The Roy Jones Debate

[Orange Sneakers]

Beat an all-time great to win the IBF middleweight title.

Beat an all-time great to win the IBF super-middleweight title.

Beat an all-time great to win the WBC light-heavyweight title.

Also beat Virgil Hill and Reggie Johnson.

Also won the WBA and IBF light-heavyweight titles.

Only lost to three men from 1987 to 1997, excluding the robbery in the Olympics, to Gerald McClellan, Frank Liles and Montell Griffin. Avenged the latter two, the latter one in a single round.

Didn't lose again until 2004.

Won the WBA heavyweight title, having started as a light-middleweight.


That record is about as good as it gets.

BUT... Hopkins wasn't at his best (hadn't evolved, still a stand-up, offensive-minded boxer-puncher), Toney wasn't at his best (severely weight-drained), McCallum wasn't at his best (40 years old), Virgil Hill wasn't at his best (past sharpness) and Reggie Johnson wasn't at his best (past sharpness).

Plus, he officially DUCKED Michael Nunn when Nunn was WBC mandatory.


As far as his physical ability is concerned. It was about as good as it gets in terms of being beyond athletically efficient and into athletically excellent, in a boxing ring.

His performance against Vinny Pazienza rocked the boxing world every bit as much as Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson. That performance was SPECTACULAR, 10/10 faultless display of boxing on athletic ability alone.

He was also a master at setting traps, see how he clearly sets Tony Thornton and Reggie Johnson up for the reflexed left hook and reflexed one-two KD's respectively. So, good ring intelligence, too.


Regardless of whether he was chemically enhanced/chemically assisted or not...

[Orange Sneakers]

He had the super-fight with James Toney. But he also missed out on three other super-fights.

Eubank - Jones never had a performance as spectacular as Eubank's against Henry Wharton, until Vinny Pazienza, and Eubank may have started favourite

Gerald McClellan - After Jones-Thomas Tate and McClellan-Julian Jackson II, this would have been super and McClellan may have started favourite

Nigel Benn - After Benn-McClellan, this would have been huge


Eubank - not Jones's fault, Jones made it clear that he wanted Eubank (who didn't want Eubank?) to make himself a real big name and Eubank made it clear he didn't want Jones (to maintain on his throne)

McClellan - Jones didn't want to fight for Don King, but people wanted that fight to grow, too

Benn - Jones didn't want to fight for Don King, but Benn turned down 10 million to fight Jones without King involved


I can't think of anyone else, barring Michael Nunn who he ducked. There were some German light-heavyweights like Graciano Rocchigiani, Henry Maske and Dariusz Michalczewski - but they wouldn't leave Germany if their life depended on it. And there was Steve Collins, who out-priced himself and who nobody was all that interested in, anyway.

[MELLY-MEL...]

all true bro, but no matter! the douchebag haters will still hate, and run their ball washer about nonsense! it's a never ending bull**** fest!

[Mr. Unbannable]

ll true bro, but no matter! the douchebag haters will still hate, and run their ball washer about nonsense! it's a never ending bull**** fest!

Say what???

[MELLY-MEL...]

Say what???

shut up noob, you will speak when spoken too!!!!!!!!!

[Mr. Unbannable]

shut up noob, you will speak when spoken too!!!!!!!!!

Now now, be careful. Things are never just what they seem.

[Dynamite Kid]

Eubank - Jones never had a performance as spectacular as Eubank's against Henry Wharton, until Vinny Pazienza, and Eubank may have started favourite

LOL Henry Wharton ,what do u think Roy Jones would have done to that bum ,the referee would have had to rescue Wharton if he fought Jones Circa 1994

[Mr. Unbannable]

Eubank - Jones never had a performance as spectacular as Eubank's against Henry Wharton, until Vinny Pazienza, and Eubank may have started favourite

LOL Henry Wharton ,what do u think Roy Jones would have done to that bum ,the referee would have had to rescue Wharton if he fought Jones Circa 1994

Do you think Pazienza was a credible opponent at that moment, in that weight class?

[Dynamite Kid]

Do you think Pazienza was a credible opponent at that moment, in that weight class?

was he comparable to Henry Wharton , Lmao

[Silencers]

Good post. Not much more to add to it.