Roy Jones JR: Top 10 All-Time

I believe had Roy retired after beating Tarver (yes he did win, although I had it 115-114), he would be regarded as Top 10 All-Time and easily the best of his generation. Even after the losses late in his career, he's still one of the best of all-time (Top 20 atleast)

Here's Why:

1) He became the first fighter this century to go from Middleweight to Heavyweight Champion

He went from Junior Middleweight during the Olympics in 1988 to Heavyweight and won the title from a guy (John Ruiz) who hurt and beat Holyfield. He wasn't the best champion and Lennox Lewis was the more recognized champ at the time, but still...

Roy had been used to fighting at 175 lb and he went up to 200lb and easily beat a guy who still outweighed him by 25 lbs. People dismiss the win a little nowadays, but look back at what people were saying at the time. It was 50/50 with guys like Vic Ziegel of the NY Daily News and others going against Roy. Lampley said at the time that amongst his peers, the predictions were split down the middle.


2) He went from LHW Champ to HW Champ to LHW Champ in the same year

Roy waited around at 200lb for a Tyson fight for a couple months. When it fell thru, he cut 25 pounds of muscle quickly to fight Tarver 8 months after his Heavyweight fight. A weight-drained Jones didn't look like the same fighter and the only reason he beat Tarver was because Tarver had too much respect for him.

Regardless, Jones became the only fighter to go from light heavyweight to heavyweight and win the title and then go back down to light heavyweight and win the title again. That fight also showed that Roy does have heart and that he could take punches and come thru in the championship rounds.


3) He was the reigning pound 4 pound king for 10 years.

In the era of Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis.. It was Roy Jones Jr. who was considered the best fighter in the world from the night he schooled James Toney in 1994 until he was knocked out by Antonio Tarver in 2004.

No one has reigned like that since Joe Louis. People can cry about who he didn't fight, but he sure did fight a lot of quality fighters and destroyed them. Even Nigel Benn (who many say Roy ducked) praised Jones as the best in the business and said he had no problem being #2 to Roy.

Calzaghe, in his biography said (back when Roy was prime) that he would've given Roy one of his toughest fights, but that he didn't want any part of him. Gerald McGlellan was severly hurt in Benn fight, so that never happened.


Steve Collins lost to Mike McCallum by UD (Roy beat him by UD) and Reggie Johnson (Roy won a UD against him). Collins claimed that he chased Roy for years, but then again .. Roy is #1. You want him, get in line. It doesn't help losing to 2 guys Roy polished off relatively easily.

Dariusz Michalczewski was unwilling to come to the US and fight the Roy. First, Roy was the recognized best so its on Dariusz to come to him. Second, came you blame Roy for not wanting to fight overseas after the Olympics? Anyway, the guy was undefeated until he lost a split decision to Julio Cesar Gonzalez in 2003. The same guy Jones Jr. beat by unanimous decision in 2001. Further, Dariusz won his titles in 1997 by beating Virgil Hill by decision. Roy knocked Hill out with a body shot in the 4th round a year later. The rest of his fights were against European journeymen.

Safe to say Roy would've put one on this guy if they fought in the late 90s to early 2000's. It might've been a bit more of a challenge for Roy, but Michalczewski never had the balls to come over and face the true champ.



4) Roy did beat good and sometimes great competition

Here a top 10 list of opponents:

1) Bernard Hopkins (1993): We all know B-Hop so I won't go into his achievements. The Executioner was 22-1 when he face off against RJJ, who was 22-0. Roy's right hand had been fractured in training, but because it was his first shot at a title he fought anyway and beat him with the left. Many B-Hop fans dispute all of Bernard's losses (ie Calzaghe, Taylor 2x) but this is the only one that is no doubt.

Roy won a solid unanimous decision. If they had fought a rematch in the late 90's, it would've been one of the biggest fights of all-time.

2) James Toney (1994): Toney was like 44-0 and ranked #1 pound for pound when they fought in 1994. Jones picked him apart, dropping him in the 3rd round and cruising to a unanimous decision victory.

3) John Ruiz (2003): Jones went up to the Heavyweight division and schooled Ruiz to take the WBA Title in a one-sided unanimous decision victory.

