Who could beat Roy Jones?

Bob Foster and Spinks would be outclassed by Jones. So would Hagler sorry. LOL at a lot of these posts. His speed would box circles around most anyone. Jones wasnt stupid, he knew his opponents strengths and who he could bang with and who he needed to disappear against. He was pretty dam good at his best.

 

Jones was always a knockout waiting to happen, but his reflexes were simply so good, that it didn't happen until he slowed down.

Even so, if we start matching him against the best finishers from 160-175, somebody is going to turn the trick.

 

LHW: Spinks, Foster and Charles. Qawi/Braxton would be my wildcard
MW: Roy is tough here, He would be the naturally bigger man against the ATGs and would be the fastest of them all. SRR, Hagler, Monzon etc are tough for anyone and I wouldnt be that surprised to see them beat RJJ, but if I had to pick someone at MW Id go with Hearns. His range and speed as well as his pop give him the best chance IMO.
Jones was pretty spectacular at MW even though I think he was at his best at 168

 

His style was crafted around his insane reflexes and speed. Once the physical assets were eroded what was left was insufficient to sustain a championship career.

Ask guys like John Scully, who sparred with or fought everyone in the talent rich 90's about Jones. He has stated that the gap between Jones and the rest was immense. Given those that were around in those days, that's some endorsement.

 

Hopkins didn't win 4 rounds, he won about 2 or 3 against a Jones with a broken hand and neither Hagler or Monzon fight at the frantic pace that version of Hopkins did

 

You got a man today at 175lbs who could beat jobes, nicknamed the Krusher.

 

He was 1 of the best of his generation, see his Toney and Collins fights. All of his losses prior to Jones were pretty controversial

He was still picking up good wins and relevant

Hopkins was 28 and had plenty of fights behind him and wouldn't lose for another 12 years.

Right because that's the same Let's not forget Hopkins ran for the rematch for years knowing full well his limitations.

 

He might beat Jobes but he'd get KTFO by Jones

 

Doubt it.

 

Mike McCallum was 39 years, and 11 months old when Jones fought him.

By that time Jones had been put to sleep by the world terrifying Glenn Johnson.

 

S.R.R. destroys Jones inside 8 rounds, Hagler laughs at Jones so called power and takes him out in less time than it took to take out the other big puncher with a s**t chin, Tommy Hearns.

Bob Foster almost kills him with one right hand. Never mind asleep for minutes like he was against Johnson and Lebedev. We are talking about a hospital job, with resuscitation teams required. Spinks, and Ezzard Charles, comfortable wins, neither are big stupid plums like Ruiz, and neither would be even remotely bothered by anything Jones threw at them.

There are also plenty more who would be 50 - 50 at worst against Jones, but the above are the most obvious.

 

Uhh thats the Jones nuthugger narrative. I lived through those days and remember Hopkins chasing the rematch almost from the moment the first fight was over. But hey, lets not let reality get in the way of our fantasy right? Any discussion of who could beat Jones also begs the question of whether Jones gets to use his steroids against guys like Greb, Fullmer, Robinson, Saad, Qawi, Spinks, etc. If not hes losing to a lot of guys. Of course Roy wouldnt even fight guys like that seeing as how he avoided every marquee matchup he was offered after he beat Toney, who despite his reputation among some was never unbeatable, even among less than supposed ATG fighters... Just ask Dave Tiberi.

 

Corrie Sanders would have, had Jones gone through with his offer of a fight.

 

Reminds me of the anecdote of the losing fighter in the locker room asking for another chance at the guy who beat him and the trainer (Futch?) telling his fighter, You just had him. Think about that.

You might as well throw every fighter from the mid-60's on (including Saad, Qawi and Spinks) down the same well. PED's have been around since the 50's.