Roy Jones: the boxing genius

[rjj tszyu]

Well, Jones actually attempted to box quite well in the amateurs.
Although he was a standout amateur, he was not invincible, so famously beaten by McClellan.

Jones then turned pro. His speed, athleticism and power allowed him to destroy opposition.
Until he was opposed by fighters of good ability that could cope with his power.
In these situations Jones could not adjust, he didn't have skills per se.
He was easily cornered and not slick on defense in close as we can see against Tarver and Johnson.

I just imagine them the same size.

And skill beats natural ability.

You should only really judge fighters when in their prime. Do you think a younger Jones would have lost against those two?

Objectively, pound for pound, probably not, but we were never given any reason to believe he had left his prime, he had just won the heavyweight title we thought he was invincible, I'm sure none of us imagined he had left his prime when he boxed Johnson and Tarver the first times.

I always wondered how he would handle the massive weight loss to be honest. I think that he fought better LHWs than Johnson and Tarver in Virgil Hill, Eric Harding (pre RJJ), Derrick Harmon (again pre RJJ), Reggie Johnson and Montell Griffin before Jones ruined him in the rematch.