Who could have beaten a prime Roy Jones Jr?

If Joe was shot at 36, when he was undefeated, what was Jones at nearly 40, having been brutally KO'd previously and not holkding a title in over 3 years?

 

This is where Bailey gets his que's from

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-XM_GGVdLiI

 

Many people on this site seem to put him up there with the top of the middleweights for some reason even though his career at middle was very brief and his only notable win there being Hopkins....so at middle I think that Hagler, Monzon, Robinson, Greb, Langford all definitely beat him. I'd favour Hearns and Leonard over him too.

At Super Middle, I don't think anyone does. As the division was only created in the 80s it obviously hasn't got the depth of fighters that other divisions have, but out of the super middleweight champions that there has been I think that Roy is head and shoulders above the rest.

At light heavy the first two that come to mind that would give Roy a hell of a fight are Foster and Spinks.

 

Fitzsimmons fought in a time where there were fewer weight classes. And he went straight to HW from MW.

 

Imperial writes this now, but at the time felt Jones could beat Calzaghe

 

I always felt he could have beat him, I knew what version of Jones was going in against Joe . What you never rooted for your favorite team fighter etc regardless of the odds ? atsch

 

If it was so easy, it wouldn't have taken 100 years for another fighter to do it.

Hell, Spinks was the first fighter to win titles at LHW AND HW.

 

Lets remember that Jones, Calzaghe was viewed as a bigger better fight than Hopkins, Pavlik and many predicted Jones to win
Bet you didnt disagree with all these so called experts before the fight
Hindsight is one thing, but look at the facts, the Ring LHW champ beat The Ring #6 in a fight many expected him to lose. It was a big fight at the time but now Calzaghe clearly won, they say Jones was shot

Bernard Hopkins- Former two-division world champion
Fought Joe Calzaghe on April 19, 2008 and lost by split decision
Fought Roy Jones Jr. May 22, 1993 and lost by unanimous decision

“Jones by unanimous decision based on his speed and power.”

Lennox Lewis- Former heavyweight champion
"Jones has unbelievable speed and Calzaghe's never fought anyone like him. Jones likes it when his opponent comes to him and unfortunately for Calzaghe, that's exactly what he does; comes to his opponent and is right in their face. I pick Jones on points, but I think it’ll be a very close fight."

Jeff Lacy- Former IBF super middleweight champion
Fought Joe Calzaghe March 4, 2006 and lost by unanimous decision

“It’s going to be a hard fight to pick. If Jones doesn't stay on the ropes and give Calzaghe angles and lots of movement I'm going to go with Jones by decision. Roy can't stay on the ropes and give Joe the chance to throw his slapping punches. This is a great fight for Jones to win and setup a big money fight again with Hopkins!”

Glen Johnson- Former IBF, IBO and Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion
Fought Roy Jones September 25, 2004 and won by KO in 9th round

“Roy Jones will win. I believe Calzaghe fights an amateur style. He throws a lot of slappy punches. Roy throws much more meaningful punches. In general, Calzaghe will throw more punches than Roy, but Roy’s will be harder hitting. Unless the judges are blind, they will see that the harder punches make Jones the winner. They should see that Roy Jones’ hard-hitting punches make the difference.”

Vernon Forrest - WBC welterweight champion
“Roy Jones is still the best fighter in my era and still arguably one of the best fighters period. Roy with his speed can match Calzaghe, and he has power. So the power and speed is with Roy. Roy by decision.”

Paulie Malignaggi- Former IBF junior welterweight champion.

"It's a hard fight to pick. I thought Calzaghe at first because, but maybe he's too much for Roy right now. But based on what Joe just said about the three Brits beating the three Americans (Calzaghe-Jones, Hatton-Malignaggi, Haye-Barrett), I'm pulling Roy home.....Jones by decision."

Winky Wright- Former world junior middleweight champion

“I think Roy is going to win. I think that his punches are going to be sharper than Calzaghe’s and I think that Roy is a harder puncher. I think it might go all 12 rounds, but if somebody gets stopped I think its Calzaghe late in the fight.”

Dan Rafael- ESPN.com

“Although Calzaghe is the favorite, I think Jones' style and speed -- he's still fast -- are going to give him problems. I think it will be a tough, close fight but I'm going with the upset special. I like Jones to pull it out on a close decision.”

Gordon Marino- Wall Street Journal

”Jones over Calzaghe. This is a fascinating fight. Jones is still quick and with his awkward style and dangerous punching power is able to freeze very active opponents like Calzaghe. I'm picking Jones by a decision.”

Tim Smith- New York Daily News

“Roy Jones has good power and I think that will offset the volume of punches that Calzaghe throws. Calzaghe has a good chin so I don't see him getting knocked out. I like Jones in a decision.”

Franklin McNeil- Newark Star Ledger
“On paper, Calzaghe should not have much difficulty getting by Jones. Calzaghe is a southpaw, and Jones has had his most difficult outings against non-orthodox fighters. And though each man has quite a few miles on his tires, Jones has logged a bit more. The physical edge goes to Calzaghe, but stylistically Jones’ constant movement could prove to be beneficial. If Jones can control the pace, make Calzaghe miss, score with counter shots and his stamina holds up, he will win. Jones wins by decision.”

Bobby Cassidy- Newsday
“I like Roy Jones in the 11th round TKO. Calzaghe does not have the power to keep Jones honest. I think by the second half of the fight Jones will be picking him a part. Calzaghe looked so good against Hopkins because Hopkins didn't have the firepower to slow him down. But Jones has both speed and power. In other fights, Calzaghe has been able to adjust to one of those assets; he won't be able to adjust to both, especially from a fighter like Jones.”

There are were more predictions for Jones against Calzaghe, that picked Jones as a winner.
Although there were many that also picked for Calzaghe the poll on Bunces boxing was I think 60% in favour of Jones. Could be wrong on that, but think its correct

Opinions, eact to their own

Jones was 39 nearly 40, Calzaghe was 36 nearly 37.
Titles dont make the fighter. You dont mention that after that KO he took the champ the distance and after the Calzaghe loss took the future LHW champ the distance. J Pascal hasnt held a title in 3 years after losing to a fighter nearer to 50 than 40, but hes still considered world class. Alvarado has been KOd but still considered world class.
What you forget is that Calzaghe had only had one fight at this new weight, had damaged hands that possibly made him more faded than Jones, and was closer to the end of his career than Jones was his

I will be brief with this long waffle but you note Jones was KOd, but you dont mention that after that KO he took Tarver the champ the distance and after the Calzaghe loss took the future LHW champ the distance.
Dont try and hold back the full facts when you debate with me, otherwise you get owned before its begun

 

Back in the day Imperial, you picked Jones and it was nothing to do with you rating Jones but on how you rated Calzaghe. Do you deny this?

 

Of course I did ..And if they fight 100 more times I would pick him again what's your point ?

And it's not my fault I never consider Joe in Jones league it was all his doing !

 

Spinks