Who would have been most likely to beat a prime Roy Jones Jr

[Mugwump]

At Roys best weight!?

Would any fighter in history be more likely to beat Roy than the other way around?

What about Tommy the hitman Hearns?

Dial the time period back to two or three decades and I think you are talking about a pretty small number of very good fighters (names already mentioned). But the moment you say "history" the question becomes incredibly complex. In his prime Roy was an outstanding fighter - but there have been innumerable outstanding fighters at Roy's optimum weight since the beginning of boxing. Many are outside living memory and we have only the sketchiest information about them. And let's not forget that styles make fights - which means there are boxers who - purely on fight record - don't appear to be in Roy's league who in fact were nonetheless perfectly suited to give him a very difficult fight.

Fans of every current generation fall victim to overestimating the talents of their fighters whilst underestimating, downplaying etc. those of earlier generations. The truth is no matter how great the fighter - the exceedingly long and glorious history of boxing will have no difficulty in providing someone who would defeat him.

[NChristo]

Billy Conn would have beaten him, Ezzard Charles...not to mention guys like eddie booker or jack chase, or even shorty hogue.

There's absolutely 0 footage of Hogue and Booker, can't remember seeing Chase but if there is any there's not much, no use just naming members of the Murderer's row, there was 1 matchup which we could of used too guesstimate how Booker would do against Roy and that would be against Burley but they never fought, so we have too go by what is in articles and such which usually chabges all the time, Booker's defence consisted largely of brilliant parrying from what I've read but here he is against a much bigger man who is more then likely faster, loves throwing his feints (including fake noises / grunts too throw the opponent off) and combos which would all together more then likely negate them parries, it doesn't't look well for Booker on paper already.

[Ray Corso]

You don't like two of the 25 I offered! Oh well, if you don't want my opinion why did you ask for it? Ray.

[Sugarj]

I can't say that I've seen anyone at 168 who I'd confidently pick to beat Roy Jones at this weight. There are guys who had the power to knock him out and guys who had the conditioning to possibly outwork him, but he was so damn fast, accurate and slippery......

I could throw out a load of names of folks who would give him a good fight; some who might well have the firepower to knock him spark out. But picking someone to have a 'more likely' chance of winning? Honestly, I wouldn't even be confident picking Ezzard Charles at around that weight (though he's probably the best choice).

In Jones's prime at super middleweight (circa 1995) his biggest rival would almost certainly have been Gerald McClellan. I'm well aware that Roy respected McClellan, he certainly had the power to knock Roy out and his chin was sturdy enough to take a fair bit of Roy's not inconsiderable power. But McClellan's defense wasn't sound enough for me to confidently pick him over Roy.

At super middleweight, regarding the late 80s version of Thomas Hearns......I wouldn't give him anything other than a lucky punchers chance at that stage.

[NChristo]

You don't like two of the 25 I offered! Oh well, if you don't want my opinion why did you ask for it? Ray.

Could I have seriously made it any more obvious that I do want your opinion ?
Incredible breakdown there master, your knowledge truly knows no bounds, I only named 2 because I'm on my phone and it's a real pain in the arse to type most of the names are just ****ing ******, like Scott said, Benvenuti ?, really ?, are you going to spread your expert analysis on these fights ?, how exactly does Zale beat Roy ?, is he going too decision him ?Or is he somehow going to KO the bigger more intelligent and faster boxer who is beating him too the punch every time ?, how is Flowers going too beat him ?, in fact describe too me how Flowers fights, this is surely nothing for one of your intellect. Shouldn't of complained at 2, would of made your life a lot easier.

[IronDanHamza]

You don't like two of the 25 I offered! Oh well, if you don't want my opinion why did you ask for it? Ray.

He asked for your opinion.

Please, break down how Pastrano beats Roy Jones. I'd love to know.

[greynotsoold]

This is the foundation of the disagreement I have with annoitnting RJJ the greatest of all time.
Yes he was fast, and he could leap in and out, etc...against guys that let him do it. I thought, from the start of his career, that he lacked the conviction to engage in a hard fight, and, if you think he would have it easy against some of these old time guys, you are mistaken.
The key to beating jones was (since anybody can do it now, haha) controlling distance, and not letting him do as he wants. watch Conn fight; you'll see how his movement controls the distance. Watch Charles, watch moore (and here i'm going to assume that guys that competed with them on an even basis, like eddie Booker, had these same skills). They controlled the distance. You aren't going to be leaping in on them and pot-shotting them.
The other key to beating Jones is to punch when he is punching- he was too quick to cover and then counter, he'd get away. But when he is punching, he leaves himself wide open, chin in the air. clinton woods and the retired cops he fought did not do this; top flight guys like moore, charles, conn, etc...would.
Now, you're going to throw the Toney fight back at me, but I don't believe Toney went into that fight thinking he would win, and, while the styles may or may not be similar, I don't think that the skill level of toney was on par with that of Charles, moore, Conn, or manhy others. It was a much more educated game back in the day.
So no, I don't think RJJ was even close to unbeatable. Nobody is. Somebody always has your number and I believe his was in the book.

[marvelousmatt]

At Roys best weight!?

Would any fighter in history be more likely to beat Roy than the other way around?

What about Tommy the hitman Hearns?

RJJ was too big for Hearns.Huge Hearns fan but Hearns was best at 147-154.

[marvelousmatt]

RJJ was too big for Hearns.Huge Hearns fan but Hearns was best at 147-154.

Marvelous at 160 lbs.
Sergio at 160 lbs.
Calzaghe at 168 lbs.

[Ray Corso]

I'm not here to educate you, find the videos, literature and form your own opinions! You asked my opinion, you got it, as to why they could defeat him they're on the same level. I don't idolize I evaluate the plusses then minuses so that my opinion is based on what I know about methods & techniques, not common opponents and a won lose record!

You have alot of questioning while being a demanding lil cuss, .
Roy at middleweight was nothing special, he beat Hopkins who was never a great offensive fighter. What great fighter did Roy EVER fight Tarver???
Antonio beat him 2 out of 3!!!! Most great fighters are considered great by their skills & experience. Roy was a highly skilled fighter but never fought great fighters unless you consider fiighting a welter Trinidad) at 170lbs a great bout!
I think Roy was a terrific talent but I don't hold his accomplishments as high as most fans on this forum do. He never fought equals and there were equals from other era's. Study the history of the classes and read what the knowledgable boxing people agree on. .........Fitzsimmons could beat him at 60 & 75! Ray.