Roy Jones Jr in 2003 - the parallel universe.

**** Luf, I really dont know about this....Jones's Heavyweight run against Ruiz is talked about a lot, But i'l give my take....



Tyson- Hard to say, All Mike did in 03 was fight a buckled clifford etienne, He was in good shape, Could Roy handle a monster left from Mike? Or does he make Tyson look silly & easily outpoint him after Tyson gasses midway? (even as a Tyson fan, from 99-05 he wasnt conditioned for 12rounds)



Holyfield - This Could be an interesting fight, Holy was still mobile enough in 03 (compared to 2011 atsch) He may have enough left in the tank plus superior ring I.Q to take this fight with roy to the trenches, & thats where he'd likely outsmart a cocky jones...


Toney - Has the potential to be a *******, we know toney would be counter-punching like a madman, & if Roy was confident & letting his hands go like he normally did someone could be hitting the canvas.... i really think 2003 Toney can take this either way, points or KO


Byrd - Im leaving that one alone

 

Upon beatin Ruiz, he was supposed to face Corrie Sanders after Corrie's win with Wlad in 2003, but the fight never materialized. Chris Byrd was also a top fighter in those days holding one of the belts. Its far more likely that one or both of these guys would have been his next opponent(s), rather than Tyson, Holyfield or Toney. Although a rematch with James might have raised an eyebrow or two. Personally I think he could have decisioned Byrd in a close ( and probably controversial ) fight. But facing Sanders right after he just sparked Wlad would have dangerous.

I don't see Jones lasting long at this level. Especially given that he was still under 200 lbs and now 34 years of age.

 

Lewis and Tyson would have killed him. Holyfield probably does too. Jones knew it as soon as Ruiz landed that righthand on him, thats why he never fought at heavyweight again.

 

Fair enough,

I think duplicating his win over James Toney would have been a very tough proposition for him at that stage. Both men were past their best, but Toney was probably better suited for that class, especially with the aid of steroids.

Tyson, although shot would have been dangerous due to the fact that he still had that one punch KO power. Holyfield is probably the only the fighter that Id pick him to beat, given that styles and how badly Holy had been outboxed by slower boxers than Jones in Donald and Byrd.

 

Well

Tyson has a lot of power but lost his ability to deliver Jones has been KO'd a lot so if Tyson can get to him he can do it would jones get to cocky and comfortable i dont know

Jones on points id bet

Holyfield was outboxed by Byrd a yr or two earlier for the IBF but Byrd still took some good shots in the process tougher one

Id pick Jones but not confidently

Toney was a guy Jones schooled prime 4 prime and toney would only be older and slower i see a simialr result

Byrd good speed match up of counter punchers i see a boring careful fight like williamson or a close win like tarver one

if he were to stick around to face wlad i think wlad would beat him

 

cant wait to dive into this thread later

 

I agree with Jones beating Holyfield... At that point, Evander was just too immobile, and if you remember the Chris Byrd fight, he looked like a dump truck stuck in the mud. Tyson was shot to pieces and may very well have been outboxed by Jones, but there is always the prospect that Mike may have landed a few big shots on the button, and I don't think Jones had the chin to stand up to a heavyweight shot of that magnitude

 

Its possible that Jones could have beaten most of the very best heavys of that period, and then again he could have lost to almost all of them as well. Its really too difficult to come up with any reasonable conclusions as to what he'd do with only one fight at that class, and one that came against one of the weakest competitors of the upper tier.