Let's say RJJ was born and raised in London. How would have it affected his career?

RJJ is often credited with being a once in a generation talent. He's also one of boxing's most polarising figures with his detractors often accusing him of being happy enough to rest on his laurels.

So potential GOAT or flat track bully, I'll let you decide and instead ask you this - how do you think Roy's career would have gone had he been born British?

 

Thought this deserved its own thread @Loudon. Hopefully it doesn't descend into the usual farce anything mentioning Roy does.

 

Warren would sign him and have him headlining the copper Box on a Saturday night

 

Of course it will. Ha!

It's a great question.

Obviously it's open to huge speculation.


When would he have turned pro?

Would he have had the same controlling father?

You're looking at Roy having had the same abilities, but would he have been in the same mindset etc?


If he'd have turned pro at the same time in London, he would probably have missed fighting Eubank, Watson and Benn etc at MW, unless he'd have been fast tracked.

You'd have to assume that he'd have signed with Barry Hearn or Frank W.

 

Would he have had the same medicine and supplements in the UK?

 

Would British Roy have been happy fighting in front of crowds the size of which Calzaghe drew? Would he have gone to Germany to face Ottke? Would that have allowed us the Darius fight? Would we still see him face Nard and Toney?

Or in all Brit showdowns with Eubank, Benn, Reid, Watson.

Lot's of different questions.

 

roy is from the deep deep south, the florida panhandle

 

Ripped fuel was available here too as far as I know.

 

Sugar 88,

He would had to have gone over to the U.S. to chase down the big named U.S. fighters.

Yes, I think he would have done that, if he'd have had the same mindset as what he had during his own career.

I don't think we'd have seen him fight guys like Ottke, because I don't think Otke would have fought him, and he may have been at LHW by the time Ottke had established himself.

I don't think Joe would have fought him either, although there would have been more pressure for them to have fought.

It's all open to speculation. But I think he'd have missed out on fighting the MW versions of Benn, Watson and Eubank. I think if he'd have signed with Barry Hearn or Frank W in 1989, he wouldn't have started to have big fights until 91-92.

 

Let's say directly after the olympics to the massive fanfare a brit being on the podium back then would have undoubtedly got. Let's imagine he has the same attributes, skill set and father.

The biggest difference being his nationality and the baggage that comes with not being an American in a sport dominated by the States at that point.

 

no difference in terms of joe, if thats what you really mean - joe would still have avoided him till the opportunity was right. He avoided anyone really good at SMW as it is...until kessler happened to get injured.

 

no, he'd have gone to america, after all he went to HW< the question of ambition is superfluous.

 

Whilst Calzaghe will no doubt be mentioned in this thread as a potential opponent earlier in Roy's career this isn't a Calzaghe thread no matter how much you'd like it to be. It's about RJJ and the route his career may have taken if he'd happened to be from somewhere other than the UK.

 

then that is good, I touhght you might have been trying a sly one. excellent news.

 

Specimens like RJJ are only born in the Americas.