Could Prime Roy Jones Have Beaten Any Light Heavy Ever?

[keithmoonhangover]

This is something I've been thinking about in the last few weeks.

Previously I thought Archie Moore was the best Light Heavy ever.

But even over 15 rounds, I think Jones would take a decision.

What do you guys think?

[King Carlos]

I think Jones was a phenomenal fighter between 160 and 168, but I believe he gets too often overrated (sometimes criminally so) at Lt. Heavyweight, both in terms of his accomplishments and how he'd have fared against the best.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

To answer the question, he certainly could. I don't think he would. Just citing the example you posed. Archie was so smart, there is no doubt he would tag Roy square on his chin many, many times. Could Jones take it? I doubt it.

[BoxBuzz]

Ezz, Arch, Tunney would all likely beat him.

But I have to say one heck of weird fight to witness would be M Spinks vs Roy Jones Jr. Those two styles in the same ring would a very strange visual. I can barely imagine it.

[Expug]

I have Foster knocking him out.

[BoxBuzz]

I have Foster knocking him out.

Very possible as well.

[Diamond WEAPON]

This should answer your question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWIqZKhNY90

[chucktaylor]

What about Mike Spinks? That could be a decent matchup.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I would favor Spinks significantly. I'd take Roy over Foster.

[dberry]

No he could not.

[jaclem2]

...dberry is right...the correct answer is no.

[dr_devious]

Moore, Foster, and Spinks would start as favourites, and Harold Johnson would also start as at least an even money bet against RJJ. The peak Jones was so fast that you never know, but if he gets tagged by these guys, you suspect its lights out, definitely lights out if its Foster

[Ezzard]

Even the greatest of fighters (and Jones isn't one of them), Robinson, Greb, Langford, Charles, etc... would fail to beat all the greats in their division.

Jones has no chance.

[orbtastic]

I think Foster beats him 9/10, the jab, left hook and right hand sending him to sleep in probably half the fights.

I don't really see him beating a top ten ATG at the weight

Charles, Moore, Tunney, Foster, Loughran, Conn, Spinks, Bivins, Johnson etc etc.

[Grimm]

I would favor Spinks significantly. I'd take Roy over Foster.

Agreed

[IKSRTFO]

Hard to tell for me. Even though he beat slicksters like Hopkins and Toney handily, he avoided guys I think were more dangerous like Benn, Eubank and McClellan. If I were as good as Jones, I definitely would want to avenge one of the guys that beat me in the amatuers. (McClellan)

[dberry]

He seemed to avoid a few at light heavy, he wanted no bar of Adamek and Michalczewski as well.

[Grimm]

He seemed to avoid a few at light heavy, he wanted no bar of Adamek and Michalczewski as well.

I guess he wanted no bar of Jean Pascal as well

[dberry]

I don't see why you laugh and mock me, in '02 Adamek was a dangerous, undefeated rangy Eastern Block fighter who had made a name for himself, wanted a crack and never got one, maybe you think at that stage he hadn't earned it. But by the time RJJ had come back to light heavy, Adamek was the man to beat at that weight.
Vassily Jirov, although a cruiser also wanted a piece of Roy, he never got it, I suppose that's a riot to you Grimm.
I don't know why you call yourself Grimm, you don't seam grim at all, with all the laughing smiley faces you seam pretty gay to me.

[Ezzard]

I agree with the usual names: Moore, Charles, Tunney. I'd also back Johnson, Spinks and Foster to win more times than they lost.

I'd back Michael Moorer and Qawi to beat him too.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I think he would have boxed circles around Moorer. Michael was incredibly raw at 175, while he would have a punchers chance I'm actually in the minority that think she was a better fighter as a heavyweight.

As for Jones ducking Adamek, I'll just say wow.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Moorer-Jones would be interesting.

[Jaywheel]

Jones ducking Adamek and Jirov is quite funny.

I don't favor M.Spinks over RJJ at LH. I am biased because I don't like both Spinks but I think RJJ's speed would make the akward footed Spinks inefficient for most of the fight.

I can't see him get a W against Charles, Moore, Tunney, Foster. Foster is a nightmare for RJJ.

[BoxBuzz]

...dberry is right...the correct answer is no.

when you're right your're right.

[BoxBuzz]

Jones ducking Adamek and Jirov is quite funny.

I don't favor M.Spinks over RJJ at LH. I am biased because I don't like both Spinks but I think RJJ's speed would make the akward footed Spinks inefficient for most of the fight.

I can't see him get a W against Charles, Moore, Tunney, Foster. Foster is a nightmare for RJJ.

Can you imagine this fight? I have to say it would have a comical aspect, these two styles seem so oddly at odds.