Would You Pick RJJ, Against Most Middleweight Champs?

Yes.

Could lose to Hagler, SRR, Greb etc. And then again, on the right night, he could arguably beat them all on points.

RJJ was big enough and hit hard enough at the weight to knock out some fighters that you probably would never bet on him to do so. At the same time, fighters like SRR, with his experience and punching ability could catch him going back in straight lines, closing eyes and turning his head with a right hand timed to perfection off the feint.

RJJ's chin is better than what a lot of people give him credit for, prior to Tarver, but at the same time, he's no Hagler or Raging Bull.

 

Perfectly put, great to see you posting mate. There's probably none i'd outright favor over him TBF. some might argue he was still a bit green but truth be told he was a bit freak really. In his last fight at 160 he looked amazing against Thomas Tate obliterating him in 2 rounds and showing no sign of any weight drama. Very next fight he took James Toney to school and virtually shut him out. So he was ready for all comers at 160 really.

 

Someone like a Monzon would struggle to adjust to RJJ's speed and angles. Hagler and SRR are better poised to deal with the enigma that was an unbeaten Roy.

I don't like Monzon's footspeed and handspeed versus Roy, but then again, I am mindful that his chin, his methodical nature and Roy's penchant for turning away from blows against the ropes and closing his eyes could be something that Carlos exploits.

 

Yeah great matchup. I like Jones on points....i think he'd be a puzzle Marvin wouldn't solve.

 

You are on fire tonight. Agree with the Monzon take and i'd favor Jones while keeping in mind what you highlighted.

 

I think Roy poses the same kind of threat Turpin did to SRR for Hags. Not the same physical strength of course, but bigger, Roy punches hard and more importantly, has the speed and movement to throw Hags off his game.

I think that once adapted, in a rematch, Hagler absolutely gets to him and it could be bad for Roy. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if Roy is the kind of fighter that Hagler doesn't beat on points in a series of 3 or 5.

 

Agreed. The thing is, even in a rematch where Hagler would adjust Roy is still an ATG puncher. For sure Hagler has one of the great chins but Jones had that shocking power and Hagler was prone to the odd little cut even peak i suspect.

Truth be told Jones vs the 160 greats are mouth watering match ups.

 

Absolutely - I've said it before and I will say it again, outside of Ezzard, Roy could be argued to be H2H top of the tree between 160 - 175 lbs.

I'm always on Batman mode, waiting in the shadows . Nah, sometimes, I just wake up and feel like responding/posting. Absolutely brilliant to see MDWC posting again tbf.

 

Yes. It's easy to forget how devastating Roy was up and until the G-Man fight with Benn. Hags could be cut and ultimately, the best two punches to hit a southie with are straight right and left hook. Roy threw a mean right hand lead and a whipping left hook. If Hagler gets dropped it's a puncher like Roy, SRR and I still say Hearns. If I had the luxury of being in Hearns' corner that night - "Tommy, don't try to blast him out of there - jab him, circle away from his right, use your reach and box. As soon, as he leaps into his jab, time it, shock him, get out of there and reset, otherwise he'll mwurda you to deff. Get up you sonnovabitch, Meta loves ya"

 

Absolutely, Roy is right near the top all the way from 160 to 175 and if judging in a combined sense only Ezz is above.

Yeah i near fell off my chair last weekend when MDWC appeared. Brilliant is the word.

 

I've commented in recent years Hearns never hit Hagler with his best right that night. I get arguments, well show me where he hit Hagler like he did Duran, full extension and all. He simply didn't.

 

Literally the perfect gameplan employed from Hags considering the threat.

If the fight goes past 6 rounds and Hagler hasn't taken away Tommy's legs, Tommy swells both his eyes and opens cuts. I could really see Tommy outboxing Marvin badly, as long as he's allowed to.

The fight is a classic but likely not as great as made out to be. I don't necessarily buy the massage excuses but I do agree, we didn't see Hagler take Tommy's absolute best. However, Tommy would never get the same leverage on a punch as he did against Duran and neither should Marvin let him.