Jones Jr. at Middleweight, re: ducking

[Manju]

In his prime, I never thought Jones to be a ducker. The most oft-repeated name was Michalczewski, but he didn't seem that exciting and I recall him being unwilling to travel to the US. Personally, I never clamored for a repeat of the Hopkins and Tooney snoozefests.

If you add Hill, the Bodysnatcher, and Ruiz (considering he's a heavyweight) you have some high-level comp there but obviously not near the level such greats like Ali and Leonard had. Jones could've used some more names on his rez.

In retrospect, there seems to be an awful lot of fights in the Middleweight division that never occurred. Was the timing just a tad off, where they ducking Jones, or did Jones duck them? Here's the list:

1. Nigel Benn
2. Chris Eubanks
3. Julian Jackson
4. Gerald Mcclennan

What's the verdict?

[p4pking]

I don't really think you can fault anyone for those fights not happening. First off Julian Jackson was basically finished before Jones really came to prominence beating Toney, he lost twice to Mclellan by TKO around then I believe, and didn't fight anyone great after that. Mclellan and Jones were friends, maybe they would've fought each other eventually, maybe not... But either way needless to say that wasn't possible after the G-man fought Benn. As to why he didn't fight Benn or Eubank, I don't think either party wanted to travel, maybe Jones didn't for spite, being so horribly robbed in the Olympics. Benn basically came apart as a fighter after he fought MClellan anyways. Also who knows how much either really wanted to land a fight with Roy Jones. I really doubt either Benn or Eubank would've wanted a fight against him, imo Roy would have easily beaten both.

[Manju]

thanks p4pking, that's interesting. regarding travelling, since i've heard this issue come up a lot, especially regarding british fighters... isn't it customary, for better or for worse, to fight in the US b/c of the money? I don't hear Latin American fighters demanding a hometown advantage, but maybe thats b/c of their economies.

add to that, doesn't one usually come to the champions--or more specifically, the perceived superior or more popular fighter's--country if there's a conflict?

I find it hard to blame Jones for not going overseas. after all, he was the attraction and, i know this will sound a little jingoistic (but its reality), he was American.

[Taeth]

None of the Europeans would come over and Fight Roy... One time I believe it was before his fight with Bryant or another supermiddleweight when he was p4p #1 that Roy asked HBO to try and find a fight for him where it was 60-40% in his favor for most cases, and not a single guy from the UK would fight him in the States. Roy never duked anyone... its just these guys weren't willing to come over to get humiliated (like Ricky Hatton) for anything less than a 50/50 split. Benn would never fight Roy, and wouldn't have stood a chance, Eubanks would have foughten Roy for a 50/50 split ,but he didn't deserve it, Collins wouldn't truly consider fighitng Roy, And Calzaghe wasn't willing to fight Roy at 175, in the states, for 60/40 spli in Roy's favor. People will tell you that Roy priced himself out, but he hardly made unreasonable offers, and never offers that were considered totally absurd, the only person who really stood a chance against him either htan Hopkins and Calzaghe was McCellan anyways, and he was done after he fought Benn.

Even with Calzaghe and Hopkins people forget That Roy hit as hard as any middleweight, I say that he could land punches that could match Julian Jackson, he was faster than Leonard(or anyone p4p), He could pot shot like Mayweather, but put combinations together like Sugar Ray Robinson, He was very hard to hit, and he was always in great shape. I could see Calzaghe's persistence, and huge punch numbers to give Roy a little trouble, but his, Roy's, speed and power would overcome the Welshman. Hopkins definitely got better from that first encounter, but Roy was quite a bit better than him at that point and Roy also improved tenfold from his first title fight, and he had a broken hand that fight.

[Master]

Roy could have fought Michealcezki but just because he did not does not mean that he ducked them. They could have tried fighting him and no one accuses them of avoiding RJJ.

Eubanks had an opportunity to fight RJJ but he was making easy money with weaker opponents and he really lost his "killer" instinct after Watson.

[Pugilistic]

my knowledge on this is small but i'm sure that roy wasn't the one ducking, those fighters or some of them refused to fight him, jones would of beat them all

[Macho]

I dont think that Jones Jr. is ducking , we have to see that he is really focus in fight with the winner of B.H vs Calzaghe , with the best in 170 pnd. and make 1 or 2 big fight with Big Purse , we know that he is going down now , so he going get the best opportunity that present it on him.......thats what i guess........

[donnydarkoIRL]

my knowledge on this is small but i'm sure that roy wasn't the one ducking, those fighters or some of them refused to fight him, jones would of beat them all

McClellan beat Roy twice in the ams and many were convinced that he was going to stop roy.
When roy got hit by Tarver he was stopped bad, theres a lot to suggest McClellan could have done the same

[Beanflicker]

^Yeah but you're talking about a Roy Jones 15 years or so into his career when he got stopped. The Roy of the mid to late 90s was much harder to tag.

I dont give any of those guys mentioned much of a chance. As impressive as McClellan was, I think Roy's speed and new size would have given him fits (lets remember, they were both kids when G-Man beat him).

Even Eubank said in an interview he didn't think he could beat Jones.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Timing beats speed and McClellan had timing in spades.

McClellan had a good enough chin to hang with Jackson twice.
Roy couldn't stop him, sooner or later McClellan would have tagged him.

McClellan had monster power at Middle. I think he would have got the job done

[ICB]

Timing beats speed and McClellan had timing in spades.

McClellan had a good enough chin to hang with Jackson twice.
Roy couldn't stop him, sooner or later McClellan would have tagged him.

McClellan had monster power at Middle. I think he would have got the job done

Jones also had amazing power at Middleweight, he did stop Thomas Tate in 2 rounds, the same Tate who went 12 rounds with Julian Jackson. I think people forget how quick and strong Jones was when he was focused. A lot of the time he used to toy with his opponent's. But if someone forced him to fight he destroyed them. McClellan may of had power and a good chin, but he was also a bit reckless and he didn't have a good defense at all he was easy to catch. McClellan wouldn't be able to just swarm Jones throwing punches from all angles being reckless otherwise he would be KO'd simple as that. Im not saying its out of the question than McClellan could KO Jones. But IMO the only thing McClellan has over Jones in attributes is power and a better chin. Other than that Jones beats McClellan pretty much in all the other attributes.

[donnydarkoIRL]

McClellan was also a better textbook boxer than Roy Jones

[ICB]

McClellan was also a better textbook boxer than Roy Jones

Yes but that wouldn't really matter in this case, because McClellan is very aggressive fighter always coming forward. He doesn't really use his boxing skills. His goes on a seek and destroy mission, and Jones would counter McClellan badly.

[Master]

RJJ would have beaten McClellan if they met. Gerald's only chance was the punch and the prime RJJ could not be caught, he destroyed Marque Sosa who was a big puncher similar to McClellan. Also remember Benn beat him due to him because he did not use his boxing skills and did not have a plan B, if his punches did not have an effect then he was lost.

[cpcompany]

Benn was interviewed plenty of times after the Mcclellan fight saying he wanted to fight Roy Jones. HE also said his game plan was just to brawl because he knew he had no chance in a pure boxing match. I have no idea why it never came off though.