Roy Jones Jr top 10 ATG...

[CarlosG815]

Can this be justified?

Why or why not?

[Wild Blue Yonda]

What, may I ask, is the context of your question? Is this division-based, or all-time, in a pound-for-pound context? I will attempt to cover all bases...

Jones campaigned at Jr. Middle, Cruiser, & Heavyweight. However, I don't see how anyone would really ask seriously if he's top-10 all-time material for those weightclasses, so assuming you aren't, I will address the two most pertinent weights --- Super-Middle, & Light-Heavy. I cannot see how anyone would have Jones outside their top-10 168lbers of all-time (he's my #1), so my guess is you are either talking about Light-Heavy, or all-time.

In that context, my answer is no to Light-Heavy --- I use a combination of achievements & head-to-head, & all things considered, he doesn't make my cut. It's a surprisingly deep division for legends, though, & Jones was a fabulous fighter from around 1996-2000. Unfortunately, the competition was rather meek, & he seemed only to do enough to win a lot of the time. Head-to-head, he'd be in the mix with most of the best of them, though.

If it's top-10 all-time pound-for-pound we're talking, then he is not anywhere near being a worthy candidate.

[Scott9945]

I would buy into Roy Jones at his very best being one of the ten greatest boxers ever. But going by the usual criteria I probably can't list him quite that high. Too selective about his competition for me.

[CarlosG815]

What, may I ask, is the context of your question? Is this division-based, or all-time, in a pound-for-pound context? I will attempt to cover all bases...

Jones campaigned at Jr. Middle, Cruiser, & Heavyweight. However, I don't see how anyone would really ask seriously if he's top-10 all-time material for those weightclasses, so assuming you aren't, I will address the two most pertinent weights --- Super-Middle, & Light-Heavy. I cannot see how anyone would have Jones outside their top-10 168lbers of all-time (he's my #1), so my guess is you are either talking about Light-Heavy, or all-time.

In that context, my answer is no to Light-Heavy --- I use a combination of achievements & head-to-head, & all things considered, he doesn't make my cut. It's a surprisingly deep division for legends, though, & Jones was a fabulous fighter from around 1996-2000. Unfortunately, the competition was rather meek, & he seemed only to do enough to win a lot of the time. Head-to-head, he'd be in the mix with most of the best of them, though.

If it's top-10 all-time pound-for-pound we're talking, then he is not anywhere near being a worthy candidate.

Thank you for the reply.... I was speaking top 10 p4p ATG.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

I see. Using the criteria I do, you might find him in my top-50 all-time, but he will never crack the top-10.

[HaglerSteelChin]

Funny how the sport of boxing is. When Jones had beated Tarver after the first fight he was 49-1 and his only blemish was the DQ to Montel Griffith, which he avenged with a brutal first round KO. He was the first man in nearly a century to go from the MW title to the HW title(portion of it). Jones told Larry Merchant "I want one mega fight which is me and mike tyson and if i don't get him than i am done." Than he would get KO ala PW in the second round against Tarver, and it has been a free fall. After 50 fights, Jones by many was considered top 20, although he was called out for not fighting top europeans as Benn, Collins,Eubank etc.

Jones did beat like 8 undefeated fghters and 4 hall of famers, he had some of the greatest handspeed and reflexes the sport has ever saw. I think talent wise he was close to top 10, likely more like top 20, but his resume will fall short of top, FWIW i still have him top 35, which is alot higher than many have him.

[GoogleMe]

Funny how the sport of boxing is. When Jones had beated Tarver after the first fight he was 49-1 and his only blemish was the DQ to Montel Griffith, which he avenged with a brutal first round KO. He was the first man in nearly a century to go from the MW title to the HW title(portion of it). Jones told Larry Merchant "I want one mega fight which is me and mike tyson and if i don't get him than i am done." Than he would get KO ala PW in the second round against Tarver, and it has been a free fall. After 50 fights, Jones by many was considered top 20, although he was called out for not fighting top europeans as Benn, Collins,Eubank etc.

Jones did beat like 8 undefeated fghters and 4 hall of famers, he had some of the greatest handspeed and reflexes the sport has ever saw. I think talent wise he was close to top 10, likely more like top 20, but his resume will fall short of top, FWIW i still have him top 35, which is alot higher than many have him.

Talent wise he's much closer to top 3 all time, than he is to just 10 ;-)
He's can't be justified to be in any top 10 ATG. Top 20 maybe, top 30 very likely.
He ain't the greast 168 pounder sorry, that belongs to Calzaghe, then Kessler.

[SNVDoublePunch!]

My answer is basically, it depends how highly you use H2H on your rating, which is the most subjective part of an already very subjective idea. I have him in the top 25, but I've shuffled him around quite a bit in that space. He's a tough call.

[BennyST]

What, may I ask, is the context of your question? Is this division-based, or all-time, in a pound-for-pound context? I will attempt to cover all bases...

Jones campaigned at Jr. Middle, Cruiser, & Heavyweight. However, I don't see how anyone would really ask seriously if he's top-10 all-time material for those weightclasses, so assuming you aren't, I will address the two most pertinent weights --- Super-Middle, & Light-Heavy. I cannot see how anyone would have Jones outside their top-10 168lbers of all-time (he's my #1), so my guess is you are either talking about Light-Heavy, or all-time.

In that context, my answer is no to Light-Heavy --- I use a combination of achievements & head-to-head, & all things considered, he doesn't make my cut. It's a surprisingly deep division for legends, though, & Jones was a fabulous fighter from around 1996-2000. Unfortunately, the competition was rather meek, & he seemed only to do enough to win a lot of the time. Head-to-head, he'd be in the mix with most of the best of them, though.

If it's top-10 all-time pound-for-pound we're talking, then he is not anywhere near being a worthy candidate.

Jones didn't campaign at 154 pounds. He was a middleweight to heavyweight (if you can calm the one fight campaigning at HW), sort of. Nor did he campaign at CW. One catch-weight fight isn't campaigning at the weight.

Anyway, to the point, yes I think he could be argued as being a top ten at his best though I don't think I would. He would be one of those guys who I would always give a chance to beat just about any fighter in history at his best weight, even though I might not rate him above them...a bit like Tommy Hearns and other similar guys. You know? They lost fights, sometimes badly, and yet they have a chance to beat anyone in history at their weights.

[sonnyboyx2]

Skillwise he is No1 All Time but his resume lets him down as far as being ATG P4P Top 10 yet i would rate him between 20-30