It would be a treacherous proposition and one that I have my doubts about Jones even considering. To beat Tua, you had to either be tougher than he was, like Ibeabuchi, or posses the reach over him. I don't know if Jones could just circle him for 12 rounds the way he did Ruiz. Tua had one punch knockout power and some degree of ability to cut off the ring, though he'd struggle to do it against Jones. My answer is probably not..
Doubt it. I just don't think Tua would respect Jones' power at all. Twelve rounds is a long time, and it takes but a second to score a knockout. I'd say at some point Tua finds Roy's chin with something and ends it.
Maybe. Byrd faced the bigger, one punch seeking, Tua that emerged in the late 90's. That Tua may pursue Jones a bit harder than he did Lewis, and Jones does not have Byrd's chin. Jones was faster than Byrd, and possibly had heavier hands. I'll give him a 50/50 chance. I do not think Jones could get past the Tua of 1996-1998.
I don't think so. Byrd could take one hell of a shot. And while i don't buy into the "Jones had a glass jaw" theory, at heavyweight, i wouldn't have too much faith in it. Especially if he's up against Tua.
I actually think Byrd fought the best version of Tua there has ever been since the Ibeabuchi fight. His hard training was well reported and his weight was way down into the 220's.
I would be confident in Jones outboxing the Tua that Byrd outboxed. I think Jones was better than Byrd, for a start. I think that he would land at will on Tua, and to be honest, i think he would earn a TKO. I must admit, some of the other versions of Tua that had a higher workrate (eg Ibeauchi Tua) might be a different story.
Tua was actually 233 for Byrd, but your point is still valid. I just went to youtube, and watched part of the fight. Byrd beat a good Tua that night. I would reduce Jones' chances from my previous statement to 40/60.
There is a difference between hard training to make your physique look good and being in top fighting shape. Tua was not in top fighting shape for the Byrd fight in my opinion. Going from fighting 5 to 6 times a year to fighting once or twice doesnt keep a guy like Tua in top fighting shape.
I really dont think Jones could take a shot as good as Byrd. Not sure he could make it 12 rounds with a prime Tua without getting hit once really hard.
Jones chin is an ex-factor but at HW it seemed reasonable against Ruiz but Tua is a whole different ball game. I don't see Tua landing much and he never landed his money shots on Byrd from memory, although I'm a bit hazey on this 1, so long ago. Obviously if he lands good shots on the button Jones is KTFO
If this was the Tua of the Ruiz fight, Jones wouldn't have a prayer..any other version beats, hurts and destrys Jones just like he did Michael Moorer...and I don't care what advantages in skills that Jones has over Moorer...his chin would be 100% glass against David Tua..whenever Tua found that chin it would be over...and again, the beast that was the Tua of the Ruiz fight would kill Roy Jones Jr.
