Roy Jones Junior : The Greatest Fighter on ability of all-times..!

This is a bit oversimplifying, though. At 40+ he's till doing well. Not many fighters have wins like his over Lacy at that age. I think he put in a good effort against Calzaghe as well.

 

No shame in that.

Roy sits among the best in the sport's history. You could say he was number 10 (or a bit higher or a bit lower) and that would be okay too.

He had astounding reflexes and hand speed from 154 to 200 lbs.

But if you are in your late-40s (or even a bit older) then your top 3 is perfect for fighters watched from start to finish.

Good list. I'd go for that one too and in that order as they made their mark.

 

I would rate Jones as the most athletically gifted, but athleticism doesn't constitute the most talent. There were other fighters who were much better boxers than Jones, and they had tougher jaws. Mayweathers Ring Generalship and boxing ability can't be matched by Roy. SRL's courage, Roy can't compete with that. Roy was always a frontrunner who love to beat on guys who weren't as good as him.

 

Harold Johnson, for instance, not nearly as "gifted" or athletic as Jones, was superior as a technician, and would have quite likely beaten Roy. Solid fundamentals often triumph over "gifts" as in the case of Barrera-Hamed to name one example.

 

Technique wise Jones has far more in common with Archie Moore and Charles Burley than Hamed, dont assume because JJones isnt textbook he doesnt have his fair share of old school skills. Jones is nothing like the flat footed version of Hamed, Hamed was often hit, Jones was hardly ever hit in his prime.

 

I'd agree with this. I think Roy's technical skills, like Ali's, have been underrated because he's not text book. Even at old age, he has never been outboxed. Calzaghe outworked him, but certainly didn't outbox him.

 

Roy's never really fought boxers in their primes, besides the overweight Tony. Guys like Reggie Johson and Mike McCallum were old, as was Hill. Jones always avoided good boxers who had speed. He even avoided Frankie Liles, I don't know why, though. Calzaghe did outbox him, by the way, and he outfought him. Roy actually became a better boxer after he fought Ruiz. It didn't matter after the Tarver fights.

 

You can make that argument for most, that they never met any really good fighters who were in their prime. He beat good versions of Toney, Hopkins and Hill more decisively than anyone else did. This should tell you something. Shutting out the naturally MUCH larger Ruiz isn't bad either. And beating Lacy like he did certainly isn't bad for an old guy. His top 5 wins are very good, especially if you consider how comfotable they were.

And if you think Calzaghe otuboxed Jones, then we watched different fights. He buried him in an avalanche of punches, but he didn't show superior skills. Had Jones been able to match him for workrate I'm convinced he would have won. Hopkins fought a tactically better fight against Calzaghe than Jones did, though.

 

I feel the same way. this is not a putdown of Leonard but as great as he was I feel Roy is in the highest league possible for a fighter

 

I just watched the Calzaghe-Jones fight on YouTube and it looked like, with the exception of that kd in the 1st, that Joe outboxed, outpunched and otherwise outeverythinged Roy.

 

Na, Robinson & Ali of the 60s were superior, no doubt.

 

Mayweather is without doubt on Jones level.

 

This post sounds like someone talking abouit a homo encounter (no disrespect)

 

No he isnt a 175lb Castillo wouldnt win a round against Prime Jones, neither would 175lb versions of Judah/Hatton

 

Well for 1 Jones was 40 and not the same fighter, he lay on the ropes for 80% of the fight, when it was in the centre of the ring Jones would come off better. But anyway Calzaghe missed an awful lot of shots or landed on gloves (most of them) and alot of the shots he did land were weak, Jones despite his age landed some heavy flush shots that snapped Joe's head back, where as Joe was never able to snap Jones neck back. Calzaghe out threw Jones by 3-1 and thats what won it for him. Jones just didnt have what he used to have, but its not quite as 1 sided a fight as is often made out to be