Roy by UD. I admit I'm using the 'hurt' card, but he was hurt against Hop, he just didn't cry about it. I was at the RJJ-Duvalle fight, perfect punch at the right time,,,,a drenched corner, Roy's own. Unless that was stated in one of the previous posts here. He took it like a champ. I would agree with everyone who questions, would Roy take the fight. I say yes, because unlike Darious...or the early version of Calzaghe and a few others, they stayed at home. GGG would've come to the states. Roy's prime IMO was never about skill, it was about using his God given talent as a youth; freak like reflexes, timing & he was also on that ripped fuel I think??? B4 they banned it?
Did Jones not have a passport? Michalczewski didnt need to travel he was the champ and Calzaghe was in a different weight division. Lets talk MW with Golovkin an established champ and Jones when he first became a MW champ. Jones wasnt facing some of the big punchers out there and thats why I was asking if you think he would have taken a dangerous MW fight like that. Remember at that time. He may have done but I dont know
I'm not glossing over it. I know that Dariusz was classed as the main man after beating Hill. What is your opinion on him losing his belts? Regarding those other fighters you've mentioned, you have to look at the timelines and the circumstances. We've discussed most of these before. Collins: According to both Roy and HBO, Collins was one of a few guys who was pursued to fight at the end of 1996. But Collins wasn't interested as he was busy with a rematch against Nigel Benn. Afterwards, Collins then pursued Roy early in 1997. But Roy had already agreed to fight Montell Griffin. And due to the circumstances of their first fight, Roy was determined to get the rematch afterwards. Then shortly afterwards, Collins retired. Then 3 years later in 1999, Collins again pursued a fight with Roy. But HBO preferred Roy to fight Reggie Johnson instead to unify the division. Shortly afterwards, Collins then retired for the second and final time. Benn: It was a hard to make fight due to Don King's involvement. Roy's handlers, the Levin's, didn't trust him, and according to them he wanted future options which they wouldn't allow. Joe: We've discussed this many, many times. The only way that could have happened sooner, is if Joe had moved up to LHW and fought in America. Despite how good he was as a fighter, he was relatively unknown outside of Europe. A fight at SMW in Britain simply wasn't viable. Tiozzo: He moved up to CW less than a year after Roy had moved up to LHW. Maske: He retired after losing to Hill, just as Roy had entered the LHW division. Roch: I've read a few different accounts of why it didn't happen, which included: Him failing to turn up for the presser, and that he was embroiled in the lawsuit against the WBC. Erdei: He beat Gonzalez for Dariusz' old WBO belt, as Roy was preparing to face Tarver again. As we know, Roy then went on to lose to both Tarver and Johnson. None of those fights were viable. Considering who Roy did fight, as long as there were no boxing poilitics preventing it, I see no reason at all why Roy wouldn't have fought GG.
Again, I don't see why not. Although GG would have been a big threat, again: he's very hittable, considerably slower, and he has a short reach. It wouldn't have been a tough match up stylistically for Roy. Although he has great power, a great chin and he applies great pressure, he's always open, coming straight forward with little head movement. Roy could have overwhelmed him with his advantages in size and speed.
So do you not think Jones should have gone after the champ? We both know the situation, he was going to be pushed into a defence something like a month after winning the titles. Thats alot to ask anyone and it was 2 titles Collins as a rival champ was a bigger fight than Griffin at that time, so not sure why you would make so much of that? Ok so you are saying Jones didnt fight Benn because of his promoter even though he fought Ruiz? Jones seemed interested in the fight at SMW and I have shown you the link. Still different divisions Yes but Roy went after McCallum when Tiozzo had just beaten McCallum, he wasnt going for the fighter that beat him Yes, I agree there wasnt much time with both around So why do you think it didnt happen. Rocch had beaten Nunn who Jones didnt face and then didnt face Rocch Roy was at one point in line for Erdeis title and I dont recall him being interested in Erdei So once again there are these tough European fights that Jones didnt have. Some I can agree with you on but others, im not so sure as to why. Roy was talented but I could see any of those being a tough nights work for him. I think Erdei could have won a wide decision
Further to the Michalczewski conversation. Dariusz has made the most LHW defences ever and It was a big fight missed
Yes, he did have one (passport), to which is why I agree the question is legit..would he have taken on GGG. My bad, lets stick with MW no other divisions. So at the time Jones won the MW championship,, I am not sure who he should've fought that was a great puncher as most moved up , leaving the title vacant for he an Bhop to fight for one, correct? Yes I think he would've taken it. And I think he would've won because of his natural born talent, not because he was more seasoned or skilled. A Prime GGG is simply outsped (pot shot), not outhustled. & kept out of range from doing damage. Plus keeping in mind RJJ won the title in 93 & practically moved up to SMW in 94, such a small window to judge RJJ from, imo.
bailey, He pursued a fight with Dariusz but he wanted it in America. He said from the outset that he didn't want to go to Germany. I'm asking you why he didn't drop his lightly regarded WBO title after beating Hill for the IBF and the WBA titles. Again, he simply must have known that the WBA wouldn't allow him to also be a WBO champ. I refuse to believe that he and his promoter wouldn't have been aware of that, when again, the WBO were formed by ex-members of the WBA. I also believe that the WBA stripped other fighters who were WBO champs. Someone posted that a few years ago. Roy had already moved to LHW, and he was already in camp to face Griffin. Griffin was well known in the U.S. after a recent win over Toney. Roy only used King for a handful of fights during his career, but only when he was 100% happy with the contract. In 1995, he wouldn't agree to King having future options. He considered it, along with others. Yes, different divisions. It would have taken a lot of money in order to have gotten Roy to have traveled and dropped back down in weight. There'd have been much more of a chance of the fight happening had Joe moved up to LHW and gained more exposure. Then there may have been a demand for the fight, from both sides of the Atlantic. True. I'd liked to have seen it myself. I never heard that he was approached for a fight, but HBO were happy with the McCallum fight after they couldn't get Roy a fight with Collins or Liles. Again, whilst Roy was fighting Griffin, Tiozzo had low level fights at home before then moving up to CW. It would have been an intriguing fight. I don't know. Like I say, I've read different accounts. He wouldn't have been would he. He was busy rematching Tarver, with a dream to fight Tyson afterwards. But after 3 consecutive losses, he was finished as a top level fighter. They would all have been tough and intriguing fights. But we know who he fought instead, and we also know who he tried to fight. Regarding Erdei, looking back with hindsight, he could definitely have beaten Roy.
GGG would be way too slow for that version of Roy with his freaky speed and reactions. Possibly a UD all 12 rounds.