What if Roy Jones Jr was in his prime now?

If RJJ was in his prime now he definitely would be pound 4 pound number #1 and he would be getting the money he deserves because he actually took real risk moving up to actually fight bigger guys. Too bad after the Ruiz fight he didn't fight Tarver at CW and not go back down to LHW that weight drop is what done him in. Was never same after that.

I'd like to see him take on Julio Cesar La Cruz

Usually, I'm very skeptical when it comes to comparing fighters of a past era (yes, RJJ may be active but he's not relevant today) to the current era. We look back on fighters with fondness, criticisms fade, and in doing so, our judgement is often clouded. However, I have zero doubt that RJJ would be P4P #1 in the game right now. He was that damn good, he was marketable at a time where he fought with so many other superstars for the limelight, and social media would be a huge boost to someone with the attitude and presentation as he had. He deserves to be remembered for being an all time great.

http://madeira.hccanet.org/project1/esmithp1/champ.jpg Im watching some of Roy Jones Jr fights in his prime. Like im sure most of you I go on youtube and watch old fights all the time and I always end up watching Roy Jones jr fights. The reason I make this thread tho is in my opinion if Roy Jones Jr was in his prime now or even in the last 5 years or so that he would be the PPV king and even would have competed with Floyd for that spot. I think his appeal his style everything happened just a few years too early. Im not saying this because of the competition though now networks are good at propping up opponents making them seem better then they actually are. Just curious what you guys think, would Roy be a bigger star if he was in his prime now rather then when he was? He was a big star in his own right but he was always second fiddle to others even though his talents were far more flashy and unmatched at times. I think he would of been a mega star and I think his character everything happened just a bit early. What do you guys think? Roy was never media friendly in his prime and he felt underappreciated. But if he was around today, he would be a superstar due to the social media society that we live in. Every online forum etc would have daily threads analysing his fights and his attributes. Imagine his fight against Glen Kelly where he knocked him out after having both of his hands behind his back. Today, that would have gone around the world on Twitter and Facebook etc, and the casual fans would have gone crazy. Imagine his ring entrance against Clinton Woods. Roy would be on the lips of every boxing fan all throughout the world. He would be huge.

Ward and Kovalev at 175 would be his biggest challenges, but he could easily win both those fights in a 9-3 fashion or by KO.

Roy had a lot of competition for being the biggest star during his dominant years. A lot of it came down to what the networks wanted to promote. They created the agenda all themselves. Plus, there really were a ton of big personalities and great fighters in boxing when he was prime. Today? He would stand alone. A brash, athletic freak of nature who knocked people out with highlight reel ko's and had a face you could put on a wheaties box? Plus, as others have pointed out, social media would help a guy with a real personality like Roy to get more exposure.

Funny, I watched a couple of his fights yesterday, too, because of all the Olympic robberies leading me to his gold medal robbery. Roy was stunningly great. I've never seen anything like him. Because of his athleticism people completely overlook how great a counter puncher and body puncher he was. His timing was just as brilliant as his speed. Also his defense was versatile and his sense of anticipation was uncanny....before he made a move, he knew what he could do to control you, land, be on the other side of the ring before you realize you got hit anyone who says he was just super athletic dont know anything about boxing a great understanding of timing, distance, and anticipation can overcome better technique or orthodox skills. imo roy jones was the greatest counter puncher of all time...he literally had guys handcuffed if he didnt knock them out early he could coast to UD12

It would be now how it was for him then. Roy had loads of haters. He was a ducker. He was boring. He was scared to do this or do that. His best win came against someone weight drained. Blah blah. Sound familiar? There was even a Roycott for his fights and the media loved to blast him. Yup. Deja vu. ^^^a lot of people werent following boxing then to know how the media blasted him. In the early 2000s on east side boxing, he got trashed for the same reasons mayweather did later on, on this site....being dominant, making it look easy, and dominating world class guys with ease. awwwww man, I remember the Roycott...he only fight cab drivers doe, he dont fight nobody doe.....at the time he already had wins over more than 15 world champions and titlist......people cant relate to dominance, some prefer drag out fights.

In my opinion he was better than Mayweather in his prime. However Mayweather had a much longer prime. If he was in the middle of his prime now I think he would beat Kovalev or Ward. His combination of speed, power and skill would be more than either of them could handle. He would be considered the number 1 pound for pound guy by most fans. There is never 100% agreement on that.

