96 Tyson vs 03 Jones.

Roy's blazing speed would have bothered him, but I think a 96 version of Mike would have been too much for him.

I don't think Douglas spooked him. His father came back into his life and advised him against it, and he respectfully listened as it brought them back together after a 6 year absence. Roy also tried to fight Evander on two separate occasions. It's a myth that he just cherry picked Ruiz.

 

Fact is Roy only fought one time as a heavyweight, against a pure paper champion. Instead of remaining a heavyweight and defending the belt he obtained, he chose to go back down in weight. Ironically, he then got knocked out twice in a row by light heavyweights.

No way Roy escapes Tyson's power. Tyson would only have to hit him once, and he usually found a way to hit guys with at least one good one.

 

Yes, he wanted a huge money fight to remain at HW.

I don't think Roy could escape Mike's power in 96, but I'd be confident that Roy could have outpointed him right at the end of his career.

 

On which 2 occasions, and why? Lets imagine he first had intentions of going to Heavy in 2000 ( but he didn't ) Holy spent from August that year until Dec 2001 in a trilogy with Ruiz in which he won, lost and drew. He then held no title until he got the WBF version in 2010, unless you count the worthless USBA one he gained in 2006.

So with the size of Jones ego why is he going to fight Holyfield for no title? So yes he did cherry pick Ruiz, because the alternatives were Lewis or Byrd, who were far better fighters than Ruiz.

 

fully focused Tyson still had more than enough to give jones hell, probably tko/ko win.

#but by then you cant be sure what Tyson turns up, and in that case jones can conceivably hit and run to points success.

 

Below are two excerpts from Jim Thomas' book - The Holyfield Way. Jim Thomas was Evander's attorney for many years and he made all of his fights. The book contains lots of interesting behind the scenes info in it.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...ved=0CCYQ6AEwAWoVChMI4_Se3bePxwIV6GrbCh1WPw02

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...ved=0CCAQ6AEwAWoVChMI3pC_lbiPxwIVUXDbCh0C1QGK

I've also heard Roy speak of having held talks with Evander late in 2001, just prior to Evander's third and final fight with Ruiz. Apparently they'd spoke of a potential fight, but it was put on ice after he'd drawn with Ruiz and he'd not retained the title. Roy at that point remained at LHW for a little longer, and after a few mandatories along with failed negotiations to fight Hopkins again, he then targeted Ruiz late in 2002.

Why would Roy have fought Evander with no title? Because it would still have been a huge fight between two popular fighters. Even though Evander was past his best and was 1-1-1 with Ruiz, it still would have grossed a lot in PPV. I think it would have been bigger than the Ruiz fight.

:good