Roy Jones was a great athlete in his prime, but SRR would have torn him to shreds

Jones was a lot bigger than Robinson. SRR was a natural welter who had a good amount of succes at middleweight, but couldn't hold on to the title consistently. Jones was at his best at 168lbs, but let's not forget that due to modern weigh-ins, he was about 175lbs already by then. Robinson fought one lightheavyweight if i'm not mistaken, Maxim, and lost, although he gave a good account of himself. Jones is a great lightheavyweight. He's too big for Robinson, even if he's not as great.

 

No. Jones is too big for Robinson and would beat him convincingly.

 

I doubt it...Ray was just to small. But then again Roy wouldnt get away with a single super fight in Robinson's era. He would have to prove his mettle in multiple fights with Ray and though I think people are a bit hard of Roy's chin (looked fine in his prime, though he rarely got hit), Ray is p4p one of the hardest punchers ever..I dont know if Roy could go 40+ rounds without getting caught by something pretty devastating by a guy as classy and as quick as Ray.

There really isnt any middle that Ive seen on film that I would be confident picking over Roy. Especially in the cleaner 12 round modern era, where it all boils down to one fight.

But in Ray's era its probably going to be a lot different it must be said.

 

Both fighters were 5'11 with similar reaches. Neither fighter's primary style involved physical strength, but rather boxing acumen, athleticism, and punching power. Roy may've been bigger naturally, but this fight is at MW and MW only. I can't favor a fighter as lacking in durability as Jones to beat Robinson, no way.

 

Unless SRR was born in 1970, did his training in the 1980s, and peaked in the 1990s, there is no way in hell he has a chance with 1990s RJJ. Too fast, too strong, too quick.

 

Nope, Roy Jones Jr would have won within the 12 rounds.

 

Sigh...Ah yes I forgot we were in General for a second there.

 

To say Roy would have been torn to shreds and would have had no chance of winning is laughable.

The size advantage would be important and, let's be honest, at 160 or 168 a prime RJJ is a nightmare for any fighter in history.

 

Where at MW did he lack in durability?

 

He was never hit by a puncher at Middleweight, while he was floored and shaken by guys like Del Valle and knocked out flat by Tarver as soon as he moved up. Those occurences had more to do with his deteriorating physical abilities (combined with a lack of awareness and/or over-inflated ego that he could get away with in his early career) than either of those guys being monster punchers.

Regardless, I've little doubts he'd get hit by Robinson on more than one occasion, and hit hard, probably flush. Even if you believe his durability was fine, it doesn't make a difference against a puncher like Robinson. Jones would have to fight completely safety first to win this matchup.

 

Robinson was floored by a light hitting guy like LaMotta. We could easily pick out occurences of questionable durability all day for either fighter. Boith fighters really didn't have much trouble with durability at this weight.

I agree with this. He is much better suited at this weight than the naturally smaller SRR. 147 to 160 or 168 is a big jump for a natural WW.

 

Nope, disagree. RJJ wasn't only a great athlese he was one of a kind and one of the greatest ever, who else showed that kind of unique ability?

Robinson won't tear him to shreds, there are many even in basic fighting style that gave Robinson complications and trouble in his best day, who says RJJ won't be able to?. Even if RJJ loses he loses in a tough close fight.

 

Robinson proved his durability time after time, Roy didn't have to. That's the difference. When Roy's was finally put to the test he failed miserably. True, it wasn't at Middleweight, but that fact isn't going to make me question whether or not a murderous puncher like Robinson was capable of knocking him out there. I know for a fact he was, the only question is of whether or not he'd land the killing blow. I tend to think so, given that he was the most determined, destructive, versatile offensive fighter that's ever fought in the sport.

We're not talking about 168. Robinson was far too proven at 160 (considering he was easily one of the 5 best to ever fight in the division) to make the weight jump a black mark against him. I can't favor a fighter whose primary strengths at the weight are physical against a fully developed all time great like Robinson. Not more often than not, anyway.

 

The best fight to compare this to was SRR's fights with Randy Turpin. Randy was hitting and moving and confusing SRR with his unorthodox movement.

When I posted a poll of Turpin vs RJJ, everyone voted for RJJ, so its certain that RJJ would be able to do what Turpin did against SRR with much greater effectiveness.