Has Roy Jones Hurt His Legacy By Getting KTFO Too Many Times

[Eff Pandas]

He should have retired after his 50th fight.

I think you're one fight too late. If RJJ had retired on the John Ruiz win @ 48-1 never legit losing a fight & a 4 weight division champion, he's on some Paul Bunyan of boxing type ****.

[-Kev-]

HOF/ATG lists and legacies are based on accomplishments. There is no such thing as taking back accomplishments. Or losses in the fighters past prime career affecting prior accomplishments, never heard or read that before.

Roy won fighter of the decade in 90s.

Only fighter in history to start at 154 and get a title at Heavyweight

Matched a 106 year record, only done by one other man, of becoming champion at 160 and then at HW

1 of only 2 fighters to win a Light Heavyweight title and a HW title

[Fury4daWIN]

His prime will always be there on tape for anyone to see, but his mystique has flown out the window long ago.

Here's a question: if Jones were to miraculously fight Drodz or Glowacki and beat them would that count towards his legacy? It'd be an incredible achievement, but to acknowledge it fans would have to acknowledge everything that came in between, which significantly lowers his overall standing. Or would it be discounted because of how past prime he is?

[bojangles1987]

Other than Tarver and Johnson, none of it was some huge shock. All of them came after Roy was very visibly past it or outright shot.

I've never understood the idea of retroactively losing your legacy because of what happens when a fighter is past it. None of these knockouts mean anything towards the caliber of fighter Roy Jones Jr. was for a long time. he could get knocked out another 10 times and it wouldn't change anything.

[bojangles1987]

His prime will always be there on tape for anyone to see, but his mystique has flown out the window long ago.

Here's a question: if Jones were to miraculously fight Drodz or Glowacki and beat them would that count towards his legacy? It'd be an incredible achievement, but to acknowledge it fans would have to acknowledge everything that came in between, which significantly lowers his overall standing. Or would it be discounted because of how past prime he is?

It would be a huge black mark against those fighters as well as a massive accomplishment for Roy at this point. There's literally no chance it happens though.

No one's saying you don't have to acknowledge Roy's many losses over the past 10 years, but they're irrelevant. They don't erase what came before or make them any less.

[therealpugilist]

Ezzard Charles suffered 7 KO losses, 5 of which came in the last 5 years of his career. He's still universally regarded as an ATG.

Chavez Sr.'s only four stoppage losses occured in his later years. He's still universally regarded as an ATG.

Sugar Ray Robinson lost 5 out of his last 11 fights to lesser opponents. He's universally regarded as the #1 fighter in history.

Roberto Duran lost 3 of his last 5 fights, has several losses to journeyman and is still universally regarded as a top 5-10 ATG.


The list goes on. These losses have 0 impact on what people will think of Roy Jones 10-15 years from now.

said like a veteran.....damn newbies


How can you judge a fighter based off fights where you know he was washed up

Jones was finished after around the 3rd Tarver fight and definitely after that prolonged beating from Johnson where he was gun shy


Jones lost when he was 34 and that's when a fighter shows signs of slowing down

[therealpugilist]

HOF/ATG lists and legacies are based on accomplishments. There is no such thing as taking back accomplishments. Or losses in the fighters past prime career affecting prior accomplishments, never heard or read that before.

Roy won fighter of the decade in 90s.

Only fighter in history to start at 154 and get a title at Heavyweight

Matched a 106 year record, only done by one other man, of becoming champion at 160 and then at HW

1 of only 2 fighters to win a Light Heavyweight title and a HW title

only fighter to go an entire round without getting hit

first fighter to win a title at heavyweight and move back down to 175 and regain his old titles


first pro fighter to participate in 2 pro events in the same day.....played semi pro game and defended his title against future champion Eric Lucas


At his best, Roy was a once in a lifetime talent ala Jordan, Willie Mays, and Barry Sanders......they were so far ahead of their peers that when they slowed sown everyone was in shock

[Fury4daWIN]

It would be a huge black mark against those fighters as well as a massive accomplishment for Roy at this point. There's literally no chance it happens though.

No one's saying you don't have to acknowledge Roy's many losses over the past 10 years, but they're irrelevant. They don't erase what came before or make them any less.

It'd be an insane accomplishment of course, but would it and should it count towards his legacy? And if it did what do his losses mean for the legacy of those who beat him? I think if you're writing off a fighter's losses because of your perception that they're past prime (and make no mistake about my feelings, Jones is shotter than shot) then you have to write off their wins as well. It's only fair.

[HughJass]

Roy Jones Jr in his prime was one of the best boxers ever.You can't take that away from him.So NO.

[boliodogs]

Maybe he has to some fans. To me he hasn't. I divide his career into two parts. The great Roy Jones and the Roy Jones who was KOed by Tarver. The great Roy Jones was nearly unbeatable at 160, 168 and 175. After Tarver knocked him out he was never as good. Jones had a decent chin and great skills before Tarver knocked him out. After Tarver knocked him out he was never the same. He could no longer take hard punches without being hurt or KOed. He did not fight with the fearless fury he used to fight with. He was gun shy and afraid to let his hands go. He should have retired after his loss to Tarver and certainly after Johnson KOed him. He refuses to retire so I file his loses under the ruined Roy Jones and don't mix them in with the career of the great Roy Jones. I wish he would retire to avoid serious brain damage.