Roy Jones Jr in 2003 - the parallel universe.

I think Jones could have beaten Byrd, but not the others.

 

Lets say he maintains his Ruiz condition/durability, he should still stay away from Tyson - you have to absorb Tyson's bombs to beat him, won't happen, the Ettiene Tyson was a dangerous 1. Holyfield he can beat, Evanders legs and engine had gone by this stage, because Toney/Byrd did and Jones is better. Byrd/Toney are relative cake walks with all due respect to them

Ironically though Tyson was the fight he wanted, not sure how he fights him, moving to Tyson's left using his quicker legs to keep him out of range, pouncing in and out of scoring range to steal a decision

 

Well, can he deal with those illegal tactics of Tyson? Jones is not a physical guy in close and Tyson was a guy that would do about anything in there to win and he was only disqualified once. When you have a guy that always fights fair against a dirty type opponent, usually they are on the wrong end of things because that's 1 area they have no experience in.

The major problem with Jones winning 5 fights like this is the deterioration factor. Even if he wins, there will be far more physical deterioration absorbing punches from the heavies than any absorbing he ever had to do at 168 or 175. He never was asked to absorb much in those fights. Those heavies listed are not going to go out easily and Jones is going to be digging deep to win. That stuff always comes back and shows itself in subsequent fights.

You also have the koby factor. Lets say Jones gets stopped by Tyson. And it very well could be a brutal ko loss. Now, you have a rebuilding project on your hands. Not just a loss. What's it take--2 or or maybe 3 years? And you still have Evander and Byrd and Toney and these guys waiting in line. Jones simply has to be 100% to win, at least I think so.

 

Tyson doesn't really do much in the clinches though so he could get away imo, again I'm not picking him over Tyson, Tyson is a nightmare for any sub 200lber in history, although Norris gave a yougner version a few problems

 

The main thing is the power of Tyson, anything to the head or body can KO Jones.

Toney's the easiest fight of the bunch, Toney's great against some styles but when he's outmanouvered and outsped he's completely neutralised

 

Byrd and Toney, sure.

Even the shot shot versions of the other guys he should stay away from at all costs.

 

Tyson and Holyfield both stop him. Toney vs Jones would be a boring fight where few punches would be thrown...but...man, it's a toss up.

He beats Byrd.

 

It's most likely that the disinterested Tyson from 2003 onward might be dangerous for 2 or 3 rounds, but Roy stays away from him and lets Tyson get tired and lose any interest in fighting while potshotting his way to a decision. The only way Tyson beats him is if he gets to Roy early or actually gets up for this fight in a way that he never would with the likes of McBride and Williams. All in all, I think it's fairly unlikely.

Keep in mind this would be after that fight, as Jones-Ruiz actually took place after that bout, if my memory serves. The Tyson from the Williams and McBride bouts have a puncher's chance at best.

Holyfield would probably be unable to deal with Roy's speed at this point.

Toney would do everything he could dream of to spoil an occasion like this for Jones. Would it be enough, or does Roy ride his speed to victory again?

Everything Byrd does well Roy does better, and a couple of things Byrd doesn't do well Roy can do. I essentially see it as the first Montell Griffith fight at a higher weight.

Logic says that Jones would have the edge in all the bouts, but of course logic doesn't always hold up in the ring, and the late career of Roy Jones is proof of that. Maybe Tyson or Holyfield would stop him, because they would push themselves super hard for the fight. Maybe Toney finds a way to spoil his to victory or pulls a rabbit (and some punches) out of his hat.

I say Roy loses at least on of these bouts, despite the fact that he should have the advantage in them.

 

RJJ should avoid Tyson like the plague.

All this stuff about potshotting, sorry it aint going to happen. This is Tyson, not Old Foreman were talking about.

Nobody, ever, went through a Tyson fight unscathed. Jones has got nothing to hold Tyson off him. He can run, but he cannot hide.

Lewis was very weary of Tyson throughout their fight, Williams took some big punches and Mcbride, well hes a big fat ******* anyway.
I dont think Jones could take the shots Williams took, or thr shots Mcbride took.

Tyson only ever fought 3 guys smaller than him. Spinks, Frazier, Norris. Go Figure.

No small guy ever beats Tyson. Its big guys he struggled with

And of course, there is always the Tyson fear factor.

 

Jones made a huge legacy mistake by not doing more at heavyweight.

Holyfield was ready to be taken.

Tyson was ready to be taken.

He had the tools to beat Byrd on paper.

The worst that any of these guys could have done is do what Tarver did to him.

 

Actually thats true, getting kod by a Tyson wouldnt look as bad as getting Kod by Tarver