Is Roy Jones a better fighter now than when he fought Glen Johnson in 2004?

[Clegg]

It's not often that a guy gets better between the age of 35 and 39. Infact, I can't think of a time when it has ever happened.

Against Johnson, Roy looked done. He seemed to have no snap to his punches, and was unable to deal with Johnson's aggressive tactics, even though they were pretty simplistic. Then he was knocked out by a punch that, to me at least, did not look particularly devastating.

Yet a significant number of you think that he'll beat Joe Calzaghe.

Obviously you guys aren't biased and you all know the sport very well. So the only thing I can think is that Roy has become the first boxer in history to improve the point that he can beat a top 3 p4p boxer at the age of 39, even though he was KO'd by 40-9 guy at the age of 35.

The only way this can be possible is if Roy found some kind of magical formula that increases your abilities. Perhaps something that is injectable, and could be passed off as ripped fuel or whatever if rdiscovered...

Anyway, is Roy a better fighter now than he was 4 years ago?

[Clegg]

Actually 'no' and 'he is just as good/bad' are the exact same thing. Silly me.

[Dynamite Kid]

hell no Jones was done after the Tarver 2 fight

allthough i think the Johnson KO was more a case of how hard Jones head hit the canvas rather than the punch Johnson landed however thats said Roy is packing glass these days

[Darkstar]

Hes had 3 tune up fights since then. I would say hes close to the same. Still isnt going to beat Calzaghe.

[pfcwintergreen]

I said "no" in the poll, but in truth the answer is that he is marginally better than he was then. Why? Because once he realized that he was seriously on the slide in terms of reflexes, he adopted a defensive style not unlike winky wright's.

He guards his face well now with both gloves, and has finally realized that he can't duck out of the way of punches like he used to. Prime Jones fought with pure athleticism and speed. He now fights more like a regular, mortal human. He can't fight like he used to, and he knows it; this is an improvement from the Johnson/Tarver fights.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you are partial to Calzaghe), I don't think he is fundamentally better than he was circa 2004. He defends himself better, yes, but I'm sure his reflexes, speed and footwork have degraded even further since then.

I like both fighters, but to adopt Calzaghe's favorite rhetorical device; "at the end of the day" Calzaghe is still going to crush Jones. I'll be the first to laud Jones if he pulls it off, but I don't think his defensive adaptations to his athletic deterioration will carry the day for him. Too little, too late.

[Fox McCloud]

"Obviously you guys aren't biased and you all know the sport very well."



I would say yes to be honest... and the only reason I say that is because I think Roy has some of his confidence back. He was obviously somewhat shaken from his loss to Antonio Tarver, and was more hesitant that usual to do his thing in the ring. I saw him doing it against Trinidad, so... I think he has his confidence back, at least somewhat.

[daggum]

why does it even matter? he's not fighting glen johnson he's fighting sissy boy calzaghe. this fight will be easier than the prince badi ajamu fight.

[Silencers]

I doubt it but maybe it did take him a couple of years for his body to readjust, we'll see on the 8th.

[hugh grant]

Yeah i would say he is better. He wouldnt be fighting otherwise. I bet his stamina is better, and he has adjusted to fighting smaller men again.

[Dan...]

Definately better than he was at that point as he was just totally shattered confidence wise then. I think he has some of that back now and that alone makes him more of a force.