Prime RJJ's weaknesses.

[mikeeod]

Roy struggled with lanky boxers who worked effectively behind the jab. Watch his fights against Eric Harding and Antonio Tarver to see what I'm talking about BHop gave Roy a tough fight by exposing some his weaknesses during their first fight,-Roy was a great fighter who was likely the most gifted in history. He also fought the worst comp ever for an elite fighter between the Toney n Tarver fights (Ruiz was horrible).

You're joking right? Its a testimony to how great he was that losing a round or two means a weakness has been exposed. Hopkins won at best 3 rounds against Roy and the "to green" urban legend that has managed to carry on over these many years needs to be buried. Hopkins turned pro before Roy did and had more fights when they met.

Secondly Roys dominance of his weight classes in his prime years 68/75 was better then anyone's that beat him and stands up to most people at or near that weight in history. He made everyone look pedestrian.....like most atg's do.

I'm sure from a trainers standpoint and based on the fundamentals used for fighters that are not him, he did everything wrong. That is what separates the greats from the all time greats. They do what others cannot. One can only imagine what he could have done late in his career had he used and developed his jab. It cant really be called a weakness though because he never needed it in his prime. That's how good he was. I don't think that can be said about any other ATG and its more likely then not that the others relied on it. The only time Roy ever showed that he really had a good one was against Pazienza.

Roy would have never gotten away with many of the things he did if he fought someone that could read and anticipate on the same level while possessing the same speed and reflexes he did. Nobody did though or has ever. His strengths were others weaknesses.

I usually agree with everything you write, but have to disagree with this post. First, Hopkins was no where near the fighter he became in 1999/2000 when he fought Roy in 1993. Even the Hop who fought Segundo Mercado twice was more puncher than the multi-faceted boxer who took Tito apart. Hop had a limited amateur career, and NEVER competed internationally like Roy did as an amateur, so even though Hop was older and a few more pro fights, he had no where near the depth or experience Roy had when they first met.

As for their first fight, Hop won 4 rounds in that fight, and made Roy uncomfortable in the later rounds, and really throughout. Roy deserved the win, for sure, but Hop pushed him and kept him tentative, especially once Hop settled down and gained confidence. The only urban legend associated with this fight, is that Hop won three rounds at best and that Roy walked all over him.

As for Roy barely losing rounds: look who he fought!!!! Horrible competition, maybe the worst ever by a guy with his potential. Vinny Paz?!!!!! There is a reason Roy avoided guys like Nunn and Lile, and struggled with Harding/Tarver when he fought them. Roy had great talent for sure, but he definitely had holes in his game, even during his prime.