Who has ever been as consistently excellent over a decade as Roy Jones was 1993-2003?

I guess Ray Robinson from 1941 - 1951 would be the most obvious candidate.

 

Once again, Roy did not burn off 20lbs of muscle.

 

It's blown out of proportion. The only fighters of note at the time he beat them on Jones resume are Toney, Hill and Ruiz. The rest either became known afterwards or because they fought (and beat) him. Jones looked spectacular, flashy and fantastic in his fights but most of his opponents weren't world class but more of a gatekeeper level.

Jones still is great. Him winning titles from mw to hw is great. Him beeing so consistent very good over al long time is great. But his resume isn't. And that's the most important in ranking fighters - imo. I don't wanna talk him down but put his career a bit into perspective. It's blown out of proportion by many.

Yeah, he looked excellent during this decade. Was he that excellent? Well, he proved that he was when he had to but that happened very rarely.

 

And? It was his own decision. There is no excuse.

 

'Not World Class' - this has been done before, he fought everyone bar a few in the 175lb top10 lists from 1997-2003, Darius and Rochiagani are the obvious ommisions. He beat around 15 world champions from recollection

 

It's just the essence of people suggesting he walks around at 175 and the 18lbs was of pure muscle. The overwhelming majority of this was most probably water weight. A few pounds of muscle, and burning that off can't of helped his cause. Probably he had to dehydrate himself further to lose the remaining water weight. He obviously wasn't in his best shot though, d'you to age and dehydration.

 

Outside of his previous loss to Michalczewski, Virgil Hill was undefeated for the past 6 years before Jones took him out in the 4th round by spectacular body shot KO. He was definitely a fighter of note. Griffin had previously beaten Toney on two different occasions (albeit in controversial fashion) and was a LHW title holder under the tutelage of Eddie Futch when Jones got to him. Merqui Sosa was no great talent, but a very solid fighter due to his strength, durability, relentless aggression, and power and had previously been in two wars with Prince Charles Williams that would go on to be classics. Roy dusted him off in two rounds.

Guys like Reggie Johnson and Mike McCallum were well past their primes, but they were no doubt known commodities at the time Jones beat them.

Guys like Malinga and Thomas Tate were clearly world class operators, if not very good fighters, when Jones dominated them in route to KO wins early on in his run.

It goes on. I for one am not willing to dismiss the Hopkins win because of the fact that Hopkins was green under the belt in terms of experience, as the same can be applied to Jones in that case. Both were young up and comers, Hopkins in his physical peak and undeniably a very good fighter already. Jones beat him easily.

It's not a great list of opposition beaten granted, but considering the way he dominated pretty much all of them, it does speak a lot to his ability during his prime.

 

It was a truly remarkable ten years for him. Robinson may possible edge him here, though. Only two losses (none at his best weight) in some 100 fights and wins over Angott, Zivic, Bell, Gavilan, LaMotta etc - this in three classical divisions.

 

Joe Louis would be the obvious call - unbeaten across 14 years (36 to 50) with 25 defences of the greatest prize in sport (21 by KO) including wins over Schmeling, Farr, Baer, Carnera, Walcott and Lewis.

 

From 1914 to 1924, Benny Leonard beat Dundee, Welsh, Kilbane, Ritchie, Tendler, Kansas, Bartfield, Britton, Moran, White, Callahan et al and drew with Kid Lewis while only dropping a handful of decisions to Welsh, Callahan, Dundee and Ritchie. Held his world title for 8 years during what was arguably the strongest ever era in any single division.

 

Yeah, Louis and Robinson would definitely have him beat, but Jones was definitely the most dominant fighter in recent memory over such a span of time. Moreso in the way he handled his opponents than their actual quality, though they were definitely a more solid bunch than is given credit for. Robinson was facing and demolishing world class opposition almost from the get-go.

 

Jones was dominant as **** during his given time, no-one can can take that away from him. He did also beat some very good fighters even if his competition was largely undistinguished from 97/98ish through to 03. It's the second half of his career that usually leaves me feeling underwhelmed and disappointed, in addition to his never coming across any truly elite technicians/boxer-punchers with real power.