Is Roy Jones legendary mainly because he was able to rule from 160-HW?

Cute story I'm not sure how old you are, but if you're 30 or under, you won't remember. Andro wasn't banned when I went into the Army, that was 2001. I remember talking about it with another recruit, because he'd been using it to add some weight. It was very common back then, and def wasn't banned in any way.

Set aside the resume for a moment. To watch him in action was a thing of awe. Very few fighters come along with his level of speed and reflexes. When you watched his fights in real time it was exciting, you didn’t know how it was going to play out but you leaned forward in your seat to witness blazing combinations, lightning pot shots, and counters that came from impossible angles. I used to shake my head and wonder “WTF”? He was that impressive.

Jones was the second coming of Sugar Ray Robinson in his prime. Not only what he did, but how he did it. Imagine the Manny Pacquiao from the De La Hoya, Hatton and Cotto fights. Now imagine Manny looking like that for a DECADE. EVERY time he stepped into the ring. That is what Roy looked like in his era. ^^^^ this !

I don’t judge everything by records at all. But I do judge a fighter when he lose to unranked opponents in their prime. You made a claim that James Toney was “matrix like” ads you going to back up that claim? Because “watch him fight” isn’t it. Which fights make you think he was “matrix like?” I rate Toney highly too(but only when he still lost to Roy,& he was still not the absolute elitist level talent.

By the way, RJJ fought some mediocre fighters. You know that. Jones Toney was a good fight. Toney was a killer. A smooth, slick killer. With attitude. Back when we could understand what he was saying. Yeah he did. And he destroyed them. Toney fought a list of unranked fighters and he struggled or even lost multiple times. Big difference.

This is a biased account. I remember you. You judge everything by records. Watch him move. You're not blind are you? Good boxing guys have good eyes, they can see it, and they can do it, a wee bit, AND YOU CAN'T! I don’t judge everything by records at all. But I do judge a fighter when he loses to unranked opponents in their prime. You made a claim that James Toney was “matrix like” are you going to back up that claim? Because “watch him fight” isn’t it. Which fights make you think he was “matrix like?”

Prime RJJ moved like Captain America with boxing gloves ofc everyone was impressed

LOL @ Roy "ruling" HW. There's a reason he picked Ruiz instead of Lewis or even Byrd. Facing and beating John Ruiz at heavyweight is a bigger challenge, than Canelo Alvarez facing Ilunga makabu. John Ruiz was a better heavyweight, then Ilunga Makabu is a cruiser weight. Ruiz was a solid legitimate World Champion. Who was not going to disappear, soon as he was hit. I am very dubious of the Alvarez vs Makabu match up.

This feels like it should be on the boxing history thread.

haha knew from the posting you were from here. proper spelling of craic. Jones doing things like the hands behind the back and being very flashy and good for highlight reels helped him for young me, to cement him in my mind.

RJJ is a legend because he looked like a damn video game when he fought. During his prime. Capt Hook Out!

Ruled at HW? That's like saying Charles Martin ruled at HW. Nash out. whenever a fighter has a full title at any weightclass he is said to be the "Ibf ruler/ Wbc ruler etc." doesn't mean he was undisputed ruler

Ruled at HW? That's like saying Charles Martin ruled at HW. Nash out.

LOL @ Roy "ruling" HW. There's a reason he picked Ruiz instead of Lewis or even Byrd.

You mentioned Toney. He popped for anabolic steroids ala nandrolone like Tyson Fury, Luis Ortiz. Roy popped for Androstenedione Andro a legal over the counter supplement found in thousands of drug/Health stores alongside aspirin and cough medicine before the drug nazis banned it like they did laudanum. When U gonna get outta 2nd grade?

Rule? He didn't rule HW lol stop it. He cherrypicked the weakest Heavyweight in John Ruiz and ducked Lennox Lewis. I was waiting for someone to make this argument. He ruled between 160-hw simply because he was champ between 160-hw, by definition having a belt means you're considered a ruler of that org at that weight.

Anyone deny a prime Jones Stops little Ginger?

Well he was the best and beat greats like Toney and bh and there was a time when people thought only Lennox Lewis and maybe another couple of heavyweights would beat him! Have to take risks to be great

I think Max Kellerman sums it up brilliantly here, there is a level above all the great active fighters you see today 'Roy Jones Junior was that level'. Fighters like Alvarez, Fury, Crawford, Spence and all the other champions today are not even on Mayweather's & Pacquiao's level.

Beating the hugging man John Ruiz hardly counts as ruling HW. And Jones didn’t do anything at Cruiser. At 175 and below + Ripped Fuel he was unstoppable though.