How can Floyd think he is better than Roy Jones? Does he literally think he is better?

[real raw]

The OP seems PERSONALLY offended that Floyd doesn't mention Roy Jones. Ali proclaimed himself the "greatest", Floyd claims "TBE", does it really matter?

[LeOoze]

RJJ had a bigger aura of invincibikity. At one point people thought only lennox Lewis could beat him and holyfield. Many thought Pac could beat floyd.
Floyd was never going to fight the guys fans and experts thought would beat floyd, so floyd did have aura of unlikely to be beat ever, due to match making more than anything. We knew he wasn't going to fight ggg, a healthy nelo, or the thurmans, spences, Bradley's etc

Many thought Pac could beat Floyd...but Floyd ended up beating Pac, shutting up his haters. Who were the experts saying could beat Floyd? He beat nearly all of his contemporaries and the ones he didn't fight- weren't as accomplished as the guys he fought. Why would he move up to 160 to fight ggg who wasn't a draw? A healthy nelo? Canelo wasn't sick when they fought. Thurman was a nobody when some of Floyd's haters said he was ducking him, and Spence too. and LOL at Bradley, the dude who ducked Khan. Nobody thought Floyd was ducking Bradley or that Bradley had a chance of beating Floyd.

[-Kev-]

RJJ is my favorite fighter of all time. He was fun to watch, and the way he moved, the angles he threw punches from, with the speed and power he did it with, he looked an otherworldly athlete. He was very special to watch because of these things. A true HOF’er and an ATG, probably the best P4P fighter in his prime. Legitimately unbeatable in his prime. Like who can realistically beat that guy, same size and all?

But Mayweather is better fundamentally. Truth be told, you are teaching your child to box, you do not tell them to copy what RJJ. While fun, the hands low, moving to avoid punches, and relying on handspeed to hit your target, isn’t the way you want to teach boxing. That’s one of the reasons why RJJ was so famous and so fun to watch: he did everything you shouldn’t do, and got away with it, and was really good at it.

You want to show your kid Mayweather fights if you want him to really get what is boxing and what are boxing fundamentals.

And I am sorry, but RJJ getting KO’ed by Tarver like that, would have been equal to Mayweather getting KO’ed by Mosley with the couple of good right hands in the 2nd round. And RJJ getting KO’ed by Glen Johnson like that would have been equivalent to Mayweather getting KO’ed by Maidana.

But that didn’t happen because as Mayweather aged, his boxing fundamentals stayed the same or better. He blocked instead of just moved. He setup big punches with jabs, instead of throwing 1 super fast power shot from a weird angle, hoping to KO his opponent. He clinched when he had to, instead of being a sitting duck, taking power shots.

RJJ didn’t know how to do any of this, and it showed as he aged at 33-35 vs Tarver 3x and Johnson. When RJJ’s superpowers were gone, he didn’t have the basic boxing fundamentals that his insane instincts bailed him out of in the past.

H2H, both in their prime, RJJ beats Mayweather. But that doesn’t mean he’s had the better career.

[darius45]

RJJ is my favorite fighter of all time. He was fun to watch, and the way he moved, the angles he threw punches from, with the speed and power he did it with, he looked an otherworldly athlete. He was very special to watch because of these things. A true HOF’er and an ATG, probably the best P4P fighter in his prime. Legitimately unbeatable in his prime. Like who can realistically beat that guy, same size and all?

But Mayweather is better fundamentally. Truth be told, you are teaching your child to box, you do not tell them to copy what RJJ. While fun, the hands low, moving to avoid punches, and relying on handspeed to hit your target, isn’t the way you want to teach boxing. That’s one of the reasons why RJJ was so famous and so fun to watch: he did everything you shouldn’t do, and got away with it, and was really good at it.

You want to show your kid Mayweather fights if you want him to really get what is boxing and what are boxing fundamentals.

In a sense you're right... But still...it isn't like RJJ is fundamentally sloppy... it's BECAUSE he has a strong fundamental base (that was hammered into him as a child just like Floyd) that he was able to look so otherworldy when he utilized his natural athleticism WITH his boxing skills... There are a lot of extremely athletic NFL and NBA players that can't throw a punch to save their lives despite the fact their "fast twitchy," and explosive.

Also...Everyone on this thread is painting a picture that Floyd is some supreme fundamental skilled boxer that didn't RELY on HIS superior athleticism in fights do the things that more "traditional" boxers would never do. Floyd used to do a leaping left hook too, or putting his hands down and doing his signature pull right hand counter.... Floyd RELIED on his reflexes just like Roy... It's just that his OVERALL fight plan utilized more "traditional" boxing because he was forced to because he wasn't AS athletic as Roy... If Floyd was able to do what Roy could... He would of done it, period... Roy didn't need to do the shoulder roll...It's not like Roy couldn't do it if he wanted to...

Talking of skills.... Was Floyd able to switch to south paw as smoothly and effectively as Roy?

