We need to stop this Prime Roy vs....

I prefer Hopkins in terms of ability over Hagler, myself. I see Hagler as having a much harder time with Roy than would Hopkins. Roy has a bad style for Hagler.

 

At 160, I would pick Hagler over Jones
At 168, I wouldn't pick anybody over Jones
At 175, I would pick Spinks, Charles, and Foster over Jones. Some others would have good chances too.

 

:good

 

Your right. I'm sorry, but the closest thing I've ever seen to genuinely unbeatable is Roy Jones Jnr in his PRIME.

Hagler at middleweight wouldn't have been fast enough. Roy peppers him with the jab and wins a cautious and reasonably competitive 12 rounder. If this was about greatness then obviously Hagler wins, but not head to head.

Sugar Ray Leonard at his prime would probably have given Roy a good fight, but I still fancy Roy to win narrowly. The speed gap is a lot closer than it would be against Hagler, but Roy's edge in power gives him the fight.

Against Archie Moore at light-heavyweight, Roy again. Archie Moore was awesome but head to head, nah I'm not so sure, I mean Moore was from a totally different era. Head 2 Head he loses against Roy, although he makes a fight of it. In terms of accomplishment and greatness, just like Halger, he is way better than Jones. but head to head? not a chance.

Thomas Hearns would stand a chance, but only a slim one. He'd have to stay on the outside, then unload his bombs when Roy was against the ropes like Tarver did. But he still wouldn't win. Roy has the power to KO Hearns and his head-movement and speed make him an incredibly hard target for the hitman.

Of the fighters I see giving Roy a hard time, the only one I can think of is Evander Holyfield at cruiserweight. at 190lbs Evander might've had the speed and power to hurt Roy, plus Roy wouldn't have been able to avoid getting dragged into a fight against that version of Holy. But still, I fancy Roy to win.

I dont wanna nuthug, but its true. Roy Jones Jnr was probably the most talented boxer who ever lived.

 

I dont know enough about Foster, other than due to the fact he was from a totally different era, which makes me think mismatch.

Michael Spinks? Well, I see Jones dominating in much the same way he dominated other world class A-level fighters like Hopkins, Toney, Griffin, etc.

 

I dont know enough about Foster pretty obviously, but even still 60's and 70's fighters is a different era, although the gap isnt as big as it would be for Archie Moore its still significant.

Spinks I wouldn't favour over Roy at all, I never saw Spinks as good as he was utterly destroy people with contemptuous ease the same way that Jones did.

 

Yes, but Spinks fought better fighters than Jones did at LHW. The era was weaker in Jones' time.

Spinks was built to beat Jones in all honesty. So was Foster.

 

Listen. Nearly every sport in the world is better now than it was due to improvements in training, nutrition and tactics. IT stands to reason. Truly exceptional fighters such a Ali could compete in the heavyweight division of today no problem, but not every fighter is Ali. Even Ali would've had a hard time dealing with the Klitschko's or Lennox Lewis. So in pure head-to-head terms, the further back you go the more exceptional a fighter has to be in order to compete with current fighters.

Michael Spinks would give Jones a competitive fight most likely, he was a very good light-heavyweight. But I never saw in him the same raw talent that Roy Jones had. For instance, look at the way that Roy Jones beat Clinton Woods. Woods is now a champion, and top 3 in the division. I know that the division was tougher back then, but look at how he dominated Woods. It was a total mismatch, I rarely saw Spinks outclass top contenders in the division the way that Jones did.

I'm sorry but I'm pretty certain that prime Jones beats just about anyone between middleweight and heavyweight. a few guys would give him a good fight, Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Mike Spinks, Evander Holyfield but outside those ultra-elite all time greats I see Jones dominating anyone else.

 

Prime Jones makes for a very good fanasty fight subject. He had Amazing talent but somewhat questionable oppostion (not nessscaryly his fault) I think it is very fair to ask how he'd do aganst other ATG's

 

i usually just troll on rjj threads. but i admit he is a horrible styles matchup for most guys around 160-168, and he potentialy beats all fighters around that weight range.

 

This is what seperates you from some of the other posters who simply find any way to say Jones wasn't very good.

On the other hand, 175 has some tough match ups and at least 3-4 ATG at the weight I would favor over him, and some other NON ATG who could give Jones a great fight, possibly win.

 

spinks, moorer, foster annihalate rjj at light hvy. but other than that he looks to be the favorite against other greats there galindez, the muhammads (eddie, dwight, matthew) etc.... who ever picks fossils like charles against rjj, romantacise about old timers too much.