Roy Jones vs Haye at CW

Haye had fought at HW by then, scoring an impressive first round KO.
Once again, know the facts.
I dont think Roy was faster at HW than Haye, when he was at HW.
Also Haye has a cool head and I dont think would be overawed by the occassion and would have got to Roy as soon as he steps it up, which is normally around the 2nd round

 

Stop splitting hairs.

This thread is talking about Roy fighting Haye, when he was in his CW prime.

At that point he hadn't fought a legitimate HW.

He hadn't fought Barrett, Ruiz, Valuev and Wlad etc.

Fighting Bonin is irrelevant.


If you think Haye was faster at HW, that's fine.

I don't agree, and Haye used to copy Roy's stance, but never had the footwork and reflexes to get away with it like Roy could.

He's also never thrown many combinations, that included many hooks, uppercuts and body shots like Roy did.

Roy had much more variation with his punches.


Again, when Haye was at CW, Roy would have been his first really big fight.

He would have been fighting a guy who he looked up to, who he'd copied, and he'd have respected his hand speed and footwork.

So I don't know why you think he takes Roy out early.

He was cautious against Valuev, and wouldn't commit against Wlad.

So it seems highly improbable that he would have just gone at Roy throwing bombs early.


Again, I can certainly envisage Haye getting to him.

But I'm certain the first few rounds would have been very cagey.


Haye normally stepping up in round 2, is irrelevant in this discussion.

Fighting Roy at that stage of his career would have been far from normal.

Just because he blasted lesser guys out early, doesn't mean that he'd have committed to doing the same against Roy.

 

Haye faster than Roy?

That is a stretch.. Roy truly had special speed. Someone David Haye's size, faster than Roy Jones,(one of Roy's biggest strengths) should have been a much better HW you would think.

 

It's not a mismatch because Haye is not a pressure fighter. I can easily see the fight going into the later rounds with Roy well ahead on the scorecards. Also, when Haye jumps in like he typically does, if Roy times him, he can hurt Haye as well.

 

Shatter glass everywhere.

 

haye is not faster than jones, and hes clumsy with his speed too.

jones is one of the fastest for combos in history, plus with pinpoint accuracy.


clearly some chips on shoulders about roy here.

 

bailey,

Irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

Haye fighting Roy at CW, would have been by far the biggest fight of his career.

His footwork and defence were nowhere near the level of Roy's.

Go and watch his fights. He held his right hand at the side of his face, with his left arm dangling below his waist. He used to imitate Roy, but never threw the left hook in the same manner, and he used to get tagged, because he didn't have the footwork and the reflexes to get out of the way.

I get that, apart from the speed.

I don't think he was faster.

But again, you're under the assumption that he'd have just gone at Roy from the off.

I don't think he would have done.

Different opponents provide different problems.

But Valuev shouldn't have provided any threat to Haye.

He wasn't particularly great at anything. He was just big, which Haye should have used to Valuev's disadvantage.

Haye was smaller, faster, more skilled and possessed more firepower.

Yet he was extremely cautious.

He was extremely cautious against a huge fighter, that wasn't great.

Now you're entitled to your opinion.

But that tells me that he'd have also have been cautious against the worlds best fighter who was more skilled and faster.

He was also overawed when fighting Wlad.

He spoke of all the things he was going to do, yet didn't even try to throw any body shots or combinations.

Of course Roy didn't present the size or power of Wlad, but he brought the speed and the skills, which would have been equally respected.

Again, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it.

But I don't see him stepping anything up, looking for the KO early.

I think it would have been very cagey and even lacklustre for the first 3/4 rounds, with each fighter feinting, and not looking to leave themselves open.

I think Roy's game plan would have been to catch him early though, to gain his respect and to make him reluctant.

It would have been a huge psychological battle.

The only way Haye would have won in 2 rounds, is if Roy had made a huge mistake.

Haye wouldn't have committed himself to an early knockout IMHO.

Again, a guy who was hesitant against Valuev, would not have had a game plan to knock out Roy early.

It just doesn't make sense to me.

 

:good