How would prime rjj do against

A terrible post.

 

Common misconception, actually. Thing is, his talent was so apparent that most people just assumed he got by on pure übermensch athleticism, when the fact is that he possessed both enough innate ability to have been successful without honing any craft and was dedicated enough a student of the game and skillful enough (if unorthodox in his style) to have gotten by reasonably well even with considerably less natural talent.

Same is true of Mayweather to an extent, although by now I think most (even the haters, in spite of themselves) have come to realize he truly was a nexus of talent and skill, both in spades and far beyond even what's considered "above-average". I'd say with Roy the scales were perhaps slightly more imbalanced, with the weightier side being his talent, but to say he was an example of the classic "supreme athlete who relies on their gifts and doesn't know how to box" is a fallacy.

 

Can't hit what's not there.

 

What's terrible is Roy's chin. He would not survive Haye or Kovalev, no chance in hell.

 

I agree about Haye's mentality, which I mentioned myself.

Regarding Kovalev, he looks like an unemotional monster at present. But what happens if he gets hit and hurt? John Ruiz wasn't a great fighter, but he was tough and he weighed 230 pounds. Roy got his respect early in the fight. Again, at this stage we just don't know how Kovalev would react. He's been dropped before, so I know Roy would had the ability to have dropped him.

 

Great post.

They went hand in hand, and yes, Roy heavily relied on his athleticism. But you go in the gym and try and execute some of the combos that Roy unleashed.

I've been watching a lot of him lately and his inside fighting skills were simply amazing, throwing uppercuts off either hand with hooks to the body.

Look at his knockout of Vinny Paz. People dismiss that because of the opponent, but that knockout is incredible.

 

Roy Jones with the A++ work-ethic/dedication/skill/ring-IQ of Mayweather (instead of his own B+/A- version of those) would be a truly unstoppable beast...as would Mayweather Jr. himself with Jones' A++ natural athletic talent (instead of his own straight-A version)

 

Why would it have been a given that Kovalev would have found his chin?

How could it have been impossible for Roy to have won? Are you just going to forget that Roy had one punch knockout power, unique skills and otherworldly speed?

I think Haye could definitely have beaten him, but he would never have muredered him in the first round. The first round would have been a very cagey, feeling out round with little action. Haye has a huge amount of respect for Roy now, and he'd have had even more had he have faced him in the ring when he'd have been in his mid 20's prime.

Your post was a gross exaggeration with little thought.

 

Give either Roy the vision, bag of learned tricks handed down from generations of pugilistic wisdom, and knack for playing chess to his opponents' checkers that Floyd had - or give Floyd the agility, speed and power that Roy had - and Jesus, that's a scary animal.

 

:good

 

:good

 

:good

 

Okay mate.

I respect your opinion.

Kovalev would certainly have been a very dangerous fight for him.