Roy Jones. Great read

[Master]

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.

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....

I like B Hop but Roy was better and has achieved greater things when he won a version of the heavyweight belt and was the best at middle, supermiddle and light heavy limits.

[mikeeod]

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.

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....

I like B Hop but Roy was better and has achieved greater things when he won a version of the heavyweight belt and was the best at middle, supermiddle and light heavy limits.

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.

[Master]

Roy was the best fighter most of us have ever seen and we are boxing nerds so that says it all.

[mikeeod]

Roy was the best fighter most of us have ever seen and we are boxing nerds so that says it all.

Maybe I'm just jealous of his prime physique....

[Master]

Roy was the best fighter most of us have ever seen and we are boxing nerds so that says it all.

Maybe I'm just jealous of his prime physique....

Yes that was a body and looking at it now shows he has not aged well.

[VG_Addict]

RJJ was a fighter who relied heavily on his athleticism. Once that faded, he didn't have the fundamentals to fall back on.

[Hulk]

Roy was the best fighter most of us have ever seen and we are boxing nerds so that says it all.

Lol

Precisely! He was the best. We all fucking know it. No one comes close in modern times.

[johnsebastianmiran]

Every one speaks of talent and the shape a fighter appears to be in but Roy with talent aside went into the square against more than one opponent he could see them and we could not. As every general, in history knows except Napoleon and Hitler fighting a war on two fronts brings you much closer to defeat earlier than you think.