Has Roy improved or lessened his rep in your eyes with the last Tarver fight?

Before Saturday night I believed that Roy was going to go out an avenger and redeem himself. He nearly did... he got rocked, came back and even hurt Tarver.

But it seems that once the most ego-driven boxer in the game was now a man content to go the distance. His objective on Saturday seemed to be to just end his career without tasting the canvas, at least from halfway into the fight.

But that's what I think. What about you? Has Roy lessened or improved his rep by this? For me, it's lessened. There's now too many unanswered questions, like would he EVER have been able to have a fight like this. It's okay to line up the names he ducked and say "Yeah, Roy would have..." but we don't KNOW. And, for some reason, Saturday night put more doubts in my mind than ever.

For boxing exhibitions RJJ did well, but as much as I love the sweet science of hit and not get hit, my favourite boxer (Ali) proved he could take it when it became a contact sport. Roy did not.

[jabsRstiff]

I voted that his rep is still the same.

I'm viewing this weekend as a NON_HAPPENING in the career of Roy Jones Jr........

....because nothing goddamn happened.

No one's voted that it's improved yet...

[rocco1252]

No one's voted that it's improved yet...

thats becuase this fight didnt improve anything about him, I would have rather seen him get KO'd fighting than last the whole fight throwing 52 punches in 4 combined rounds...thats not the roy we all grew up to love!

[Kimmy]

Roy was/is shot. The last time Roy was at his best was against Ruiz. The last four fights ( since moving from heavy to lightheavy, which i think ended his career then and there )have been a shadow of the Roy Jones that dominated the pound for pound ratings.
You can`t judge Roy soley on his lame defeats that all the greats seem to suffer when they go on too long!

[GasPed]

The choices in the poll are badly worded. The third one should read "It lessened his legacy in my eyes" not "It lessened his achievements". His achievements are what they are, this fight doesn't change that at all. But with every new "L" in the record, and every diminished performance, it can't help but tarnish his career somewhat.

When Ali beat Foreman in '74 (or even Spinks to regain the title in '78), his legacy was at its peak. But sadly he fought on, and even though we remember his great accomplishments, we can't help but also remember his sad and pretty pathetic efforts as a shot fighter. RJJ is no different.

When Ali beat Foreman in '74 (or even Spinks to regain the title in '78), his legacy was at its peak. But sadly he fought on, and even though we remember his great accomplishments, we can't help but also remember his sad and pretty pathetic efforts as a shot fighter. RJJ is no different.

I disagree. Ali was under the first signs of Parkinsons (though it wasn't diagnosed then) and his speech was already clearly affected even as early as the second Spinx fight. The two where he lost big - Holmes and Berbick (though personally I still had it a draw in the second one) - were after he'd retired. Big difference from someone losing whilst still in the natural course of their career and just getting a little older.

Also, Ali showed he had a real chin. Roy has not.

[Lucky466]

Roy was lessened in my eyes because of saturday. At least with those knock out loses he tried to get up against Tarver and Johnson he was out cold so I dont know. But Saturday night all he did was show up to the arena he didnt try to fight. He isnot a great fighter because all the great ones no matter how shot still came to win.

[adeelr]

he should have tried to win the fight....i havent seen the fight but after reading all the articles and comments, it seems this time around he was just trying to avoid getting kayod....Roy has lost his belief. he should retire, i dont think tarver will give him another match.

[rocco1252]

Roy was/is shot. The last time Roy was at his best was against Ruiz. The last four fights ( since moving from heavy to lightheavy, which i think ended his career then and there )have been a shadow of the Roy Jones that dominated the pound for pound ratings.
You can`t judge Roy soley on his lame defeats that all the greats seem to suffer when they go on too long!

People just have to realize thatRoy Jones Jr is past his prime and we cant hold the fact that he is a fighter against him, old or not thats what he knows how to do and loves to do. We cant base his career on the final few fights he had, we have to look at what he did for the sport, for himself, and for all of us.

Roy Jones Jr is a great fighter and was always one to entertain, he spoke highly of the sport he was involved in and was very respectable in and outside the ring. Like all aging fighters or athlete's for that matter it's difficult to realize your time to shine is over and it's time to step back and thats the situation he is in. His mind and head still think he is able and his body is unable, lets just hope that if he does continue he doesnt get hurt.