Which other former MW and SMW Champ could do what Jones Jr. did

Jimmy Ellis started as a middle and won the title.

 

James Toney

 

I think I remember him... the dude Roy clowned and shut out ?

 

That wasn't the question. They were both me and smw champs and both beat John Ruiz.

 

Ezzard Charles started out as a MW. Michael Spinks started out at what would now be SMW and with modern weigh-ins could probably have made MW. If weight classes and weight-ins and opportunity existed in the past as they do today, I believe they could have.

 

Naw...

Only one of them beat the Quiet Man.

And we both know which one that was, don't we.

 

Greb

 

Archie Moore? Not sure if he ever held the belt at middle but he fought there for a long time. I think he would be the only 160lber I'd pick to KO ruiz.

 

I think it more of a styles makes fights thing. Ruiz built around the 1-2-clinch, Toney built on countering the right hand with a huge speed advantage. Plus there's no knocking Toney out. Toney was probably the worst match-up for john.

 

Yeah but he's right, Toney did do it, even if Ruiz was made for him.

I think Hopkins could do it if he hooked up with Mackie Shilstone in his early 30s when he was a pretty good athlete.

Not sure Ruiz vs a bulked up Hopkins is a fun fight to watch though.

Hopkins would move away and beat Ruiz to the 1 or 2 punches that happen before the clinch in almost all Ruiz fights.

 

You need speed and boxing ability with atleast some power or one hell of a chin.
Even RJJ had to take some big shots from Ruiz and RJJ is probably going to be as or more elusive than any other fighter in history who loves up from MW or above

 

Langford, Fitz, and Greb, maybe Ketchel and Conn.