Once in a lifetime talents.

RJJ made it look so easy with his skill set and dominance over everybody else and had he retired after beating Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title he would have been in top 3 if not thee GOAT. However Jones could not just walk away and fought on despite being told from numerous sources he would never be the same fighter again after the fight at Heavyweight.

 

He was though

 

Hopkins, Toney, McCallum, Reggie Johnson, Virgil Hill, Montel Griffin.

Then you have guys like Thomas Tate who went 12 rounds with Julian Jackson in a brutal war, Jones destroyed him in 2 rounds straight after.

Julio Cesar Gonzalez who ended Dariusz Michaelczweski's 48-0 record.

Richard Hall who had two brutal wars with Dariusz Michaelczweski who Roy Jones destroyed previously.

Thulani Mainga dethroned Nigel Benn and should of had two wins over Nigel Benn, as he was robbed in their fight. Malinga also dethroned Robin Reid.

Eric Harding wins over Montel Griffin and a prime Antonio Tarver.

People often criticize Roy Jones record and i agree there was a few no hopers in there, but if you actually delve into his record it actually isn't that bad.

 

freak of nature, yes.
But wouldn’t go far as to call him a once in a lifetime talent.

after all he was retired at the height & prime of his career by Some one who won’t be mentioned as a once in a lifetime talent … all be it MAB is an ATG.

 

Lomachenko and Usyk are highly skilled but I wouldn't consider them once in a lifetime talents. They're not dynamic. GGG is more special than those two.

 

It's ok, but RJJ benefited from fighting some of his best wins when his opponents were older or green. He had the option to fight some of them sooner but he stood at SMW too long not doing anything and finally moved up when the top LHW were old.