Roy Jones Jr's alleged "weak opposition"

[IronDanHamza]

I tend to see people say Roy Jones opposition was weak. He didn't fight top calibur opponents. Preposterous in my view but let's take a delve into his alleged "weak opponents".

I'm purposely not going to go into the fights that don't need explaining (most notably Toney and Hopkins) just the fights that are claimed to be "weak opponents";

Jorge Castro - 2-0 against Reggie Johnson (debatable especially the second one) beat John David Jackson twice, 1-1 with Duran. Beaten easily by a young Roy Jones.

Reggie Johnson - IMO one of the most underrated fighters of the 90's - IMO beat Toney, Collins, Two close losses to Castro very unlucky on the second one, close loss to John David Jackson I also thought he won that one. Jones dominated him with ease.

Merqui Sosa - SD loss to Toney, Beat Glen Johnson, beat Prince Charles Williams, competitive loss to Micheal Nunn. Blitzed in 2 rounds by Jones.

Thailand Malinga - SD loss to Eubank that IMO Malinga won. Stopped in 6 by Jones

Montel Griffin - 2-0 against James Toney, blitzed in round 1 by Jones.

Virgil Hill - Long reigning LHW champ. Coming off a decision loss to Dariusz but still a top LHW. Blasted out in 4 rounds.by Jones.

Eric Harding - Underrated, beat Antonio Tarver and Montell Griffin. Jones winning by corner stoppage in the 10th (torn bicep) in fairness an underwhelming performance for once but still ahead on the cards and on the way to a decision win.

What's your view? Weak opposition or was Jones just that good?

I don't see how these opponents can be considered "weak" when the other top fighters of the era they faced couldn't beat them and if they did beat them it wasn't an easy time. Yet Jones destroyed almost all of them with ease.

[Anthony342]

It's not so much that he fought "weak" opposition. I think it has more to do with the fact that Jones didn't fight Darius, Benn and McClellan that people hold against him. While the ones he did fight were very skilled, their names weren't as big, so some people hold that against him. The stuff that works in his favor though are that he pretty much fought everyone else at light heavy and was undisputed, as well as lineal champion there, with several title defenses, the most being 12 defenses of the WBC belt, not to mention 2 defenses of the Ring title at light heavy, as well.

[ShoulderRoll]

I think the criticism comes from the fact that he didn't face certain names that were obviously better than those in his resume.

Guys like Michalczewski, Calzaghe, and Collins to name a few. I would favor him to beat them all but it would have been nice to see him actually do it.

I do agree that Reggie Johnson is very underrated. Slick southpaw who could also punch a bit and was tough as nails.

[IronDanHamza]

Both fair points but which fights did Roy Jones not fight that were a fault of his own?

Even if that were the case is it fair to consider the above opponents "weak" considering how they performed against others?

[IronDanHamza]

I think the criticism comes from the fact that he didn't face certain names that were obviously better than those in his resume.

Guys like Michalczewski, Calzaghe, and Collins to name a few. I would favor him to beat them all but it would have been nice to see him actually do it.

I do agree that Reggie Johnson is very underrated. Slick southpaw who could also punch a bit and was tough as nails.

Defintely.

Because when he dropped James Toney he was hurt bad. That's the most hurt I've ever seen him.

[billeau2]

I tend to see people say Roy Jones opposition was weak. He didn't fight top calibur opponents. Preposterous in my view but let's take a delve into his alleged "weak opponents".

I'm purposely not going to go into the fights that don't need explaining (most notably Toney and Hopkins) just the fights that are claimed to be "weak opponents";

Jorge Castro - 2-0 against Reggie Johnson (debatable especially the second one) beat John David Jackson twice, 1-1 with Duran. Beaten easily by a young Roy Jones.

Reggie Johnson - IMO one of the most underrated fighters of the 90's - IMO beat Toney, Collins, Two close losses to Castro very unlucky on the second one, close loss to John David Jackson I also thought he won that one. Jones dominated him with ease.

Merqui Sosa - SD loss to Toney, Beat Glen Johnson, beat Prince Charles Williams, competitive loss to Micheal Nunn. Blitzed in 2 rounds by Jones.

Thailand Malinga - SD loss to Eubank that IMO Malinga won. Stopped in 6 by Jones

Montel Griffin - 2-0 against James Toney, blitzed in round 1 by Jones.

Virgil Hill - Long reigning LHW champ. Coming off a decision loss to Dariusz but still a top LHW. Blasted out in 4 rounds.by Jones.

Eric Harding - Underrated, beat Antonio Tarver and Montell Griffin. Jones winning by corner stoppage in the 10th (torn bicep) in fairness an underwhelming performance for once but still ahead on the cards and on the way to a decision win.

What's your view? Weak opposition or was Jones just that good?

I don't see how these opponents can be considered "weak" when the other top fighters of the era they faced couldn't beat them and if they did beat them it wasn't an easy time. Yet Jones destroyed almost all of them with ease.

No not weak, especially considered next to Calzighe.

[IronDanHamza]

No not weak, especially considered next to Calzighe.

Very true, very true.

People do tend to say that about Roy Jones though wouldn't you agree?

[billeau2]

Very true, very true.

People do tend to say that about Roy Jones though wouldn't you agree?

If you are saying that people say the same thing about Calzghe...yes they do! But there is a big difference and I learned that! as a wee poster I once asked about the relative merits of their comp and an older poster enlightened me...Apples and Oranges, Joe never fought a top fighter in their prime...period.

[IronDanHamza]

If you are saying that people say the same thing about Calzghe...yes they do! But there is a big difference and I learned that! as a wee poster I once asked about the relative merits of their comp and an older poster enlightened me...Apples and Oranges, Joe never fought a top fighter in their prime...period.

No I mean Roy Jones.

I'm well aware and am of the opinion that Calzaghe's opposition was extremely poor.

[billeau2]

No I mean Roy Jones.

I'm well aware and am of the opinion that Calzaghe's opposition was extremely poor.

I don't think Roy's opposition was poor, I do think there was a part of his career where he coasted, there is a big difference in my opinion