Dariusz Michalczewski's 24 consecutive title defenses doesn't get enough praise

[crold1]

that's because

-he's not American
- a part of his reign coincided with the reign of Jones

that's my take

I too believe he deserves a lot more credit/attention than he is given

He was a hell of a fighter. Not being American is why he isn't brought up more by Americans generally (they didn't see him) but the lack of Jones is why his #'s don't get full love. Dariusz only got one real dodgy win (the KO loss to Rochigianni that wasn't). Thrashed Hill. He's on the Hall ballot, where guys like Eubank and Benn who had double digit defenses at 68 are not, so someone paid attention.

If he fights Jones, he probably doesn't have the numbers and most assume that. Could he have won? Anything is possible and he had a stiff jab and hammer of a right. We'll never know. I think he he gets in the Hall eventually but it's tough. Foreign guys sometimes wait a long time. Myung Wuh Yuh is still waiting and should have been in years ago.

[Spray_resistant]

He was a hell of a fighter. Not being American is why he isn't brought up more by Americans generally (they didn't see him) but the lack of Jones is why his #'s don't get full love. Dariusz only got one real dodgy win (the KO loss to Rochigianni that wasn't). Thrashed Hill. He's on the Hall ballot, where guys like Eubank and Benn who had double digit defenses at 68 are not, so someone paid attention.

If he fights Jones, he probably doesn't have the numbers and most assume that. Could he have won? Anything is possible and he had a stiff jab and hammer of a right. We'll never know. I think he he gets in the Hall eventually but it's tough. Foreign guys sometimes wait a long time. Myung Wuh Yuh is still waiting and should have been in years ago.

Watching that one now, Hill seemed very uncomfortable with how much pressure Dariusz put on him and how nothing he did could deter or back Dariusz off.

[BoxingGenius27]

He wouldn't leave Germany to fight Roy.

Roy had more leverage at the time and had every right to fight on his home turf.

[Spray_resistant]

He wouldn't leave Germany to fight Roy.

Roy had more leverage at the time and had every right to fight on his home turf.

Too bad because he could have if he could withstand the early rounds where Roy would land clean hard shots have beaten Roy by slowing him down with his pressure considering that we found out Roy never really had a chin.

[crold1]

He wouldn't leave Germany to fight Roy.

Roy had more leverage at the time and had every right to fight on his home turf.

Neither guy had any leverage on the other. That's a key to why they didn't fight.

Roy couldn't draw flies at the time (and was at best a slightly above average draw late in his career). He was an HBO subsidy for most of his career. Dariusz could draw in Germany and Kohl liked to keep his money in house.

The most money would have been in traveling because it would have combined HBO, German TV, and a real gate. Roy was fine with the money he had.

They were strong in parallel economic universes.

[BoxingGenius27]

Neither guy had any leverage on the other. That's a key to why they didn't fight.

Roy couldn't draw flies at the time (and was at best a slightly above average draw late in his career). He was an HBO subsidy for most of his career. Dariusz could draw in Germany and Kohl liked to keep his money in house.

The most money would have been in traveling because it would have combined HBO, German TV, and a real gate. Roy was fine with the money he had.

They were strong in parallel economic universes.

Yeah, I think you might be correct.

I just remember Roy wiping everyone out but this guy and they could never come to terms on where the fight would take place.

I always thought Roy shouldn't have to leave the U.S because I felt he was the more proven fighter and more recognized champion.

I remember this being a major issue at the time.

[Tiozzo]

Watching that one now, Hill seemed very uncomfortable with how much pressure Dariusz put on him and how nothing he did could deter or back Dariusz off.

btw, the guy in my avatar ended Dariusz career

he was passed it a bit, and he got stopped

you might want to watch

[BoxingGenius27]

Too bad because he could have if he could withstand the early rounds where Roy would land clean hard shots have beaten Roy by slowing him down with his pressure considering that we found out Roy never really had a chin.

My theory is this.

Once Roy won the Heavyweight title, he accomplished everything he wanted to accomplish. Going back down in weight and fighting Tarver should've never happened. He should've retired after the Ruiz fight.

Going 16 years undefeated without breaks and someone will catch you eventually. Tarver caught Roy with the luckiest punch I've ever seen lol I think he threw that thing with his eyes closed.

Needless to say, Roy was never the same after that fight.

I don't think Roy lost in his next fights because he never had a chin, I think it was because he was never the same after the Tarver loss.

A prime Roy, usually would never stay in one place longer than a second. It was so uncharacteristic of Roy the way he just sat against the ropes in the Glen Johnson fight. This is when I really knew that Roy was never the same. It had nothing to do with him not having a chin. After the Tarver fight, Roy lost his ability to move and became gun shy, which is what made him the most prolific/dynamic fighter in the first place.

[crold1]

Yeah, I think you might be correct.

I just remember Roy wiping everyone out but this guy and they could never come to terms on where the fight would take place.

I always thought Roy shouldn't have to leave the U.S because I felt he was the more proven fighter and more recognized champion.

I remember this being a major issue at the time.

By most indications, there was never a serious negotiation. As to leaving the U.S., if Robinson and Ali could do it for bigger money, Roy could too and they were a HELL of a lot bigger than him. He didn't want to. In the end, it's just one of the fights that wasn't. His career was fine anyways. If there were many who thought he could have lost that fight, it would matter more.

The sad thing with Roy is that, 20 years from now, he'll be a guy hardcore fans bring up as great to the stinging frustration of the average sports fan either saying "who" or "he's no (insert Leonard, Pacquiao, Mayweather, etc.)." He just doesn't resonate outside boxing. He took the safest possible way to his money for a long time and refused to do most of the things that make a fighter a brand.

He didn't want to get jacked by promoters, but in the end he's just another fighter selling concussions for cash anyways. Imagine what King could have done with him given all the talent he had under contract at 60 and 68. Roy Jones should have been the face of boxing for years. Instead, HBO and he just pretended he was.

He accomplished a ton. GREAT fighter. But the sort of fame his talent deserved never came to pass.

My theory is this.

Once Roy won the Heavyweight title, he accomplished everything he wanted to accomplish. Going back down in weight and fighting Tarver should've never happened. He should've retired after the Ruiz fight.

Going 16 years undefeated without breaks and someone will catch you eventually. Tarver caught Roy with the luckiest punch I've ever seen lol I think he threw that thing with his eyes closed.

Needless to say, Roy was never the same after that fight.

I don't think Roy lost in his next fights because he never had a chin, I think it was because he was never the same after the Tarver loss.

Roy would never stay in one place longer than a second. It was so uncharacteristic of Roy the way he just sat against the ropes in the Glen Johnson fight. This is when I really knew that Roy was never the same. It had nothing to do with him not having a chin. After the Tarver fight, Roy lost his ability to move and became gun shy, which is what made him the most prolific/dynamic fighter in the first place.

True story...I picked Tarver coming out of Atlanta as the guy to be Roy's great opponent. Cut out an SI article and showed my Dad and said, this guy. He had a style and length that could always trouble Roy. Roy knew it. That's why he wrote letters to the IBF not to enforce the mandatory in 2000. He wanted to hold that one off for a minute (and got a good turn when Harding broke Tarver's jaw and pulled away in the last third in their first fight). I think Roy would have beat Tarver a little more clearly earlier, but that was always going to be tough.

[ИATAS]

Roy Jones was the pound 4 pound #1 fighter at the time, or #2 (depending on which year). Dariusz never cracked the top ten. So yeah, I'd think Roy was viewed as "the king" of boxing and that Dariusz should have traveled to fight Roy if he wanted the fight not the other way around.