Roy Jones's Resume : A Defence

he has a good resume and the ruiz win is a HUGE win how many MW move up to HW and get a piece of the belt that is damn impressive in this day and age

 

Roy's resume gets shitted on because of the timing of many of these fights. Hopkins clearly hadn't reached his peak when he fought Jones(he drew against Mercado after he fought Roy and was knocked down 3 times in that fight). Hill and McCallum were past it. Woods and Gonzalez were nobodies when Roy fought them. Many thought he lost the first Tarver fight. All in all, I don't have a problem with his resume. However, the timing of the bouts are th reason for the criticism. That and the fact that he did take on many stiffs.

 

Jones resume is sometimes unfairly criticised. His opposition at light heavyweight is actually pretty good. The only name missing being DM but niether really wanted the fight enough or would have been rewarded enough, financially to make it worth travelling.

It's his lack of depth at supermiddle weight which I question. Having beaten Toney he was at the pinacle of the sport yet defences against the likes of Byrd, Thorton, Sosa, Pazienza and Brannon isn't exactly number 1 P4P material.

He could have and should have fought Benn or Collins, both were more than willing to go to America and fight as both have fought numerous times there already and so were known by american fans. Supermiddle weight at the time was one of the most talent laden divisions in boxing yet he moved up in weight to fight in a weight class with less depth against a 40 year old McCallum. Can you imagine De La Hoya moving up from light welter to beat Whitaker, fight a few easy fights which he did, then jump straight up to light middleweight and avoid Quartey and Trinidad, because basically that what Jones did.

 

you are also missing a lot of top 10 competition.
RJ made CLinton Woods look like an amateur, but Woods then went on to win a LHW belt.

RJ gets criticized for how good he is. You cant hold it against him b/c he was that much better than the opposition.

 

excellent analysis. :good

 

1. Toney-weigt drained

2. Hopkins-green at the time

3. Ruiz-mediocre at his peak, doesn't desrve to be on anyone's list of greatest wins

4. Virgill hill-ancient, old fart

5. Montell-should be doing chat shows for white trash, never truly world class and like Ruiz not worthy on anyone's top 5 greatest wins

6. McCallum-another old fart, well past it

 

7. Jockstrap-troll

 

Who did RJJ miss except DM ? Maybe Eubank and Benn ?

 

Pacfan,
When watching a prime RJJ, I can only stand open mouthed in awe at the speed, grace and athleticism and power of one of the ATGs. Without doubt, one of the greatest talents ever to lace up the gloves. That said, I think I made fair points-if somewhat crudely. McCallum and Virgil Hill were well past it, Ruiz is at best medicore, Toney was reportedly severely weight drained going into the fight and Montell was/is a genuine top ten, maybe top 5 contender. Would Montell have won a belt 25 years ago at light heavy before the emergence of alphabet titles? (Ruiz too for that matter). I very much doubt it

Hopkins was not the fighter of 2000 onwards either. I think most people would consider Hopkins peak as being 2000-2005 (ish)

 

I think it could be said that both have glaring omissions on their CV's - but had Roy fought his, he would most likely have had to give up some titles. Calzaghe simply has no excuse - other than the fact that over in the UK the promoter is the boss, not the fighter.

If the promoter wants you to fight at eight week intervals against nobodies, or as a supporting fighter to the headline act - you will do, and stay quiet. In the US it seems much different.

It has been said many times that the UK builds records, rather than fighters - I suppose Calzaghe, Eubank and to a lesser extent Hatton are prime examples (as is Frank Bruno) whilst guys such as Nigel Benn and Lennox Lewis were exceptions to this rule - and as such are held in higher regard Stateside.

 

Eubank and Benn are the main two really.

Eubank was never the same post Watson II for reasons that I am sure you are all aware, whilst for some reason the Benn fight didn't happen.

Both would have had a decent chance due to Roy not exactly having a stellar chin, but I think Roy would probably have boxed them to close but clear UD's