Quote Originally Posted by Galaxy View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Mars_ax View Post
Quote Originally Posted by BIG H View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Mars_ax View Post
Easily SRL, Jones doesn't even make my top 100 all-time.
That really surprises me mate. Surely you must be basing some of that on the Taver fights and since? Looking at him up to and including Ruiz, it would be very hard not to have him at least top 20 IMO.
The "Great" Jones Jr had his moments early his career, but I never saw any real "defining" fights, or moving up in weight and outpointing Journeyman HW Chumpion John Ruiz as any great accomplishment. Once Jones' unorthodox style was figured out and the competition got stiffer, he started getting his ass handed to him, first by Tarver, then by Glenn Johnson. I look at a fighters entire career and Roy Jones Jr. turned out to be an overhyped PPV premadona, who got exposed.
I disagree, I had Jones winning the 1st Tarver fight & Tarver was the #1 contender going into that fight & was no push over! I don't care much for the win over Ruiz but he had to cut back down in weight for the Tarver fight. Jones was basically untouchable until around 2004. Jones dominated from 154 to 175 for a period of roughly 15 years, defeating the likes of Hopkins, Toney, McCallum & Tarver (also a whole host of other top contenders)
Granted, prior to being knocked out by Tarver in 2004, Jones was better than most of his competition. My point is, unlike SRL, up until 2004 Jones really had no "defining" fights and/or fights where he was really tested. Well guess what, the competition finally got better, and when Jones started fighting pugs who were his equal, he wasn't up to the challenge. As long as Jones was dealing out the punishment he was great, but as soon as someone gave him a taste of his own medicine, he was toast.

I base much of a fighters greatness by how well they come back from adversity, this is a big part of the reason why pugs like SRL, Louis, Marciano, Ali, et al, are all-time greats, and why Roy Jones Jr. is not. (at least not in my top 100)