Roy Jones was an ATG but he was also a cherry picker

[The Old LefHook]

Both Mayweather and Jones loved to taunt the fans by fighting nobodies. They made money off the fans while laughing at their ******ity for buying their crummy shows. Now neither one can even get a mention when fans are discussing the best ever. That really bothers them, because they both read this forum hoping to read about their own glorious careers, I've heard tell. They find out fans do not think of them as glorious at all. They got rich, but not immortal. Live with it. Neither of you will ever be considered the GOAT, or anything close to it. You were just good fighters who teased the fans and left nothing immortal.

[NachoMan]

we shouldn't even call it cherry picking anymore, since its obvious "career management" was part of every boxers career. You had to have a good fighter but also a good game plan to get a title shot in the first place.

In 2 of Jones biggest wins, Hopkins and Toney - I sincerely believe he dodged them after beating them. He shoe shined both those wins, aka he dazzled them with his speed and sold it to the judges - but in both fights if you watch blow for blow on effective punching they were actually close fights. Even for Toney, who is often used as a highlight real. I'm convinced Hopkins figured Jones out in the last few rounds of their fight, and it makes sense because Hopkins was considered green.

If Toney and Hopkins had rematches I'm positive it wouldn't have been all green for Jones. Jones dodged them by moving up in weight and fighting bigger but ****tier opponents which in turn sells tickets to the casuals. In reality its the fighter that matters.

In Jones vs Hopkins, Jones never landed anything of note on Hopkins. Nothing that did any real damage, for 12 rounds. If anything Hopkins tagged Jones with fewer but better shots.

Toney vs Jones is clearly toney being arrogant and not being prepared for Jones lightening speed but hopelessly ineffective assault on toney, who looked like he just got out of bed. Even still Toney is often inches away from catching Jones cold throughout the fight. He also landed some good bombs, and if Toney was prepared and came for the title I'm certain he'd kill Jones.

Man, I agree with everything you said and argued with a lot of folks back in the day about it, but RJJr fans lose their minds when someone questions his status among the greats. Roy was a great figher and a deserving P4P guy during his day, but he wasn't the GOAT by any stretch of the imagination as some fans used to say he was.

[QueensburyRules]

Man, I agree with everything you said and argued with a lot of folks back in the day about it, but RJJr fans lose their minds when someone questions his status among the greats. Roy was a great figher and a deserving P4P guy during his day, but he wasn't the GOAT by any stretch of the imagination as some fans used to say he was.

- - Maxie Jellymon proclaimed him the best heavyweight in history, so Pray Tell Us who is better?

[Blond Beast]

Roy probably overrated but that’s a great compliment. That mean’s he had style, just like Tyson. It’s still prize fighting. People want to see something exciting and unique. That’s how things get promoted.

[them_apples]

Hopkins was not considered worth 'ducking' back then. Roy moved to 168 in November 94, a month before Hopkins was dropped twice in a draw with Mercado. But Roy somehow knew Hopkins was a future ATG and avoided the rematch nobody wanted to see by moving up?

Toney lost to Jones and then Toney moved up. He never fought at 168 again. So how was it Roy moving up to avoid a rematch with him? In 96 Roy moved up to 175, and 8 months later JT moves up to cruiserweight. So twice Toney left a division Roy had just entered. Where is your timeline coming from?

roy also knew he sold the fight with Hopkins to the judges. The fight in reality was very close

[them_apples]

It was actually Hopkins who kept pricing himself out of a rematch with Jones. He also hid out at 160 much longer than he should have to pad his record and break Monzon’s defense streak and avoid the best at 168, which was Jones at his peak.

Roy was criticized for not taking on challenges from Benn and Michalczewski, but in his defense they insisted the fight take place in Europe and Roy wasn’t having it.

I doubt he priced himself out. He was middleweight chanp. Roy probably offered him a garbage purse

[Willie Pep 229]

roy also knew he sold the fight with Hopkins to the judges. The fight in reality was very close

The fight in reality was very boring. Both should have had a % of their battle money held back and given to charity.

[QueensburyRules]

I doubt he priced himself out. He was middleweight chanp. Roy probably offered him a garbage purse

- - Dibella proposed a big $$$ rematch at Roy LH weight, not middlewt, and SuperJoe at 168. Poppy paid a $2mil civil settlement for breaking his contract with Dibella. Not long after he moved up to LH to beat the 250 lb Tarver coming down after being larded up during his Rocky success.

[GhostofDempsey]

I doubt he priced himself out. He was middleweight chanp. Roy probably offered him a garbage purse

Roy wanted 60% and rightfully so, Jones was a much bigger attraction than Hopkins at that time. Hopkins wouldn't agree to Roy getting 60%.

This is just one of their exchanges on the issue:

[ShoulderRoll]

The fight in reality was very boring. Both should have had a % of their battle money held back and given to charity.

Wladimir Klitschko should have done that for most of his career then.