Who could beat RJJ at 168 and 175?

Well; Griffin and Tarver HAVE for starters...

 

People say this and that about Roy Jones, but who did he actually beat apart from James Toney at 168 and 175?
He got a gift against Tarver, and beat an old McCallum and Hill.
Now I'm not saying Roy Jones was not talented, as he obviously was but I jsut don't see how people can say he was unbeatable in his prime when his record isn't exactly full of talent.

 

A rangy (6'2, 80inch reach) fast moving 1-2 type, with excellent fundamentals. A fast jab gets their faster than a leaping left hook, straight right or Jones lacking jab. Jones jab was definately a weakness so make it a battle of the jabs.

I'm not sure who's best for this role, I'm not sure who embodies this best, lets look:

Charles - not quite the style I suggested but hes possibly the best ever at 175, 1 of the best compact punchers, puts his combinations in a such a way that RJJ may get broken down and stopped

M Spinks - definately had the right style with the range advantage, technical skills and the power to end things on top

Moore - I think Moore is a poor stylistic match up and loses

Nunn - not the greatest but has the style to upset Superman

Foster - punchers chance but imo not the boxer to beat RJJ

Tunney - no chance

Grebb - too small

Langford - doesnt have the defense or speed to pull it off

 

Ezzard Charles, Bob Foster, Archie Moore, Billy Conn, all at both weights, prime vs prime.

 

I pick Charles, Spinks, Foster, Moore, to certainly beat him, possibly Tunney, without question Greb if the fight is in his era, a guy like Jimmy Bivins could hold his own against Jones as well.

Charles- I don't see anyway Jones beats someone as complete a fighter as prime Charles. His own speed, skill, accuracy, timing, would allow him to hit Jones much more frequently than anyone RJJ has ever fought, and prime Charles was a puncher and a fantastic finisher, maybe RJJ could be leading by a point, but he gets knocked out in this fight, no doubt in my mind.

Spinks- his rangy, unorthodox style would give Jones problems. I don't see RJJ stopping Spinks, and I don't see Jones lasting 15 or even 12 rounds without Spinks landing the right hand flush, and I don't see Jones taking that shot well.

Moore- One, while he would have beaten him on any night, the reason why RJJ was so dominant against Toney was how weight-drained Toney was, he was completely lethargic that night. Moore would land sneaky right hands and left hooks on Jones, and while the weakness of RJJ's chin is at times exagerated, were talking about the all-time knockout king hitting Roy's chin flush. Again, he gets knocked out.

Foster- same with Spinks, whether Jones is ahead or not, at some point Foster will land, and either Jones is out cold from that shot, or hurt badly enough to where Foster can land cleanly again. Too good at timeing and controling range for Jones, considering Foster's punch.

 

A decent amount at 175, none at 168. Moore would get thoroughly outboxed at LHW though, Roy is the worst possible stylistic matchup for him. It wouldn't even be close on the cards.

 

A whole heap of fighters, not all great, could have beaten him at either weight.

Whether or not they actualy would is another matter.

Jones has the reflexes to potentialy beat anybody under 175, but also has weakneses in the package that most greats could exploit with the right fight plan.

 

Much would depend on what strategy Moore adopted.

With the normal plan he looses but with a well thought out plan he wins.