The point he made about being the hardest working boxer ever was really hard hitting. He said he is not just reflex, speed and skill because a lot of fighters can have that but working hard makes him different to them. Roy worked harder that Toney and Hopkins and beat them easy, they were great fighters but Roy is a legend.
Do not let success go to your head and do not let failure get to your heart.
Have to disagree with you here, Master (respectfully, of course!). Roy worked very hard, but Hop's work ethic is legendary. Roy was far more physically gifted than Hop, and that is what led to him beating Hop the first time around.
Also, I can't see an argument for placing Roy over Hop historically. Hop accomplished much more and beat MUCH tougher competition (mostly while past his prime). On Roy's best night he was an ATG fighter, without a doubt. That being said, he let his prime slip away without many meaningful fights and will never be placed as high as he or his fans feel he should be (historical ranking).
I agree that Roy out worked and was the greater fighter than Toney, however. Roy outclassed James head to head, and made that fight look easy. Roy was also much more consistent and always in fighting shape, where James REALLY loved fast food joints at midnight....
Do not let success go to your head and do not let failure get to your heart.
Once again, I think that is up for debate. Roy never cleaned out any division he was in, and missed a TON of competition at 168. His accomplishment of winning a title at 160 and heavyweight was impressive, but was also put into perspective when a fat James Toney beat the same John Ruiz for a title. Roy's quality of opposition kills him in my opinion, and it is difficult for me to see ranking him higher than Hop considering Hop's superior quality of competition, middleweight reign, first to unify all titles, and age records.
Roy was the best fighter most of us have ever seen and we are boxing nerds so that says it all.
Do not let success go to your head and do not let failure get to your heart.
Roy indeed stayed in shape, sacrificed.
But Mikeod said it best when comparing Bhop.
All's lost! Everything's going to shit!
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