Because that guy was able to do anything he wanted to do in the ring sometimes. He could go a whole round without getting hit and tag you like 20 times. Pernell just couldnt do it how Roy could
Yes, but the thread's question is who was greater, not who was flashier or more dominant during his prime. You gotta consider level of opposition and longevity to answer that, and in these departments Roy is lacking compared to Pernell.
Bet you haven't seen Pernell fight much then? What I'm guessing here is that you are a BIG Jones fan (as me), and you say Roy is greater cause you like him so much. But no matter how you see it, Jones is better than Whittaker only in the physical gifts/excitement department. The rest is all Pernell.
Both fighters could do things the other couldn't. That's neither here nor there in terms of reasoning, unless you want to go into more depth as to what one could do that the other couldn't. As I count it: - Roy could throw flurries better than Whitaker could - Roy had better hand and foot speed than Whitaker - Roy had more power than Whitaker - Whitaker had a more complete defense than Roy (i.e. able to dodge flurries of punches without being hit. Much sounder defensive technique as well.) - Whitaker could stand up to an ass-whipping better than Roy (compare Trinidad fight with Tarver/Johnson fights) - Whitaker had more balls than Roy and was willing to take on all comers (can you imagine Roy fighting a Chavez level fighter in Chavez country in front of 50,000+ of his idolaters? Can you see him going over to France to fight in Ramirez's adopted hometown? I can't.)
Mia xara ki egw, perimenw pws kai pws to Savvato na dw ton agwna tou Roy me ton kwlo-oualo! O Pernell einai theos sigoura! Xmmm... mallon prepei na eimaste oi monoi pou milame ellinika sto ESB, e? Xairomai pou eisai kala bro!:good