Comments Thread For: Where Does Roy Jones Belong On The List Of Greatest Boxers?

[robertzimmerman]

Instead of going a round without getting hit against Paz, he should have fought say Nunn.

Instead of playing basketball and boxing on the same night against Lucas, he should have fought say Liles.

Now you can say that in an eye test, Jones look like an atg but facts are that there’s to many missing boxers on his resume.

Another thing is that personally I wouldn’t put much emphasis on the final part of his career when his skill was eroded. I could have lived without that.

The fact is:

He still beat fighters who were as good as most of the guys who he missed.


How could he have fought Liles instead of Lucas, when Liles wouldn't fight him?


We've been doing this for years now.

[Mike_R]

RJJ is deservedly in the conversation for best ever. I'd rank him top 10 somewhere without too much hesitation.

He historically won a heavyweight title and he trashed his body to go from heavyweight back to light heavyweight. He was never the same after making that move. Had he maintained at light heavyweight and never bulked up to win a HW title, I think he would have beaten Tarver much more decisively the first fight and there never would have even been a rematch. Obviously that's just speculation...

His reflexes were unreal in the 90's, he would have still diminished and probably been KO'd at some point one way or the other. He's fought a long time, it's who he is. I never liked seeing Roy KO'd by nobodies in these later years he's fought into, but I do have a different kind of respect for him now separate from my respect for how truly great he once was. He never let a horrific loss keep him down, and regardless of how his overall career arc has gone- he probably would have fought this far into his 40's anyways.

I truly hope he's done though. He's a great commentator and he needs to preserve his faculties. This is a young man's game and he should go out with that decision win. It's a much better looking final fight than what BHop managed.

[stealthradon]

Hilarious.

Yeah, I'm sure Duran fighting their in his 40's, was akin to Roy being classed as the best fighter in the world when he beat Toney at the weight.

You would be ridiculed if you made a thread.

Yes, fighting guys who came from winning against big names such as Ernest Mateen, James Williamson, John Foreman, Willie Ball...I mean, that Toney was a beast.

[GhostofDempsey]

All depends on what criteria is being used to rank him. Strictly on resume, there are some names missing that he maybe he should have made a greater effort to fight...Benn, Eubank, Michalczewski, but in fairness to Roy, he was a champion who was under no obligation to chase challengers across the pond. Hopkins ducked the rematch until Roy was well past it, and he was never the same fighter after coming down from HW, despite a win over Tarver.

Roy also has not adapted. He relied heavily on speed and reflexes. As he slowed down, he couldn't make the necessary adjustments to his defense and game plan and suffered for it with some devastating KO losses and losses against C-rate fighters.

I could make room for Jones on an All Time Top 50 list. Where he falls on that list I'm not quite sure. He was certainly a rare breed of fighter with exceptional speed, accuracy and reflexes and one of the most exciting fighters to watch.

[bigjavi973]

easily arguably top 5 all time imo

[djtmal]

on thing i say about roy..he got wins on 2 atg's in their primes, without breaking too much of a sweat..one thing the floyd boys could never say about tbe floyd...

he could have sat down @ 168 where his speed and power was at it optimum for years until some big money smaller guys moved up, but took his unique skillset to 175 and fought just about anybody who would get in the ring...

i always say i thought he was bulls**ting for a minute there with some soft touches, but when his heart was x-rayed by tarver in that first fight, he knuckled up proper and earned my respect...

if he wants to say he's the goat, i ain't got no problem with it...

[hogey]

At his best he was the greatest fighter since prime Ray Leonard, for me peak RJJ was better than Floyd, Manny or anyone else of the last 30 years. He was the complete package of skills, blinding speed, incredible defence, great footwork and knockout power. A man of his size winning the heavyweight title is one of the greatest achievements in the history of boxing, if he had retired then he would have joined Robinson, Armstrong, Leonard, Greb ect at the very top table of the sport.

[robertzimmerman]

Yes, fighting guys who came from winning against big names such as Ernest Mateen, James Williamson, John Foreman, Willie Ball...I mean, that Toney was a beast.

Instead of scrambling around on BoxRec, go and watch some actual fight footage.

Educate yourself.

You'll get a lot more out of these types of debates.

[Tom Cruise]

Can people stop saying he won 'The' HW title.

He won 'a' HW title. Lennox Lewis was the champion at the time. Ruiz held a belt.

[stealthradon]

Instead of scrambling around on BoxRec, go and watch some actual fight footage.

Educate yourself.

You'll get a lot more out of these types of debates.

Of a guy beating someone with an 11-9 record?

No, but you are right, RJJ is the greatest fighter that ever lived in every weight possible, even the ones he didn't fight in. Just look at his ability. We might as well remove all HoF's and just put one giant picture of RJJ up there, because he is the greatest ever. In every weight.
Because surely if his ability from LHW was present in SMW and MW, why not SWW and WW?
Why stop there? RJJ might be the greatest athlete ever known, in all the sports.