A lot of kids will never have the cat like reflexes of Floyd, so i wouldn't say Floyd's style of boxing is some supreme template for doing boxing the "right" "traditional" way... Maybe someone like Roberto Duran or oscar de la hoya... Someone very skilled but without the "flashy" style which is impossible to mimic unless you're super athletic yourself... or maybe the cuban style...

And I am sorry, but RJJ getting KO’ed by Tarver like that, would have been equal to Mayweather getting KO’ed by Mosley with the couple of good right hands in the 2nd round. And RJJ getting KO’ed by Glen Johnson like that would have been equivalent to Mayweather getting KO’ed by Maidana.

But that didn’t happen because as Mayweather aged, his boxing fundamentals stayed the same or better. He blocked instead of just moved. He setup big punches with jabs, instead of throwing 1 super fast power shot from a weird angle, hoping to KO his opponent. He clinched when he had to, instead of being a sitting duck, taking power shots.

RJJ didn’t know how to do any of this, and it showed as he aged at 33-35 vs Tarver 3x and Johnson. When RJJ’s superpowers were gone, he didn’t have the basic boxing fundamentals that his insane instincts bailed him out of in the past.

H2H, both in their prime, RJJ beats Mayweather. But that doesn’t mean he’s had the better career.

Floyd wouldn't even fight spence or Crawford when he was still active... And he would of most likely beat them... He just didn't want to take any unnecessary risks... What was Floyd's excuse for such blatant dodges? His last real fight was against freaking Berto....How can anyone say he had the better career....Floyd's blatant ducks were Spence, Crawford and Lara....Because even though those were all winnable fights they would of been close... Floyd fought maidana TWICE... TWICE... but avoided all those fights


Roy was a literal warrior who went up to heavyweight...

When Roy dropped down in weight he no longer looked invincible, you're right... But this has less to do with Roy lacking fundamentals... And more to Roy just being stubborn and trying to box the way he always did... Even the Glenn Johnson fight... he was still pretty damn fast... faster than probably any current boxer still... But his reflexes slowed down just enough that he was getting hit was stuff he would never get hit with before...

Floyd's blend of athleticism and boxing allowed him to be dominant until the very end of his career... perhaps if Roy made adjustments to his style of boxing he would of taken less punishment... But Roy was a stubborn warrior... Floyd was a "smart" boxer who carefully chose his opponents....

All this isn't to say I don't think Floyd isn't a great fighter... But he's just not a "better" fighter or TBE...

[darius45]

The OP seems PERSONALLY offended that Floyd doesn't mention Roy Jones. Ali proclaimed himself the "greatest", Floyd claims "TBE", does it really matter?

I'm not personally offended... Just making an observation how Floyd rarely gives other boxers their props.

[crillz]

Floyd's big shtick is that he is "TBE" aka the best ever... This is in part a marketing gimmick but when you watch Floyd do interviews you start to think he GENUINELY thinks he's the best, most talents boxer ever.

In terms of natural talent he is one of the best... But he is CLEARLY not as talented as Roy in his prime, and you'd think this would be glaringly obvious to Floyd himself....

Do you think Floyd actually thinks he is more talented than Roy, or is all the TBE talk just a marketing ploy and he knows deep down he's not as talented? I mean, there was an overlap where Floyd and Roy were both in their their prime at a certain point.... It's not like Roy is some mythical fighter of the past with no video footage.... I'm sure Floyd saw Roy fight in person many times

In terms of fast, super slick boxers Roy and Floyd are maybe the top two fighters people think of... Yet Floyd almost never mentions Roy's name in interviews (in fact, I don't know if he EVER has)... Of course, Roy knows what's up and isn't afraid to talk about other fighters... But Floyd seems almost UNABLE to honestly rate himself against other great fighters...

So is it all a marketing ploy or does Floyd believe his own hype?

Talent is only 1 of the things you measure when calculating all time greatness
Floyd unlike Roy was a product of fundamental skills & not so much his physical gifts
this is why even as he aged he only got BETTER defensively

Roy was obviously heavier so man to man that's just not fair right?
but when I see how their careers went I have to say Floyd is better
he had a game changing impact similar to that of Ali & a level of success unmatched throughout history
who else has done what Floyd has done?
who else has gone undefeated for over 20 years over 5 weight classes?

THAT mixed with the fact that he is a literal blue print
a young fighter can watch the Mayweather way & do well for himself
nowadays an old retired fighter can also watch the Mayweather way & do well for himself

The success, the longevity, the impact, the skills etc
it's too much to overlook
in 50 fights he fought more different past or present world champions than SRR did in almost 200 fights
IMO Floyd is the GOAT & it ain't even close

[Boxfan83]

This 1 is easy, Floyd's never tested dirty.

Floyd>Roy

[djtmal]

Floyd is by far the better cherrypicker

[LeOoze]

Floyd is by far the better cherrypicker

RJJ fought John Ruiz for the heavyweight title LMAO.

[djtmal]

RJJ fought John Ruiz for the heavyweight title LMAO.

Floyd fought Conor McGregor a 0-0 non boxer

0% risk

Insert Floyd excuses here:

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