What Kind Of Boxer Is Roy Jones?

[abadger]

I have to ask, because from reading posts on here I now have the distinct impression that there is nothing this guy can't do, that he can win fights any way he wants to, going forward, going back, on the ropes, centre ring. You name it. He's been "the ultimate counterpuncher", "an awesome body puncher", "a defensive master", "an attacking tornado", "the smartest boxer in history" etc etc.

Far be it from me to question any of this, but I always thought that in his prime he was mostly an unorthodox and supremely gifted offensive boxer, who nontheless was not at his best when placed definitively on the backfoot. He always seemed to me to rely mostly on his athleticism and natural skill, to the detriment of boxing fundamentals, particularly defensively. Not that it ever mattered!

Nowadays I see him as a fairly static orthodox boxer who boxes behind a high guard, has a very fast, crisp and snappy jab and can still unleash some excellent combinations when he wants to. I don't think he's some sort of tactical wizard/ counter puncher though....

Am I wrong?

[The Gully Gad]

Back in the 90's he was great.
Thats all i have to say on the matter

[ferocity]

Roy could most all times get away with ****** **** cause of his power, plain and simple.

[TheGreatA]

A counter puncher who smartly used his athletic capabilities to set up his opponents for fast punches they never saw coming.
Later on he developed into a very good body puncher, RJJ credits Mike McCallum for that.

[Silencers]

He was an unorthodox boxer, using his speed and athleticism to generate his power, as well as using unorthodox punching angles to confuse his opponents, he was also very good at counterpunching off the back foot.

[abadger]

A counter puncher who smartly used his athletic capabilities to set up his opponents for fast punches they never saw coming.
Later on he developed into a very good body puncher, RJJ credits Mike McCallum for that.

Did he train with McCallum, or was it that he was inspired after fighting him? BTW, what McCallum performances do you recommend, I would like to see him at his best.

[Miburo]

Perhaps the most athletic fighter ever, a truly speed-based fighter. His unorthodoxy was not a liability until the former started to deteriorate, after which it became a glaring one.

[abadger]

He was an unorthodox boxer, using his speed and athleticism to generate his power, as well as using unorthodox punching angles to confuse his opponents, he was also very good at counterpunching off the back foot.

I always felt that Jones' counterpunching was best when he was not really 'on the back foot' so to speak, but more when he was not under pressure and able to allow his opponent to try and get off first and then land a counter almost instantaneously. Any time I saw him actually getting hit (not often!) he seemed to go straight backwards. Maybe I'm letting his 'bad' fights influence me too much though.

[Silencers]

I always felt that Jones' counterpunching was best when he was not really 'on the back foot' so to speak, but more when he was not under pressure and able to allow his opponent to try and get off first and then land a counter almost instantaneously. Any time I saw him actually getting hit (not often!) he seemed to go straight backwards. Maybe I'm letting his 'bad' fights influence me too much though.

He caught a few fighters going backwards, he did get hit more often as he was going back though, especially in the Montell Griffin fight.

McCallum vs Jackson, Minchillo and McCrory were his best performances IMO. McCallum vs Manion, Kalule, Collins and Watson were pretty good as well. McCallum vs Curry was a good fight but it wasn't one of McCallum's best performance, for entertainment value McCallum vs Harding was very good. McCallum vs Toney 1 & 2 were very good technical fights, shows how good McCallum was even when he got older.

[TheGreatA]

Did he train with McCallum, or was it that he was inspired after fighting him? BTW, what McCallum performances do you recommend, I would like to see him at his best.

I would say he became more interested in the 'art' of body punching after fighting McCallum.

You could watch McCallum's fights with Toney, Watson, Jackson and others, hard to point out any particular performance.


Roy Jones vs Virgil Hill


Old Mike McCallum fights at light heavyweight