton (Washed up with 6 losses on his record, had already been defeat by Eubank, Collins, Toney, & Doug Dewitt and could only beat 13-13 Melvin Wynn on Split Decision) IBF Super Middleweight Title Fight
-Eric Lucas (19-2-2 record, and had already been defeated for the NABF title by Bryant Brannon a year before the Roy fight) IBF Super Middleweight Title Fight
-Mike McCallum (39 years of age and had just been defeated by Fabrice Tiozzo) WBC Interim LHW Title fight
-Otis Grant (Had already been KO'd by Quincy Taylor for the NABF Middleweight Title, & drew with Lonnie Bradley in a WBO Middleweight Title fight) WBC/WBA light heavyweight title
-Richard Frazier (Boxing wasn't even his full time job, he was a officer with a 18-3 record. Already been defeated by William Guthrie, Eric Lucas & Billy Marks going into fight) WBC/WBA light heavyweight title
-David Telesco (23-2 record, who's best win was a washed up Fran Tate) WBC/WBA/IBF light heavyweight title
-Richard Hall (Had already been KO'd by Rocky Gannon in a IBC title fight) WBC/WBA/IBF light heavyweight title
-Derrick Harmon (Just 3 fights before the Jones fight, he had beat BEAT by 14-5-2 Greg Wright) WBC/WBA/IBF light heavyweight title
-Glen Kelly(Rarely fought out of Austrailla and best win was a 39 year old John Mugabi) WBC/WBA/IBF light heavyweight title
Roy had amazing skills & talent and I do give him credit for his wins over Toney, Tarver, Hill, Harding, Ruiz etc. But sometimes it amazes me how many fighters he fought who just shound't of been in the same arena as him never mind the ring.
He should of took more risks & tested himself alot more than he did.
Because they were considered a threat before Roy whooped them.
I don't think Antoine Byrd, Richard Frazier, David Telesco, Richard Hall, Derrick Harmon, or Glen Kelly were ever considered a ''threat''
I think people are overly critical of Roy’s record. Roy was one of the first fighters I saw outside of the heavyweights divisions, I’m a huge Roy fan. Before winning his first title he consistently fought bigger men and undefeated fighters. After having like 15 fights (ish) he beat Jorge Vaca who had like 60 fights and was an ex world titlist and Jorge Castro who was 70-3-2 at the time. Castro was no bum! Roy then beat a 24-0 Glenn Thomas. He then beat Hopkins to win his first title. Then moved up in weight for a couple of non-title fights: Malinga who was not bad (went onto beat Nigel Benn for a world tile) and a pretty mediocre Fermin Chirinio and Danny Garcia.......He defended his title against Thomas Tate (29-2), he was OK. Next Roy dominated James Toney (44-0 at the time) to win his next title, and annihalted Antoine Byrd 26-4, a big name in Vinny Pazienza and a solid pro in Tony Thornton 37-6-1. He moved up again to fight Sosa, who was just voted to have the worlds best chin in the Ring mag, and KO’d him inside of 2 rounds. A couple of easyish fights followed against Eric Lucas (19-2-2) and Bryant Brannon 16-0 (awesome KO). Next he moved up in weight again to take on McCallum, McCallum was a beast but OK getting older at this point. Roy won his 3rd world title. Next was the Montell Griffin fiasco, in rematch he destroyed him. Next he KO’d Virgil hill (ATG light heavyweight) and unified against Lou DeValle. He fought a much smaller Otis Grant who was 31-1-1, then Richard Frazier 18-3-1. Frazier was a nobody from what I recall, maybe a mandatory? He then beat an excellent fighter in Reggie Johnson unifying all three belts. Next few fights…
David Telesco 23-2, Richard Hall 24-1, Eric Harding 19-0-1, Derrick Harmon 20-1, Julio Gonzales 27-0, Glen Kelley 28-0-1 and Clinton Woods 32-1.
Then he moved up to heavyweight and we all know the rest….
Not that bad of a resume when you break it down.
I think that was the mistake of Roy Jones. People say "when you fight bums all your life, you eventually became one of them". Fighting tough opposition builds up "champion's character", which helps jump back even after heavy loss. I believe RJJ wasn't ready to what Tarver brought to the table even after his long career.
Because when you sit in a division for a long time, holding all the major belts, and clean out a division, bums are inevitable. Along with all those bums Roy beat everyone who was legit, except Michalczewski.
Roy had great performances in the ring, told the world how great he was, then everyone believed he was this great fighter. He was one of the best self promoters in the history of the sport. He fooled a lot of people in the process.The man had unbelieveable ability that was second to none. He had all the gifts to be the G.O.A.T. He just didn't have the heart to step in the ring with the best fighters available. Maybe it was because of the business side of things. He was making 5 million a fight. Why take the risk to fight a dangerous opponent for the same amount of money? But to me that's bull****.His best 2 wins were against Ruiz and the 1st Tarver fight.It took guts to fight a heavyweight and he showed guts sucking it up to beat Tarver.His other big wins weren't that impressive to me. Hopkins wasn't the developed fighter he is today, and Toney was just simply out of shape. I loved Roy when he first came on the scene. But after he beat Toney, he started fighting bum after bum after bum. I lost my respect for him.From my understanding, he owes a lot of money to the IRS and that's why he's still fighting.But I think part of it is to gain the respect he didn't get in his prime.He realizes how the boxing world views his career, and now he wants to redeem himself. But its 8 years too late.I feel bad for him now and fear for his safety in the ring.
the thing is, Roy gets away with fighting ALOT of bums. he fought so many tomato cans its unbelieveable. yes he was athletically great and talented beyond belief, but he wasted it.
and he had a glass jaw, once the athleticism left him and he couldnt pivot out of the way of shots, he got caught and exposed for having no chin whatsoever
Calzaghe rightfully gets laid into for fighting bums, but Roy fought just as many, and has been brutally KO'd and lost however many times it is now
Roys talent and natrual athleticism can never ever be underestimated and under appreciated, but his record and status is over-rated and exaggerated
natural or drug enhanced...
Roy beat guys who were all ranked in the top 10 of his division
not all very good, not all stars
but he beat ranked contenders
the guys with names he fought, he thrashed too
his resume could be better but is not bad
this is the reason i never cheered for Roy. I respect his ability and hate to see him getting knocked out every other fight anymore but i never cheered for him in his prime because i always felt like there were too many tomato cans to every solid fighter he fought
Roy actually helped the sport of boxing.
HBO paid the guy 5 million per fight for fighting bumbs.
HBO learned their lesson and now they constantly put on great fights.
NO FIGHTER WILL EVER GET AWAY WITH WHAT ROY JONES GOT AWAY WITH...........
the thing is, Roy gets away with fighting ALOT of bums. he fought so many tomato cans its unbelieveable. yes he was athletically great and talented beyond belief, but he wasted it.
and he had a glass jaw, once the athleticism left him and he couldnt pivot out of the way of shots, he got caught and exposed for having no chin whatsoever
Calzaghe rightfully gets laid into for fighting bums, but Roy fought just as many, and has been brutally KO'd and lost however many times it is now
Roys talent and natrual athleticism can never ever be underestimated and under appreciated, but his record and status is over-rated and exaggerated