Is Roy Jones Jr an ATG at 175?

[The Six Four]

Do you consider Roy Jones Jr. an all-time great at light heavyweight? Given his dominance in the division during the late '90s and early 2000s — including wins over the likes of Virgil Hill, Reggie Johnson, and Antonio Tarver (in their first fight) — there's a strong case to be made. His speed, reflexes, and unorthodox style were unmatched. But does his résumé at 175 stand up to the greatest in the division’s history? I'd love to see any Top 10 all-time great light heavyweight lists from any members brave enough to post theirs.

[TitoFan]

Yep, I absolutely consider Roy an ATG at 175. All the characteristics you mentioned (speed, reflexes, etc) were on full display for all to see. He definitely dominated the division during his time. I'd say he was a beast even at super middle.

Something to consider is that light heavyweight is not exactly the division where the greatest number of ATGs of boxing reside. Heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, lightweight... those are much more populated by comparison.

I'm afraid I'm not brave enough to post a Top Ten All-Time at 175. Mainly because probably some of the ones that are considered the best were from back in the grainy black and white era.

But I'll just throw some names out there that should probably be in anybody's Top Ten at 175.



Michael Spinks. If I had to name someone who could give RJJ a serious run for his money at the division, it would be Michael. Unfortunately, our last memory of him was getting wiped out by Mike Tyson at heavy. But Michael was himself an ATG at light heavy, and must be mentioned. His resume leaves nothing to be desired, also.

Bob Foster. Again... got crushed at heavyweight by two ATGs in their own right (Ali and Frazier). But at 175 he was one feared dude. He probably owns one of the scariest one-punch knockouts in history, when he obliterated Mike Quarry with a left hook from hell.

Then again, I'd probably go modern and throw in the names of Beterbiev and Bivol. Both are still writing their history... but in the end I think both will merit a place among the division's best.

[X]

Ezzard Charles …. Nobody talks about him much, but he dominated the weight class, owned Archie Moore (and who can say that?) before becoming the one and only heavyweight champ, not just a titleholder …..

[TIC]

i don't think roy makes the top ten, let me compile my list

[TIC]

ezzard charles
archie moore
michael spinks
tommy loughran
bob foster
harry greb
gene tunney
harold johnson
jimmy bivins
bill conn

sam lanford, john henry lewis, jack delaney, joe choyinski, tommy gibbons, maxie rosenbloom

roy might make the top twenty

[Master]

For some reason I do not see Roy Jones as ATG light heavyweight. There were some great champions from the past that dedicated their whole career at the weight that should be higher than Roy but that time period before 1930's were times when there are no films and fixed fights.

I would have these boxers higher

Ezzard Charles – top light heavyweight in his era and beat Archie Moore 3 times. Also heavyweight champion making 8 successful defences.

Archie Moore – When he finally got the shot at light heavyweight title at 36 he held it for the longest period 10 year.

Bob Foster Made 14 successful defences in-between going up to heavyweight and getting knocked out by the greatest heavyweights in history Frazier and Ali.

Michael Spinks made 10 successful defences against some top fighters and became heavyweight champion

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol could live with Roy Jones but not better.

[Spicoli]

I've just never been so quick to skyrocket Jones to levels of ATG as so many but that doesn't detract that he was absolutely a phenomenal fighter and one of the most impressive on sheer blitz athleticism I've seen. So many names already mentioned and rightly can see them over Jones when we're talking all time great at 175. Jones does benefit from an overall run along different divisions, many do, but when condensed to 175 tbh I had him 0-3 vs Tarver . Let's just say he always seemed to be afforded some extra links in the chain so to speak. HBO literally put a golden resign on a platter green lighting rando mandatories far too often and Jones acquiring 'belts' there was also shrouded in politics, and it's just what it was. I believe he was elevated what 2 or 3 times to champ status...rather than beating them outright for it. Happened with Hill after Hill had just lost to a newly unified Michalczewski who was then royally screwed and stripped via wba and ibf politics. Happened after Jones jumped to 175 vs McCallum too. It was a serious mess of transactional belts and far too often belts are the way fans calculate greatness. And of course the two never fought. In hindsight it would seem both Jones and Michalczewski were not in a hurry to travel. At all. How times have changed. Then there was Jones just dropping the wbc...and Rocchigiani legit being crowned new champ beating Michael Nunn...but Roy changing his mind and literally having the belt handed back to him after Rocchigiani was criminally stripped by the wbc. Wbc was in turn sued, lost and on the brink of bankruptcy. Ohhh so close to the last day of a corrupt body . Look I swear I'm not hating on the man, and Jones wins over Hill and Griffin rematch were very impressive. Also think Eric Harding gave Jones a solid fight and may very well be an underrated win for Jones. Reggie Johnson was a solid scalp. He legit flattened Guthrie to grab a belt but he also deserved to take the L vs Will Taylor before Jones got to him. But nothing glamorous and strictly ground in 175 long term really stood out imo for Jones at 175. It was a bit ehh and turned into an easter egg hunt of just collecting trinkets. Some we've hardly heard from since. Generational talent was Jones has more than a few ahead of him at 175 when talking atg.