This breakdown shows how limited Hill fought v Jones, basically one-handed, was Hill pat his best in this fight? This content is protected
Yes, Hill was past his best when he fought Jones. However, Hill often fought virtually one handed even in fights he won easily during his prime. Excellent mover. Great jab and hook. Mediocre right cross. Him appearing to fight one handed against Jones is not the indicator he was past his best. His reduced speed was the main indicator. Of course even in his prime he did not have the speed of prime 175 lb Jones.
Hill didn't care anymore at this point, I think he came out of retirement for this fight didn't he, for a payday? He was a far better boxer in 1990.
I think @Saad54 has more or less nailed it with his post above. Hill fighting 'one-handed' against Jones isn't really something I'd read too much in to, as he'd been fighting in a similar vein for years by that stage. He was never the most aggressive or creative of fighters, but in his second WBA 175 lb reign in particular his style really did become very safety-first. His point accumulation was almost solely reliant on his jab, and he seldom went beyond throwing single shots at a time. By the time of the Maske unification he'd really started mastering (if you can call it that) the one punch, then clinch technique, which stopped a lot of his fights really flowing. Completely shut up shop and took zero risks against Del Valle after tasting a few big shots early, too. Hill's talents were really based around good speed (which naturally aided that excellent jab of his), natural athleticism and impressive conditioning - he bounced up on his toes throughout a fight and often had to move a lot, but generally showed very good fitness to maintain this for the full twelve without his technique falling apart. At 34 I think it's fair to say that this speed and athleticism was probably starting to dim by the time he fought Jones, but while this wasn't a peak Hill, it wasn't a shot version either. I think for the first time in his career, Hill really knew he was in over his head against Jones which also contributed to a performance which looked a little subdued. But no version of Hill is ever beating Jones, particularly a Jones with a knockout on his mind, which he had that night.
Hill tried but lost to a greater boxer who landed a thunderous bodypunch on Hill. One of only two men to stop Hill which should be a strong indicator of how great Roy was.
Hill was past his best but still a master technician. The bodyshot KO shows Jones had a brilliant boxing brain. He was going over the top with the right continually and then knowing Hill would look to parry the right with his left mixed it up by going under with the right. I've never seen a bodyshot KO like this. Foreman couldn't believe it
But it easy to counter someone who only uses the jab because it`s not a power punch, prime Mike Tyson would have had a field day with any fighter like that.
