Roy Jones jr: Triumph and Downfall, Physical gifts or Skills?

[D33Pwaters]

Yes, I am.

what age was he after he beat Ruiz then?

[Silencers]

He had skills but his skills revolved around his physical gifts so he never really bothered learning the basics which is why his fall was so quick, I think he could still be doing OK today if he had bothered to learn the basics like Hopkins did.

[IMDAZED]

I somewhat agree that his unorthodox style was his strength and his weakness. That said, if Roy Jones never learned the "basics" he would've been KO'ed years before. Physical gifts or not, put Usain Bolt or Lebron James in a ring and they'd get KTFO pretty quick. Jones flew where others walked but he had to learn to walk first. Being around the sport since he was four, he had the basics entrenched in him. And he was also taught a very unique style.

Jones' problem wasn't not knowing the basics, it was just getting old. And having absolutely no punch resistance following those back to back fights with Tarver. Take away Ali's footwork and what do you have? The old Ali, who sat on the ropes and got pummeled. And that's what Jones was in his later years - even before Tarver.

[djtmal]

Those who had the privilege to watch Roy Jones Jr. during his prime will tell you what a fighting specimen he was. In between Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather Jr. there was Roy Jones, holding the mantle as the most complete fighter during his prime.

He had the intimidation factor, speed, quickness, and tremendous power with both hands. His only weakness may have been his defense and fundamentals, and only because we never knew how good they were.

He was never easy to hit, but too often relied on his quickness, and his opponents’ hesitancy to pull the trigger in fear of being countered, as his main defensive strategies.

But as with many other athletes with superior physical gifts, they often find themselves relying on them, instead of honing their skills. As a result, when his speed and skills eroded, so did his success. While his rival Bernard Hopkins, who relies on guile and ring smart, continues to be considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers today.

What Roy Jones Jr. failed to realize is that physical gifts often fade away, but ring smarts and guile stays forever.

Now that he’s lost a step or two, Roy Jones Jr. learned the hard way that bad habits, such as keeping his hands down and relying on quickness to avoid punches, no longer work, as he’s been the victim of brutal knockouts in recent years.

Sadly, he’s becoming more known for his loses than his past accomplishments. Some people have even put Hopkins higher than Jones in their list of the greatest boxers in history. I don’t, because Roy Jones accomplished more and was significantly the greater fighter when both were at their prime.

I compare Jones to a baseball player who might have only played 10 years, but was a member of the 3000 hits club, a multiple MVP award winner, and was considered the best player during his prime. While Hopkins is a hitter who also had 3000 hits, it took him 20 years to get there.

Yet, the main reason for Roy’s downfall may have been his greatest triumph as well. When Roy defeated John Ruiz for the WBA Heavyweight title on March 1, 2003, he became the first former Middleweight title holder in 106 years to become a heavyweight champion.

But the historical win did not come without a price, as he had to gain about 20 pounds of muscles to move up and fight John Ruiz. What further compounded the issue was his decision to lose the excess weight and come back to the light heavyweight division.

He lost the weight but never regained his incredible quickness and reflexes; thus began his journey from the best pound for pound boxer to irrelevancy.


So what do you think was responsible for Roy Jones jr. downfall?

what do you think about physical gifts vs skills leading do greater success?

yeah maybe jones would have been dominant for 1 or 2 more fights had he not moved up to heavy, but for a former middleweight to move up to heavy and beat a good beltholder easy, then move down to lightheavy and beat a top fighter in tarver in a tough fight, you gotta respect that...his post ruiz career is a complete joke, and i didn't think jones would allow himself to become a stepping stone for other fighters credibility, but ali, the sugar rays, etc. never knew when to quit as well..

that said, comparing jones and hopkins is a joke...jones was interested in challenging his talent by fighting bigger fighters, and took his talent to the limit before he got ko'd...no shame in that...hopkins on the other hand was always seeking to make the most money fighting big name talent that was far smaller and weaker than himself....only reason why hopkins is still hanging around is because he isn't interested in fighting guys his size or bigger with equal talent...

[THE REED]

I somewhat agree that his unorthodox style was his strength and his weakness. That said, if Roy Jones never learned the "basics" he would've been KO'ed years before. Physical gifts or not, put Usain Bolt or Lebron James in a ring and they'd get KTFO pretty quick. Jones flew where others walked but he had to learn to walk first. Being around the sport since he was four, he had the basics entrenched in him. And he was also taught a very unique style.

Jones' problem wasn't not knowing the basics, it was just getting old. And having absolutely no punch resistance following those back to back fights with Tarver. Take away Ali's footwork and what do you have? The old Ali, who sat on the ropes and got pummeled. And that's what Jones was in his later years - even before Tarver.

Right, only without the chin of Ali...

[IMDAZED]

Right, only without the chin of Ali...

Yup. And Jones took punches very well in his prime so it's surprising but may be that had to do with gaining and cutting that muscle. To do that, then to have that rough fight with Tarver...no way he was going to be the same. Even in that first Tarver fight, he took some hellacious shots. One (in the 8th) was as hard as the one he got KTFO with.

[El Castigador]

he had skills but his skills revolved around his physical gifts so he never really bothered learning the basics which is why his fall was so quick, i think he could still be doing ok today if he had bothered to learn the basics like hopkins did.

agree 100%.

[djtmal]

Yup. And Jones took punches very well in his prime so it's surprising but may be that had to do with gaining and cutting that muscle. To do that, then to have that rough fight with Tarver...no way he was going to be the same. Even in that first Tarver fight, he took some hellacious shots. One (in the 8th) was as hard as the one he got KTFO with.

definitely...

[IMDAZED]

yeah maybe jones would have been dominant for 1 or 2 more fights had he not moved up to heavy, but for a former middleweight to move up to heavy and beat a good beltholder easy, then move down to lightheavy and beat a top fighter in tarver in a tough fight, you gotta respect that...his post ruiz career is a complete joke, and i didn't think jones would allow himself to become a stepping stone for other fighters credibility, but ali, the sugar rays, etc. never knew when to quit as well..

that said, comparing jones and hopkins is a joke...jones was interested in challenging his talent by fighting bigger fighters, and took his talent to the limit before he got ko'd...no shame in that...hopkins on the other hand was always seeking to make the most money fighting big name talent that was far smaller and weaker than himself....only reason why hopkins is still hanging around is because he isn't interested in fighting guys his size or bigger with equal talent...

Why you gotta ruin a good post by dissing Hopkins? Come on, dj. You my man and all...

[djtmal]

He had skills but his skills revolved around his physical gifts so he never really bothered learning the basics which is why his fall was so quick, I think he could still be doing OK today if he had bothered to learn the basics like Hopkins did.

yeah he should have been paying more attention when he was being taught basics like how to lowblow, rabbit punch, headbutt, and excessively clinch like hopkins...