Jones > Tunney If Dempsey twats him early, which is possible. He definitely goes quitely, probably sound asleep. But I agree, Jones would beat everyone Dempsey ever fought, and he'd be Dempsey's best opponent
Beyond stupid. You can’t fix a bad chin. Jones lacked the toughness necessary to fight at a heavier weight. Any single blow at any point would end the fight.
A focused and confident Jones at his best is simply too good for the Tunney I've seen tape of. Jones is a once in a generation talent, Tunney was good, but not Jones Jr. level. Nobody is saying Tunney isn't a very technical boxer and a tough guy, but that still doesn't mean Jones doesn't beat him over 12, and make it look easy.
I agree if Dempsey gets to him quickly, he can end it quickly. But RJJ won't be like the typical statue that Dempsey feasted on. https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Jack_Dempsey_vs._Georges_Carpentier Carpentier was 172 pounds on fight night when he fought Dempsey.....he didn't bulk up like Spinks did. He managed to go 4 rounds with Dempsey. Not a lot, but Jones could afford to come in at about 180ish and still be very effective and he was much better than Carpentier.
You guys are really over rating Jones at 175. He was an exceptional 160 - 168 fighter but not an exceptional light heavyweight .. he really fought a very ordinary group of fighters at that weight .. and often looked talented from a reflexes standpoint but not that dominating and far from an over powering force ,, It's one thing to beat a weight drained Toney ( James fault, not Roy's) , a blow up Paz or an old McCallum .. another to say he competes w Tunney, Conn, Charles, Moore, Foster, Spinks, Qwai, etc ..
Tunney fought in an era where he went 80+ fights without facing one fighter of color. And you want to tell me about how Jones' resume was ORDINARY?
There he goes again. Why does color determine athletic ability? A racist along with all your other baggage? Hmmmm
I agree w him not fighting men of color but he fought terrific white men. Greb alone was far better than anyone Jones fought at light heavy. Tunney had height, significant reach, power , chin and physical toughness over Jones. He was exceptionally fast himself. I just don’t see it going Jones way. I am a big Roy Jones guy but he was not at his best ever at 175. He was a hell of a light heavyweight but to me not in the highest tier.
Tunney had an inch of height and two inches of reach on Jones. How is that significant? Jones' chin didn't fall apart until he was 35... THIRTY FIVE. Tunney was retired for FOUR YEARS by that age. That chin argument is total BS. And Tunney was nowhere near as fast as Jones, didn't close the gap near as quick, didn't combo as quick, not near as fast twitch... but then no boxers really ever were as fast as Jones.
Actually three to four inches .. 77" to 74" is most averaged out in reports but why bother with math, too factual .. Jones chin did not fall apart at 35 .. his chin was his chin .. he fought hs biggest and best oppisiton as he aged and he started to get hit .. that was the difference .. when Ali's legs went we learned he was also one of the toughest men that ever fought with a great chin .. with Jones we saw he did not have a good chin at all .. your point is BS.
RJJ takes it, shearly down to athleticism. Gene Tunney was very fundamentally sound from what I've seen of him though, definitely ahead of his time. Wouldn't be easy for Roy.
I posit that Tunney was afraid of fighters of color. That’s the only real explanation for him never facing one ... outright fear. That works in Roy’s favor. Tunney is shaking in his boots before the bell rings. And Roy Jr’s blazing speed early in the fight would only underscore that lack of confidence and being outright afraid. RJJ by a speedy flurry KO within three.
