I started a thread about a fighter that won a world title in his second pro fight and someone replied saying Jones Jr and Meldrick Taylor might have been able to have done the same thing in their second pro fights, I don`t think either of those fighters could have achieved that feat, Jones was a light middle at that point could he have toppled any champ at 154 in `89? This is Jones second pro fight, TKO 8th round: This content is protected
Had Roy Jones fought for the 154-pound title in his first or second pro fight, I think so. I can't imagine Rene Jacquot or Darrin Van Horn beating him. Ron Amundsen was a fringe top 10 super welterweight/junior middleweight contender who ended up fighting Rosi for the belt. Jones had no problems with him in his third pro fight.
It depends if he can pace himself for the 12 rounds or not. If he can he should beat the 154lb and 160lb titlists
He would have stood a far better chance v either of them than Jackson who destroyed Norris in two rounds in `89 in a WBA title fight.
Nunn was the IBF 160 pound champ in `89 and beat Kalambay in `89 who was the WBA champ Jones couldn`t have beat those two in `89 or Duran who won the WBC title that year but vacated the title just before Jones second pro fight.
I remember watching him against Knox Brown which was his 6th or 7th fight. I thought he was ready for a title at that point. He’s one that immediately impressed.
He was sparring WBC #1 160lb contender Lindell Holmes in late '88 and more than holding his own apparently, as well as standing Ray Leonard on his head. He had problems with Ronnie Essett an NABF champ, but only because Essett was a tapper-runner. This was still a 0-0-0 teenager though. NBC flew Roy to London for Benn-Watson with the hopes of him fighting Benn if Benn beat Duran (WBC) after Watson
Roy Sr saw the hype surrounding Benn and what happened to Benn in there and took Roy Jr off TV immediately! Hid him away in Pensacola for years
Let me correct everything I just said. I got Knox Brown and Ron Amundsen confused. I think they both a bit of a mullet lol. Anyway, I remember watching Roy against AMUNDSEN in his 3rd fight and thought he looked ready for a title fight then. I think I remember the announcer (Pacheco) mentioning Mugabi was champ at the time. Norris overwhelmed Mugabi with speed so Jones could probably do the same.
As noted, Roy would have beaten Jacquot (easily) or Van Horn (probably would have hung around quite a bit longer as he was more durable) or Gianfranco Rossi, who followed Darrin around this time. But not Julian Jackson nor John Mugabi, who beat Rene right after Jones was in his first/second bout. Middleweight, not ready for Michael Nunn (IBF) for sure; Mike McCallum beat Herold Graham for the vacant WBA and Roberto Duran was vacating the WBC (oddly settled when Julian Jackson iced the same Graham). But there is one possibility: Doug Dewitt won a split decision over Robbie Sims for the inaugural WBO belt in April of 1989, and I could certainly see RJJ peppering DD into submission to take that crown.
