What really ruined Jones was coming right back off the brutal tarver KO into the Johnson fight, his head clearly hadn't recovered in time.
Yeah but Ali wasn't getting knocked out cold either, plus Ali's competition was far superior to any thing Jones saw later in his career.
I find it unbelievable there are people that won't even entertain the idea Roy had an average chin in his prime. Toney nailed him at the end of round 5 as he turned around swinging wild with a left. Roy took it just fine. The commentators even agreed Roy could take a decent shot in that fight.
I thought RJJ looked sick and drained for the first Tarver fight. Even before that fight, his punch output was slowing, something that Glenn Johnson exposed when he forced him into a fast pace. The signs were there.
Even before the bell rang to start the first Tarver fight, I said to myself he didn't look right, he looked suddenly old and his body looked dry. Then the fight started and my initial thoughts proved to be true. He was 35, he had drained himself to make weight and he was facing an awkward opponent. But he still had enough left to squeak out a decision and Tarver was kicking himself for not doing enough. When the 2nd fight came round, Roy wasn't any different but Tarver now knew he had the measure of this old version of Roy Jones Jr. Once the KO'ed happened his aura of invincibility was ripped away at a time when Roy was only getting older and slower. His legs were gone, he's had problems with his knees and without the movement he once had with his low hands style he was a sitting duck.
He was an average at best boxer with poor fundamentals and lousy technique and a chin of china but with virtuoso speed and movement. Once that speed and reflexes came down a notch or two he was severely exposed and now is at best a poor journey man level fighter and at worst an almost guaranteed GKTFO spot on any worst of highlight reel. Montell Griffin 1 was the first sign of RJJ's future. The look of fear in RJJ's eyes said it all. Tarver knew. What would his excuse be? See various posts in this thread for that but nah, he just came down a little in the one trick pony department and had nothing else but arrogance and a chin to crack. He really should quit. Forget his "legacy"... getting knocked out is very bad for the brain. He's going to end up with brain injury symptoms.
Roy was an old man sent on his way, and absolutely hammered and drained from losing 2 stone of muscle, lost his speed and thus couldn't do what made him GOAT. I don't hold the Tarver 2 loss against him, or the others that follow. His legacy that follows is just one of a man who is heedlessly chasing former glories and has no perception of life beyond the ring.
I agree with everything you said.. Except the fact that you try to make it seem like Roy as an ATG is the only one to get KO'd brutally.. In their prime. Duran got smoked by Hearns. Pacquiao slept by Marquez. Lennox Lewis slept by Rahman.. Don't make this out like Old Roy Jones coming down 18 lbs in weight and getting KO'd is any worse than those ATG fighters went through and there's plenty more.. I'm just short on time lol
I give Tarver credit for the first and second fight. Every fight after doesn't really count to me. Tarver was a great fighter in his own right. He'd give any version of Roy a hard night.