Roy Jones and the Cruiserweights.

[IRLangmaid25]

It's 2003, and Roy Jones has just defeated John Ruiz to win a portion of the World Heavyweight title, despite conceding nearly 2and a half stone against John Ruiz. Who would have RUN beaten if he choose not to shed 18pounds to take on Antonio Tarver.

[DrDuke]

The likes of Mormeck, Braithwaite and O'Neil Bell were around the top at that period of time. Johnny Nelson also had his prolonged WBO run at the late stages. Jirov and Toney were about to move at the HW. Jones could handle them all.

[gilgamesh]

Would've been interesting if he'd dropped to Cruiserweight instead of going all the way back down to Light Heavyweight. I feel like his inevitable decline was right around the corner anyway, but perhaps without the weight and muscle cut of going all the way back down to 175 he might've gotten a few more big wins out of his body.

[Tony1244]

I wanted to see RJJ fight the Klitschkos but RJJ didn't agree. Wonder if he had beaten them if the likes of EO would still be yapping.

[gilgamesh]

I wanted to see RJJ fight the Klitschkos but RJJ didn't agree. Wonder if he had beaten them if the likes of EO would still be yapping.

I don't figure he would've beaten them, but it would've been an interesting bout nonetheless.

[Tony1244]

I wanted to see RJJ fight the Klitschkos but RJJ didn't agree. Wonder if he had beaten them if the likes of EO would still be yapping.

I don't figure he would've beaten them, but it would've been an interesting bout nonetheless.

RJJ stopping Wlad wouldn't have surprised me in the least.

Is there anyone here ignorant enough to believe Valuev or Andy Ruiz would have beaten RJJ?

[gilgamesh]

I don't figure he would've beaten them, but it would've been an interesting bout nonetheless.

RJJ stopping Wlad wouldn't have surprised me in the least.

Is there anyone here ignorant enough to believe Valuev or Andy Ruiz would have beaten RJJ?

It wouldn't have been the most shocking thing, especially at that time with Wlad having been beaten by Corrie Sanders and all that, but in retrospect I have a hard time imagining Roy ever being able to pull off a win like that as a Heavyweight.

Mainly because of the age he was before attempting to fight at Heavyweight.

It'll always be a what if to me to wonder if he could've gotten a few more Elite athletic years out of his body if he'd never tried to go all the way back down to 175.

[DrDuke]

I wanted to see RJJ fight the Klitschkos but RJJ didn't agree. Wonder if he had beaten them if the likes of EO would still be yapping.

I don't believe, he would beat Klitschkos. He had only a puncher's chance against Wlad.

I don't figure he would've beaten them, but it would've been an interesting bout nonetheless.

RJJ stopping Wlad wouldn't have surprised me in the least.

Is there anyone here ignorant enough to believe Valuev or Andy Ruiz would have beaten RJJ?

Jones would trick Valuev like Haye did. He could do the same with Andy, if Joshua was able to.

Back in his times he also could win declined Tyson and Holyfield. And the fights against the likes of Byrd, Golota, Rahman, Brewster could at least be intriguing.

[Onamastus]

The cruiserweights were of no interest to him or us. I wish he had followed up the Ruiz masterclass with another one over Byrd. Then he would have been WBA and IBF champ and I doubt Lewis would be able to resist a 2004 Superfight with him. And given Lewis' advancing years, creaky appearence vs Klitschko, and the trademark arrogance that would stop him from genuinely taking Jones seriously, I couldn't rule out the unthinkable happening. But ultimately it would be a no lose fight for Roy, and he could retire a fistic king of kings.

[DrDuke]

The cruiserweights were of no interest to him or us. I wish he had followed up the Ruiz masterclass with another one over Byrd. Then he would have been WBA and IBF champ and I doubt Lewis would be able to resist a 2004 Superfight with him. And given Lewis' advancing years, creaky appearence vs Klitschko, and the trademark arrogance that would stop him from genuinely taking Jones seriously, I couldn't rule out the unthinkable happening. But ultimately it would be a no lose fight for Roy, and he could retire a fistic king of kings.

Lewis would be ready for Jones, like he was ready against shot Tyson. Lewis had some motivation troubles during his career, but he was always ready for obviously big matchups. And Jones matchup would be huge despite a clearly Lewis favoring nature of it.

[Jaywheel]

Lewis would have crushed RJJ. IMO the best scenario money and chances of winning wise after the Ruiz fight would have been a Tyson fight.

[bwu]

Not a big RJJ fan, but the man was great in his prime. This is one of those rare threads where I agree with at least a bit of what everybody said so far. However, I think the good doctor, in his posts, hits the nail right on the head. Jones would've handled all the cruiserweights and some of the heavyweights, but Lewis would be too much.

If Jones had gone that route, he could've joined Henry Armstrong in holding three titles simultaneously (yeah, yeah, I know it's not the same). Looking back, I'm kind of surprised he didn't go that route.