96 Tyson vs 03 Jones.

I can't agree with that mate.

Mike was shot in the last few years of his career. I think it's plausible that the Ruiz version of Roy could have beaten a 2002-2005 version of Mike. Mike had no interest in boxing then, and was solely fighting for the cheques.

 

Glass jaw Jones gets laid out early and brutally.

 

Any version of Pre Ettiene Tyson smashes Roy inside 2 rounds.

 

That version destroys Roy as well.... Post Ettiene and you have a good case for Roy winning, but even then Mike would have a very good punchers chance.

 

The etienne version of Tyson was still better and more dangerous than Ruiz.

With no size advantage, i cant see Jones holding off Tyson for long.

 

Tyson wouldn't just bust up Roy, Tyson would take his head clean off.

Im not one to claim if Fighter A did this, then fighter B definitely will.

I mean if Glenn Johnson found Roys chin around this same period, as did Tarver, why cant Tyson?

 

Jones has nothing to bother Tyson. He's not strong enough to tie him up, doesn't hit hard enough to deter him. There's a reason why the only heavyweight Jones ever went near was John Ruiz. Even the prospect of fighting a ballooned up post-diabetic coma Buster Douglas spooked him.

 

Tyson would've been boxed to pieces.

 

The Tyson of the Bruno rematch still had MORE than enough left in the tank to destroy Jones early. Roy had nothing to in the way of firepower to hold Tyson off with, and he wouldn't be able to handle Mike's firepower.

Tyson within 3.

 

I agree, he was definitely more dangerous than Ruiz. But I could definitely envisage Roy staying out of harms way. Definitely not against an 80's or 90's version of Mike though.

 

It's rather insulting to say that any non-heavyweight-- and I don't accept Jones as a real heavyweight -- could handle Tyson at that point. He would have overpowered Jones in a few rounds.

 

Mike could've found his chin, but the thing is though, the version of Roy that fought Ruiz, was nothing like the version that fought Glen Johnson. That might sound crazy because the fights were only 18 months apart, but it's true in my honest opinion. The versions of Roy that fought Woods and Ruiz were sharp and full of confidence. He had that swagger that came with knowing he was the best fighter on that planet. He was coc*y and arrogant and extremely motivated. He was absolutely buzzing for Ruiz because he was making history and fulfilling a life long dream.

But against Glen, he was shelled up and gun shy. Tarver had just brought his world crashing down, and you could see the confidence had drained out of him. His father and coach Merk, have both basically said that he hardly trained and was just going through the motions. In my honest opinion, he took the fight against Glen to eradicate the loss to Tarver. It was as though he just wanted to get back in the ring as soon as possible so he could get back to winning ways. He signed to fight Glen merely weeks after the loss to Tarver. It was all rushed.

Of course we all know that if Mike had've caught Roy clean, he would have taken him out. But the same applied to Ruiz. Did Glen hit harder than Ruiz? Was Glen really a better fighter than Ruiz? He had three close fights with Woods, and lost to him after he'd beaten Roy.

You've made some valid points, but in my honest opinion, the knockout to Glen shouldn't really influence anyone's decision here. I think if Roy had've fought Glen pre Ruiz, he'd have won comfortably.

 

Tyson Ko2