This. Holyfield surely hit a lot harder than Tarver, Johnson, Lebedev, and Danny Green. Not to mention Lou Del Valle. Couple this with Jones definitely can't knock Holyfield out, and there is your answer.
I'm sure that John Ruiz at 230 pounds, hit a lot harder than Johnson and Tarver etc at LHW. However, I wouldn't favour Roy against that version of Evander.
I don't think Jones was always chinny, but I don't think it was strong enough to withstand too many hard shots from a decent punching heavyweight. Holyfield is one of those cases where he lacked the raw power of a lot of HWs, but had instances where he hurt durable guys because of timing and accuracy. A terrifically placed left hook to the chin hurt Ray Mercer and sent him reeling back. Ray then took a knee to avoid the onslaught. Mercer had a great chin too. Holyfield almost had Bowe out from one left hook, hurt Foreman at the end of the 9th with a perfect counter right hand, stopped Tyson. Then you have other cases where he hits guys like Bert Cooper with a million uppercuts and Cooper never went down from any of the shots to the head. But I think Evander could land hard and consistent enough to stop RJJ in the mid rounds
Not overrating and I'm Jones fan. But Holy was able to hurt/knock down iron chinned Qawi, Mercer, Bowe and Tyson. Jones wasn't anywhere near to any of them in the chin department.
John Ruiz is a sh it fighter that struggled like fuk with the old Holy, no way would he have even fought the 92 / 93 version. That one stops Jones as soon as he catches up with him. 6 - 8 rounds.
Sooner or later, Evander is going to get real rough in there. When that happens, Jones is in big trouble with this guy. He has no where near the physical strength to deal with the guy & he isn't busy enough to cutie pie his way around. But I think early in the fight, or say the first 5 rounds, It'd be all Jones. But he'd get worn out and lose those legs and once he starts to absorb from this guy, he'd go into a shell & he simply isn't winning fighting defense only.
eventually, holyfield would start to float like a butterly. that's when the heavy punches come. ko9 for the real deal.
Toney made an old Holyfield miss a lot, Jones was quicker and moved way more than Toney or Byrd did. Holyfield wouldn't be able to get off punches quick enough to hit Jones at this time. Jones Jr by wide UD EDIT** I read Holyfield from the Ruiz fight my mistake. Prime Holyfield catches Roy in the mid rounds and stops him.
