***Prime for Prime: Joe Calzaghe Vs Roy Jones Jr.***

Are you serious? They are totally different fighters, i can't believe that you posted that...

Mayweather struggled in the higher weights because his competition got harder, he wasn't THAT brilliant at 130, then suddenly worse at 135. That is ridiculous. He was the same guy at 130 that struggled with JLC at 135, just up against a better fighter, and a bad style match up.

Please explain.

 

Roy was too good. Depending on his mindset, it would be a KO or a wide UD.

 

I didn't mean they were the same fighters, I meant he was close as in somewhat close to Jones's level.

We saw how good Mayeather was at 130 against Hernandez and Corrales, and he showed in the Castillo rematch how he could adapt. I've never seen him look the same at any higher weight, not even against Gatti. He looked quite good at 135 otherwise, just had a bad style matchup in Castillo, whom he later beat soundly. But still, as I said, I think he was quite a bit better at 130.

Roy has had his style matchup problems as well. People forget that or write it off because of how well he performed against Toney and Hopkins.

 

prime RJJ>>>>everyone. period no need to discuss:deal

and LOL:rofl :rofl :rofl at the polls

 

Joe's southpaw stance would not help Roy any. Ask Tony Tarver about that.

And if you want to say "Well, Tarver is much longer," you'd be wrong. Tarver has a 2" reach advantage on Joe C, that's it.

In other words, Roy would be open to Calzaghe left hooks all night, like he was against Tarver. And Joe has the speed to catch Roy.

Anyways, I have to give the edge to Roy because of speed and power. Chin and heart are by far in Joe's corner, however. If Joe had never had the hand problems and had to fight with the slapping style he does then I think he could have potentially KO'd Jones. Given his own exceptional speed, his southpaw stance, Jones' pathetic chin and Jones' defense there is no doubt Joe would have been able to land on Roy. That's happening.

All in all, though, I think Roy pulls out a close UD because Joe isn't able to do enough damage with the shots he lands and Roy gives him just enough angles and speed to take the decision.

A Joe victory would not have surprised me, however, including by KO. Joe has one of the largest tickers and will-to-wins I can recall ever seeing. He would be all over Reluctant Roy, and as we all know, that isn't where Roy's at his best.

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl

Jones beat southpaws before Tarver....tall rangy ones too. Revising history because at 34 after coming down in weight, Jones had trouble with ONE southpaw is ludicrous.

Funny enough, you are one of the posters I am talking about who constantly contradicts himself in criticism of Jones. If Jones defense AND chin were so bad, then he would have been KO'd much sooner than 15 years into his career. So either his chin was good enough to withstand punches OR his defense was good enough to dodge them, or BOTH. It can't be neither, otherwise he would have been KO'd much sooner than 34 years old. So tell me another one Paulie.

 

Calzaghe's an excellent fighter, but this is far to much for him. Prime RJJ was not unbeatable, but you'd have to be an absolute, no disputing it great to beat him. Ezzard charles, probably could have done, same with Archie Moore, and Bob Foster. Maybe Michael Spinks too. Not many more though, and Joe C. is not near that level. He's to open defensively to beat a guy like RJJ. the same result happens at least 95 times if they fought 100 times.

 

I think Jones would've handily outboxed The Old Mongoose, just a styles thing, though me and the poster McGrain have argued it to no end, while I give Charles a much better chance and he feels Roy would beat Charles up.

 

Was this post meant to be sarcastic?

 

prime RJJ was not unbeatable, but only the absolute greats could do it. I can't see roy, even for all his insane athleticism beating E. Charles, unless Charles has an off night. too skilled, to much power, too accurate for Roy. Archie Moore had a good enough chin to take RJJ's shots, and would land his own sneaky counter, probably ending the fight. Foster was too tall and rangy for Roy, the left hook kayo's him. Spinks probably could do it too. Only a few others, and those are debateable. Joe C. is nowhere near that level. At 160lbs., i'd pick Monzon over Roy. RJJ would have problems landing, something he is not used to. In 15 rounds, he'd probably be ahead on points before being stopped by Monzon's sturdy pressure. Hagler's skill, agression, and power could also do it. I also may throw in a prime Hopkins. The Hopkins of the G.Johnson or Trinidad fight could possibly do it, but that's not for sure either way. Both were green in their fight, and not yet at their peak. Roy's superior talent won him a clear decision, but he only learned a little bit after that. Hopkins changed from agressive brawler to a complete all-around fighter. To bad it didn't happen in the late 90's or early 2000's.

 

The Most One-sided Poll Ever

Roy Jones Jr via early KO

 

Fair enough then if you weren't comparing their styles. I was actually shocked to read that. Even level i disagree with though.

Corrales first off was at a terrible stylistic disadvantage. He struggled to cope with people who could box with him. Even Justin Juuko was taking rounds, and tagging him, only two fights before he met Mayweather in the ring.

At 130, he also looked quite uncomfortable against Chavez, whom he lost rounds too, and fought a pretty competitive fight with, being backed onto the ropes for the large majority of it.

I honestly can't see how he was that much better a fighter at 130... To suggest he dropped in quality that much, when moving up only 5 pounds from his natural weight (something most fighters do natuarlly with age and growth anyway) to me is silly.

What is your explanation behind it? Do you think he wasn't the same fighter when dominating Ndou, Corley or Gatti? Where is the difference here?

You also mentioned RJJ having a bad style match up with certain fighters... like who out of curiosity? At 168 and below he dominated absolutely everyone.. The worst fight for him being Hopkins.

RJJ was still a league above the 130 Mayweather in my opinion, no question. Both great fighters though.

 

this would be a mismatch, jones would destroy calzaghe

 

Good post. I can't stand when people look at Roy vs Southpaws as being this massive weakness based solely on how he looked at 34/35 weight drained, and at light heavy. Madness.

 

You don't think too well, it would appear.

Defense is a varied set of things, such as the discipline to hold one's hands to one's head, holding on when hurt, tying up your opponents' arms, etc.

Roy Jones' defense sucked, like many of his other skills.

The 'defense' you are mistakenly referring to is Jones' reflexes. They covered up for just about all of Jones' numerous weaknesses, including his shoddy defense.

I hope you're able to understand what I'm writing.

Now, his chin.

Same thing. Because of Jones' exceptional reflexes he often didn't take the brunt of many garbage- or policemen's blows (let's forget about Lou Del Valle, ok?). Again, don't make the mistake of confusing his ability to reflexively move away from a blow with his ability to take a blow; they are not the same thing. And reflexively moving away from a blow is not the same as defensive technique. It is mere instinct.

The reason Jones fell from the sky so fast is that he overly relied on his reflexes and athleticism and did not, correspondingly, develop his actual boxing skill. That is why Hopkins can fight into his 40's and dominate and Reluctant can not and is getting KO'd every time you turn around.

Roy's defense, and particularly his chin, sucked. As soon as he lost his reflexes, these two essential aspects of a fighter's overall skill were shown as having the glaring lack of development they did.

Much as Roy didn't have to jab because of his reflexes, he didn't have to learn how to keep his hands up too well. You know, basic boxing technique.

Pity that Tarver and Glenncoffe had to starch him with one-punch KO's/TKO's that shattered both his fragile mandible and his purported 'legend.'

More work on defensive skills would have helped save R Joke from that embarrassment.

As fraudulent as Fraud MayFeather is, at least he has legit skills to go with his athletic ability.

R Joke?

Negative. All he ever developed was some jump in the air lead hooks and the capacity to play hoops and fight trash men on the same night.