4) Montell Griffin (1997): A top ranked light heavyweight contender before and after the Jones loss. He beat a prime James Toney 2x (proving that styles do make fights and can make the better man look lesser)

Jones had been disqualified in the first fight, in which he had Griffin in serious trouble when Montell took a knee to duck under Jones heavy fire power. Jones two-pieced him and Montell was the Champ. Months later, Roy knocked him out in the 1st round with a thunderous uppercut.

5) Antonio Tarver (2003): Former WBC, IBF, WBA, The Ring, and IBO Light Heavyweight Champion.

Some will cry that Roy got gifted the victory. I admit, I've watched the fight several times (last night again) and I had it 115-114 with Jones coming from behind to take the last 2 rounds. A wins a win. Many think Marquez beat Pac-Man 2x, but Manny is still considered #1.

Roy showed great heart and the will of a champion in winning the first fight. He got caught with a lucky punch in the rematch. I believe he would've won that rematch if he hadn't gotten caught.

In the part III, Roy showed flashes of his old dominance, especially in Round 5 when he had Tarver in serious trouble. In the later rounds Roy simply coulnd't get off and took a beating at times. He was absolutely rocked in 10th I think it was, but stayed on his feet and continued to counter. He walked through fire as a shell of his former self and still managed only a decision loss.

Anybody who says Roy never had that great rival, well who is Antonio Tarver then? Sure Roy only won 1 of 3. Jack Dempsey was 0-2 against Gene Tunney, but is still considered the better fighter.


6) Virgil Hill (1998): Silver Medalist at the 1984 Olympics. Former WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight Champion. Former WBA Cruiser Weight Champion.

Roy knocked Hill out with a brutal body shot that broke a rib. Before this fight, Hill had only lost 2x - unanimous decision by Tommy Hearns in 1991 and a unanimous decision loss to Michalczewski in 1997. Roy was the only man to ever knock Hill out.

7) Mike McCallum (1996): Former WBA Light Middleweight Champion, WBA Middleweight Champion, and WBC Light Heavyweight Champion. A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Roy had just moved up to the Light Heavyweight division and was challenging for his first title in the division. Roy won an easy decision, flooring "The Body Snatcher" at one point and literally freestyle rapping during rounds 4, 5, and 6. McCallum wasn't in his prime any longer, but he was still formidable


8) Felix "Tito" Trinidad (2008):Former IBF and WBC Welterweight Champion, WBA and IBF Junior Middleweight Champion, and WBA Middleweight Champion

I know, I know. Tito wasn't in his prime and had been out of the fight game for a little when they fought. However, Roy wasn't exactly in his prime either. Jones Jr. had come off 2 wins to obscure guys before signing for this megafight (based more on name than current achievements obviously).

Tito had only lost Hopkins by knockout in the 12th and by UD to Winky Wright. He's a legend and although both fighters weren't in their respective primes, that actually made the fight interesting and at times exciting. Trinidad controlled the early rounds, then Roy got warmed up and dropped the Puerto Rican icon 2x before the final bell rang. Jones secured a UD victory and showed that he still had enough hand speed when he needed it and power to go with years of ring knowledge.


9) Clinton Woods (2002): Former IBF Light Heavyweight Champion and British Commonwealth and European Title Holder


Roy put a whopping on this granite chinned Brit in an attempt to get him out of there quickly. He did with a ridiculously hard roundhouse that landed flush on Woods head. He took it, but the ref stopped the fight in the 6th because he was getting hammered. At the time, Clinton was no more than an good prospect making his first appearance in the states.

Woods went on to win the IBF belt by beating then undefeatred Rico Hoye by 5th round stoppage. He went 0-1-1 against Glen Johnson in fights that could've went either way and this year he beat the tough Elvir Murqui. It was a classic Jones performance, taunting, performing, and beating the **** out of one tough Englishman.


10) Lou De Valle (1998): Former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion

The only time Roy had ever been knocked down. It was a flash knockdown, shocking as it was. Jones recovered and easily outpointed the tricky lefty

Other former Champions Roy Beat: Vinny Paz (IBF Lightweight and WBA Light Middleweight Champion), Eric Lucas (WBC Super Middleweight Champion), Julio Cesar Gonzalez (WBO Light Heavyweight Champion), Otis Grant (WBO Middleweight Champion), Reggie Johnson (WBA Middleweight Champion, IBF Light Heavyweight Champion), Jorge Castro (WBA Middleweight Champion), Thulani Malinga (WBC Super Middleweight Champion who beat Nigel Benn)