With social media his star power would have tripled

Funny, I watched a couple of his fights yesterday, too, because of all the Olympic robberies leading me to his gold medal robbery. Roy was stunningly great. I've never seen anything like him. Because of his athleticism people completely overlook how great a counter puncher and body puncher he was. His timing was just as brilliant as his speed.

http://madeira.hccanet.org/project1/esmithp1/champ.jpg Im watching some of Roy Jones Jr fights in his prime. Like im sure most of you I go on youtube and watch old fights all the time and I always end up watching Roy Jones jr fights. The reason I make this thread tho is in my opinion if Roy Jones Jr was in his prime now or even in the last 5 years or so that he would be the PPV king and even would have competed with Floyd for that spot. I think his appeal his style everything happened just a few years too early. Im not saying this because of the competition though now networks are good at propping up opponents making them seem better then they actually are. Just curious what you guys think, would Roy be a bigger star if he was in his prime now rather then when he was? He was a big star in his own right but he was always second fiddle to others even though his talents were far more flashy and unmatched at times. I think he would of been a mega star and I think his character everything happened just a bit early. What do you guys think? It would be now how it was for him then. Roy had loads of haters. He was a ducker. He was boring. He was scared to do this or do that. His best win came against someone weight drained. Blah blah. Sound familiar? There was even a Roycott for his fights and the media loved to blast him. Yup. Deja vu.

He would have been the best, most dominant fighter on the planet, just like he was when he did fight. The only fighters that could have challenged him between 160-175 are Ward and Kovalev. Hard to imagine either beating him. I think if Roy fought in the same years as Money Mayweather, neither of them would be the star that Floyd became.

I can't see Kovalev withstanding those bodyshots Jones used to dish out at 175. And Ward would still be asking if anyone got the license plate on the 18-wheeler.

I'd give him a good chance at beating Kovalev

The mold was broken when the boxing Gods gave us Roy. Nothing like him before and I seriously doubt we see anything like him again. There are a couple guys around that might make Roy work for a W, but I don't see anyone that I would pick to beat him. Roy would of excelled in any era in boxing history imo. So true the guy was special. He did everything unconvientially too. He didn't even have to use the jab much because of his speed and timing. Ridiculous reflexes. Man his fights were events. Remember when he knocked down that Aussie with his hands behind his back like one of the many roosters he raised. Guy was as far as talent goes the best.

The mold was broken when the boxing Gods gave us Roy. Nothing like him before and I seriously doubt we see anything like him again. There are a couple guys around that might make Roy work for a W, but I don't see anyone that I would pick to beat him. Roy would of excelled in any era in boxing history imo.

http://madeira.hccanet.org/project1/esmithp1/champ.jpg Im watching some of Roy Jones Jr fights in his prime. Like im sure most of you I go on youtube and watch old fights all the time and I always end up watching Roy Jones jr fights. The reason I make this thread tho is in my opinion if Roy Jones Jr was in his prime now or even in the last 5 years or so that he would be the PPV king and even would have competed with Floyd for that spot. I think his appeal his style everything happened just a few years too early. Im not saying this because of the competition though now networks are good at propping up opponents making them seem better then they actually are. Just curious what you guys think, would Roy be a bigger star if he was in his prime now rather then when he was? He was a big star in his own right but he was always second fiddle to others even though his talents were far more flashy and unmatched at times. I think he would of been a mega star and I think his character everything happened just a bit early. What do you guys think? they tried their best to make oscar de la hoya the fighter of the era but he fell short in his biggest fights, and just flat out wasnt as good as Roy. Oscar was a great fighter but never p4p #1 like Ring magazine tried to force down people throat they did the same with chavez sr. who also was truly 2nd best to sweet pea whitaker. whitaker won more titles at more weights and was just a better fighter

http://madeira.hccanet.org/project1/esmithp1/champ.jpg Im watching some of Roy Jones Jr fights in his prime. Like im sure most of you I go on youtube and watch old fights all the time and I always end up watching Roy Jones jr fights. The reason I make this thread tho is in my opinion if Roy Jones Jr was in his prime now or even in the last 5 years or so that he would be the PPV king and even would have competed with Floyd for that spot. I think his appeal his style everything happened just a few years too early. Im not saying this because of the competition though now networks are good at propping up opponents making them seem better then they actually are. Just curious what you guys think, would Roy be a bigger star if he was in his prime now rather then when he was? He was a big star in his own right but he was always second fiddle to others even though his talents were far more flashy and unmatched at times. I think he would of been a mega star and I think his character everything happened just a bit early. What do you guys think? He'd be undefeated from 160-175 and be the champ at 175. you realize how special fighters are in their prime when their era passes....his prime was 15 years ago and i have yet to see anyone with a shot to beat him from 160-175 he was that good. I think Ward because of his high ring IQ would give him the best fight.....he understands timing can negate speed....roy hs a way of handcuffing guys

Roy in his prime was dangerous he was like a sugar ray leanord with crazy power