Roy Jones.

What fighter DOESN'T fade when their speed and reflexes go?

 

Hopkins, Archie Moore, to name a couple.

I think its pretty well accepted and correct to say that Jones didnt have very good fundamentals and relied heavily on his speed, reflexes, and steroids and so when those things were gone so was he.

 

I'd say that both Hopkins and Moore DID fade, but found other ways to continue fighting at a high level. Not the level they had been, though.

 

Can anyone explain why Roy Jones gets so much hate? I constantly see people whine that as soon as he lost his speed and reflexes that he wasn't good anymore. So what? Even the best fundamental boxers will lose their skills to keep them competitive at a world class level. It doesn't change what Jones accomplished. In his prime, Jones would have given anyone from 160-175 big problems. He even beat 2 very well revered fundamental fighters when they were closer to their prime. Him losing his speed and reflexes at 35 doesn't change any of that.

 

Any flashy fighter is going to get their share of hate. Especially one that refers to himself in the third person. That right there is reason enough.

But I don't hate him, just ambivalent.

 

It's possible I guess.........

 

A better question is would he have accomplished as much (which in my opinion is pretty minimal) without steroids and overprotective matchmaking? My guess is no.

 

his whole game was based on speed and reflexes. He didn't have a traditional type defense. Once his speed and reflexes started going he got hit a lot more and his chin couldn't hold up. The moment this happened can be traced to having to lose a bunch of weight after the Ruiz win.

 

You're one of those people that assume steroids automatically makes you the greatest boxer on the planet I assume? Why didn't Richard Hall destroy Jones in their match seeing as how he tested much higher than Jones did? I'd also like to see you provide some substantial proof that Jones was a steroid user. Olympic testing is supposedly pretty strict. He failed 1 test in the pro ranks where his opponent actually tested much higher. He still looked pretty dominant after the Hall fight. Did he only roid up for Richard Hall?

 

Do you seriously think most of his opponents weren't on steroids too?

 

His speed of hand and foot diminished over such a short time, so that probably suggests he wasn't on enough drugs. :deal

 

Roy's hand speed had slowed down before the Ruiz fight. Just that he was still so fast it wasn't really as noticeable. Watch Jones against Brannon or Sosa in 1996.

I think his legs were done after dropping back down to 175. He got old, really old overnight.

 

No I dont think most of his opponents were on steroids. I think this is why he stands out.