How much credit do you give Jones Jr.

It was a massive achievement to go up to heavyweight and win a belt for a fighter who started at middleweight. We all know Ruiz was not the greatest but he was still a heavyweight champion and Jones absolutely shut him down and dominated him completely.

I was very honoured and proud to see Roy win that title.

I was gutted that he moved back down in weight, as I knew he should have stayed at that weight.

He was never the same fighter after that night, and it is all because he made the wrong decision and moved down in weight rather than continue at Heavyweight.

It was Roys last great performance. He was already just on the slide when he fought Ruiz but he completely destroyed his physical ability by draining himself so intensely to move back down when he had nothing to prove at the lower weights anymore.

 

I've always like Jones. He had a flashy style and though his opposition wasn't always high, he did give us a great show everytime. Had he retired after the 1st Tarver fight, I'd have Jones as one of the greatest. Remember that Ruiz also beat Holyfield(though somewhat shot) Rahman, Oquendo, Tucker and Golota, so for a 'middleweight' to beat him the way he did, was a great feat nonetheless.

 

I dont see why it sounds so strange!

Roy should have stayed at heavweight after moving up to heavweight, because all of the money was there and he made the move so stick with it. I wanted to see him take one title defence and then retire as champion to never return!!!!!!

Roy should also have stayed at heavweight because when he moved back down he destroyed his body in doing so, and he did so at the expense of his legacy by getting iced by two fighters who were not even fit to tie up his laces just a year earlier before the move.

Roy moving back down was the biggest mistake of his entire career.

 

This begs the question - who would have won if Jones had fought Tyson as opposed to moving back down in weight?

He would have made one hell of a lot of money and shot or not Tyson is one great name to have on the resumé of a 'middleweight'.

 

None, he handpicked the WORST beltholder in the last 35 years, then went running back to Light Heavyweight after talking of fighting Sanders, Byrd, etc.

 

ruiz was better than byrd and sanders. just look at the record:hi:

 

Roy had some real opportunities for some money fights at HW after beating Ruiz.

The 'legends' fights would have both sold and RJJ would have probably been the favorite in each. Holyfield fight would have sold and Evander was pretty much done (see his lost to Toney later that year). A Tyson match up was discussed also, and as much as it pains me to say it, RJJ probably 'frustrates' the hell out of Mike.

A Toney rematch was available at HW also.

He still had a unification bout with Byrd, who RJJ would have beat in a boring but close UD fight.

And then, why not go out in a blaze against Lennox. By then RJJ, much like Evander, would have been more comfortable at the weight (probably up to about 210-215 lbs).

Roy probably left at least 40 million on the table by going back down in weight.

 

He should have probably fought at Cruiser, or fought Tyson at heavy, but not go down to light heavy it was a huge strain to his body.

 

Oh i give him alot of credit btw.

 

agreed, Roy should have stayed at Heavyweight, their was a lot ofmoney for him to make in that division. I give him a lot of credit for doing it. I give him credit also for droppin abck to LHW. When you a fighter and some1 is callin you out, that you know you can beat, Its kinda hard to sit back and stomach it. And Fightfans, and media is not going to help the situation. I dont agree with Roy droppin muscle to fight Tarver, but i respect him for it. Wat he should have done after he won the heavyweight belt. Since he never really had no aspirations of stayin at that weight. was take some time off, and gradually come down, give his body time to rest up properly. then took a tune up fight, and then fought Tarver just to shut him up.

 

A lot of credit

 

To me, he should have either stayed at Heavyweight, or at least after returning to Light Heavyweight, retired after the first Tarver fight like you said. He was clearly not what he was, and needed to pack it in.

 

1. I don't believe this "dropping weight put a strain on his body" Roy weighed in for his heavy weight fight at about 197lbs. That was fully clothed and with boots on. So he was probalby about 190 or so. That's about the normal walking around weight for a light heavy. Tarver just had the style and got to him at the right time.

2. I do think Roy should have stayed at heavyweight.
A. If he would have goten knocked out cold by a heavyweight, no one would discredit him for it.

B. Not defending the title he won took away from the achievement. It made it seem like he handpicked the easiest belt holder just to put a notch in the HISTory books, rather than be a real champion.

C. There were some credible heavyweights that I think Jones could have beaten. I think he would have beaten Chris Byrd, and won 2 pieces of the splintered title. From there he could have challenged Lewis, gotten KOEd, but been honored for the bravery of stepping in the ring with the greatest big man of all time, and made a crap load of money! Jones also could have beaten the worn out Holyfield for some good $$$. Moorer, Sanders,Tua..other names I would have given him decent chances against.
D. Jones talked big about making heavyweight fights but nothing came of it. This, again, hurt his reputattion.

3. Moving back down hurt Jone's legacy more than anything. It made it seem like he was running away from his new heavy weight responsibilities. Then. he stunk up the place against Tarver, then got KTFOed twice in a row by light heavy's. If Heavy's KOed him, no one would discredit the smaller man for getting stopped by 200+ lb fighters.



In hindsight, Jone's move up to heavyweight hurt his legacy more than helped it. Add to this that Toney also beat Ruiz for a belt though he cheated, and it was rightfully reversed it still diminishes Jone's accomplishment. Though at the time, when Jones schooled the Quietman, I thought Jones was top notch. I gave him heeps and bounds of credit. I still think Jones was one of the best ever, but his half assed "campaign" at heavyweight was sort of a disgrace and ultimately his biggest mistake.

 

He deserve alot of credit for beating the best