Roy jones chin discussion..

[TitoFan]

Or were his supreme speed, timing and reflexes the key to avoid a complete flush shot for so long.

I'm going to second what @TitoFan said. I'd also add that his offensive style made him more susceptible to getting hit. He was always offense first behind the incredible speed and athleticism. When those assets start to erode you get caught by shots that seemed telegraphed previously. Where as a guy like Mayweather whose approach is defense first will not show the same effects from the loss of timing.

Roy's chin may have or may not have been as fragile as it has looked post Ruiz. He was never stopped as an amateur in about 130 fights. I don't think its his chin really. I just think he gets caught with clean shots that never would have gotten to him and that those shots might ko most people.

Whats incredible about Roys abilities is the fact that he never needed a jab, nor did he really use one ever. The only time I saw him use one was against Vinny Paz. It was an actual jab fest. Pretty sure he landed 100 jabs one round. Never needed a jab at his level. Imagine that. I've often wondered how things may have changed later in his career had he developed a jab as good as the rest of him.

I think categorizing Roy as "offense first" while Floyd was "defense first" is right on the button. Two guys with tremendous natural athletic and boxing ability.... and yet there was that important distinction. Reason why we never saw ugly knockout losses by Floyd.

BTW.... the Pazienza fight was one of my favorites. Don't know why, but I was dying to see Vinny KTFO'ed. I knew Roy would easily outbox him, but the ferocity of the knockout caught me by surprise. I'd never seen so many punches land smack in the face of a fighter in such quick succession. Vinny must've asked post-fight how many Roys were in the ring with him.