If Roy Jones retired after the John Ruiz fight...

[Guest]

I dunno why Royston gets praised for "beating" Tarver the first time... he was bashed around like a $10 crack whore and clearly stunned at least once, getting a decision that could be described as "charitable".

[VG_Addict]

What if Robinson beat Maxim for the LHW title?

[daggum]

What if Robinson beat Maxim for the LHW title?

he would have been great but nope he's forgotten

[Fr3$h]

nope not even close

[RichCCFC]

No one will ever pass Robinson.

[ddeg10]

Jones should never have gone back down to Light Heavyweight - it was too hard on his body and is what accelerated his decline. Had he stayed at heavyweight and secured a fight with Holyfield or Tyson (or both) and won those fights, we would be having a different conversation altogether. Apparently those are the fights Jones was going for but for one reason or another they weren't made. A lot of people give Jones a lot of crap for ducking guys, but he was the one pushing for the big fights during that time, and as you guys have stated, wasn't afraid to face Tarver 3 times. Always fun to watch - thanks Roy.

[nivek535]

Going back down and beating Tarver should be considered just as important to his legacy as beating Ruiz. If he had retired after that, you'd probably have a lot of people saying he's the best ever. Not that he would be, but many would say so.

That being said, those people who think his losses since somehow diminish what he did before are just as ridiculous as the people who might have said he's the GOAT.

my thoughts exactly.
what the ****, right?
why does continuing the sport of boxing past your prime and losing have to do with how great you were at your prime??
makes no sense to me..
that's like saying robinson (although i dont agree hes #1 all times) is not GOAT because he had losses after his prime.
whaaaaaaat the ****?

[paulf]

That being said, those people who think his losses since somehow diminish what he did before are just as ridiculous as the people who might have said he's the GOAT.

The fact is that going back and watching tapes is different than following fights as they unfold. A lot of posters around here didn't see Roy, Sugar Shane, Morales, etc. in their primes and cant make a true assessment of them, because all they know about is seeing them lose. They don't realize that Oscar and Mosley back at 135 would destroy Manny and Floyd at 135.

[DreamMerchant12]

The fact is that going back and watching tapes is different than following fights as they unfold. A lot of posters around here didn't see Roy, Sugar Shane, Morales, etc. in their primes and cant make a true assessment of them, because all they know about is seeing them lose. They don't realize that Oscar and Mosley back at 135 would destroy Manny and Floyd at 135.

Bull****. They'd give them closer fights, but not destroy them.