Could you argue that Roy Jones was the greatest athlete of all time?

I think in terms of boxing athleticism being at the elite level in that it's hard to pick against them H2H, even in the modern post 1980 era, I think whittaker was slightly better than jones.

 

The skills/talents that make boxers succeed do not always translate to other sports. Jones was a pretty good basketball player, so obviously he was a good all around athlete as well.

But Pele or Jim Brown were far superior athletes overall as far as I'm concerned. As to the super fast boxing reflexes, Jones had among the best of all time in boxing.

Unfortunately, once his speed gave way, his lack of technique (never needed previously) did not allow him to finish out his career well.

 

I think for all round athleticism you can't beat the gymnasts, some of the **** they do is unreal, takes unreal strength, agility, mentality, speed, timing and finesse.

 

I guess you could make an argument, but it's a lot easier to make arguments for guys like Jim Brown (one of the greatest ever in two different sports, american football and lacrosse), Carl Lewis (world record track star who was also good enough at basketball, football and baseball to get drafted in all of those sports), Jim Thorpe (gold medalist decathelete who also played pro football and pro baseball), or even Jordan (who was just as dominant in his own sport, plus probably was as good of a baseball player as Jones was a basketball player). In terms of well-rounded athleticism, it's tough to make an argument for Jones over any of those guys.

 

lol

 

Athleticism alone made him an elite. Add to that his dedication and hard work.

 

NO NO NO - please do not believe the hype. RJJ is not the greatest athlete in the world just because HBO told you so.

In america they think anyone who is great at one sport would be good at all sports. Michael Jordan would excell at any sport? **** off.

All the great US HW are playing American football? **** off.

 

:thumbsup

 

You could argue that he is a Glass Jawed fraud.

You would have a very good case.

 

Usain Bolt has more talent in comparison. Just about everybody (except those in extreme poverty) have tried the 100m dash but, not everybody has boxed. In the 100m there is only one division and one champ unlike boxing. It could be that someone more talented than Jones never even laced up a pair of gloves.

 

I think guys like Michael Jordan are around the same level of athleticism. Simply incredible feats of coordination, quickness, and accuracy in their fields. I'd like to think Roy Jones Junior is the fastest, since boxing is one of the most close-contact reflex-based sports (if not the most), and his ability to maneuver so many parts of his body at once during an act of violence is very impressive IMO. If RJJ wasn't THE most athletic sportsman ever, he certainly ranks up there with the best.

 

I'd have to say Roy is far and beyond the most athletically gifted fighter to ever jump in the ring and I'm a huge floyd mayweather fan. The guy didnt need the fundamentals that all fighters need, only in decline was he knocked down from mount olympus. We hear alot of **** about his opponents, but you just gotta look at what he did to fighters like hopkins and toney, I see alot of hate on here and perhaps he should have fought him, or him or him. Truth of the matter is that in his prime he'd have beat them all. Hagler wouldn't have got near him, leonard or robinson. This crap about his chin tut tut, it's people looking for a ***** in the armour. In his prime, their was no kryptonite. Please nobody bring up calzagues name.....

 

No, he's only got one athletic attribute and that's quick punching reflexes. You watch films of many other great fighters who had much better footspeed and talents. Ray Leonard was a great all around athlete. RJJ was limited to certain aspects of the human body, which assisted him in boxing. No comparison to Jim Brown or Wilt Chamberlain (50 inch vertical leap).

By the way, most people consider endurance (at high performance level) muscle performance to be an aspect of athleticism. You are only considering certain fast twitch aspects of it. Like saying a Cheetah is a better animal athlete than Secretariat. Not a chance.