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Funny article from a few years back.
By PAT SHEEHAN in Portland, Oregon
JOHN CONTEH says Roy Jones Jnr's tag as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer is a myth.
Former WBC world light-heavyweight champ Conteh insists Sheffield star Clinton Woods will face nothing special here tomorrow night.
Woods, 30, boldly chases Jones' WBC, WBA and IBF world crowns but has been given no chance by many boxing pundits. Yet Conteh argues Jones has made a career out of beating no one in particular.
Liverpool legend Conteh, who held the title from 1974-77, said: "Jones is a one-trick pony who is one of the most over-rated fighters I have seen. Okay, he has fast hands. However, he's been getting away with it because of the calibre of opponents he's faced in recent years.
"I don't see anything special. Any boxer in the world can look good against the guys he has been fighting.
"(Nigel) Benn and (Chris) Eubank would of beaten him. Benn would of cut him off and Eubank would of ground him down, and those guys were just celebrity boxers more than anything else.
"There's absolutely no question that legends like Bob Foster and Michael Spinks would of taken him apart, putting Jones in that bracket is a joke.
"As for me, I try to be modest. But with all due respect I'm leagues above any of these guys he fights. A good jab and timing beats all that 'fancy dan' stuff, he's terribly flawed."
Yank Jones, 33, gained legendary status after winning world titles at middle, super-middle AND light-heavyweight.
He has lost just once in a 47-fight career - and that 1997 defeat, by Montell Griffin, was avenged by a first-round KO in the rematch.
Yet Jones has also taken flak for the quality of his opponents and other fight fans talked of a 'Roycott' because they were so fed up with his diet of stiffs.
Conteh is one of the unconvinced and added: "If I had fought boxers like he's been defending against, I could have done all that fancy stuff.
"Instead, I met REAL fighters, properly-prepared challengers who brought something to the ring."
Conteh added: "Woods has a chance. He's got the talent and heart, though fighting Jones in America is going into the lion's den.
"He has to have a positive mental attitude so he's confident enough to use all of his armoury."
By PAT SHEEHAN in Portland, Oregon
JOHN CONTEH says Roy Jones Jnr's tag as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer is a myth.
Former WBC world light-heavyweight champ Conteh insists Sheffield star Clinton Woods will face nothing special here tomorrow night.
Woods, 30, boldly chases Jones' WBC, WBA and IBF world crowns but has been given no chance by many boxing pundits. Yet Conteh argues Jones has made a career out of beating no one in particular.
Liverpool legend Conteh, who held the title from 1974-77, said: "Jones is a one-trick pony who is one of the most over-rated fighters I have seen. Okay, he has fast hands. However, he's been getting away with it because of the calibre of opponents he's faced in recent years.
"I don't see anything special. Any boxer in the world can look good against the guys he has been fighting.
"(Nigel) Benn and (Chris) Eubank would of beaten him. Benn would of cut him off and Eubank would of ground him down, and those guys were just celebrity boxers more than anything else.
"There's absolutely no question that legends like Bob Foster and Michael Spinks would of taken him apart, putting Jones in that bracket is a joke.
"As for me, I try to be modest. But with all due respect I'm leagues above any of these guys he fights. A good jab and timing beats all that 'fancy dan' stuff, he's terribly flawed."
Yank Jones, 33, gained legendary status after winning world titles at middle, super-middle AND light-heavyweight.
He has lost just once in a 47-fight career - and that 1997 defeat, by Montell Griffin, was avenged by a first-round KO in the rematch.
Yet Jones has also taken flak for the quality of his opponents and other fight fans talked of a 'Roycott' because they were so fed up with his diet of stiffs.
Conteh is one of the unconvinced and added: "If I had fought boxers like he's been defending against, I could have done all that fancy stuff.
"Instead, I met REAL fighters, properly-prepared challengers who brought something to the ring."
Conteh added: "Woods has a chance. He's got the talent and heart, though fighting Jones in America is going into the lion's den.
"He has to have a positive mental attitude so he's confident enough to use all of his armoury."
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