Prior to Tarver, was anyone even remotely competitive vs RJJ?

Montell took many rounds off Jones and arguably was ahead at time of Jone’s disqualification in round 9. Or at least going into round 9 was ahead. I believe up until Tarver that was by far the most competitive fight for Jones

 

As others have said, Griffin gave him a decent argument. But Jones obliterated him in the rematch. It's hard to imagine if you didn't live through it, but Jones was pretty much viewed as peerless heading into Tarver 1. The p4p list was Roy at the top ... a large gap, and then everyone else. He won Tarver 1 in a close one, but I do think the 'controversy ' was somewhat exaggerated... Tarver stood out simply because no-one had ever really pushed Jones close before that. But Jones won it, and he dogged it out.
But Tarver 1 was the last of what the Roy Jones we all knew had left IMO. After the KO he was done at elite level - and carried on for far, far longer than he should have. But prior to that, from 1994 - 2003, he was the best fighter I've ever seen to this day. He was a speed and reflexes based fighter who got old at 34. Not unusual. But once the system collapsed he was finished.

 

I think Tarver always poses a problem for RJJ stylistically I'm a big fan of RJJ but I don't remember him facing any fighter in his prime with 1 punch KO power.

I would favour a prime RJJ over Tarver but if they fought 5 times for example Tarver could KO him out in 1 of those 5 meetings.

 

Griffin was well trained and had great movement and defense. Gave Toney problems TWICE.
Harding was a tall southpaw who was very awkward and had beaten Tarver.
Lou did manage to drop Roy but that is about the only thing he did the entire fight.
None of those fights was Jones ever in danger of losing except the Griffin fight where Griffin was on his way to getting stopped but Roy fouled him.

 

And Tarver was better than them.

 

It's common knowledge he was frustrated for 8 rounds by Griffin.

8,635 posts and you ask a noob question like that??