BoxRec

After he took a belt from Ruiz I thought he should have stayed at heavyweight for 1 or 2 fights then retired. He tried like hell to make a fight with Tyson happen then obviously went back down to fight Tarver. If he had stayed how would he have done against the other 3 belt holders?

IBF Champion: Chris Byrd-I think this would have been most interesting. It could have been anything from the most boring and cautious fight to a great speed on speed match. I personally think RJJ would have squeaked a close decision from Byrd. The trouble with Byrd is he can't hurt a guy with one shot and if Roy doesn't have to worry about one punch he will eat you up. Jones-SD or close UD

Side note-how do you guys think Byrd's speed would have compared to Roy's at this weight?

WBC Champion: Lennox Lewis-I see Roy giving Lennox some troubles early. Lennox and Steward would adapt and set up some big shots with that jab. I think it would have ended like Tarver II with Roy's lights out. Lewis-KO-middle rounds

WBO Champion: Corrie Sanders-Sanders is good early. I can see him having Roy in trouble at some point in the first few rounds, but eventually I think Jones pulls away for a wide UD. Sanders was fast for a heavyweight, but Jones would fight cautious enough and slow him down.

Jones would've kicked Byrd's ass. Byrd relied entirely on being a quick and evasive target at HW against lumbering oafs. Jones was much quicker and would've been hitting him with everything but the kitchen sink before stopping him late.

I agree with Lewis stopping Jones. Roy would've given him issues early with his speed, but Lennox would begin timing and punishing him on the outside before ending things around the 9th or the 10th.

Sanders I think would've done to Jones what Tarver actually did, only a couple of rounds later. Sanders had very quick hands for a HW and was on top of the world at that time. Jones simply wouldn't have seen the left cross coming, because Sanders hid it well and it came with great speed.

Diamond WEAPON wrote:Jones would've kicked Byrd's ass. Byrd relied entirely on being a quick and evasive target at HW against lumbering oafs. Jones was much quicker and would've been hitting him with everything but the kitchen sink before stopping him late.

I agree with Lewis stopping Jones. Roy would've given him issues early with his speed, but Lennox would begin timing and punishing him on the outside before ending things around the 9th or the 10th.

Sanders I think would've done to Jones what Tarver actually did, only a couple of rounds later. Sanders had very quick hands for a HW and was on top of the world at that time. Jones simply wouldn't have seen the left cross coming, because Sanders hid it well and it came with great speed.

I considered that with Sanders. His speed was uncanny for as lumbering as he looked. I do think it would have had to come in the first 5-6 rounds though. After that I don't see him keeping up with Roy.

So you think RJJ was "much quicker" than Byrd even at heavyweight? Interesting take. He was certainly fast against Ruiz but that is hard to judge because Ruiz is as slow as they come unless he is going in for the hug. Byrd had a different type of speed though. Strictly hands where Roy moved around much better.

He was significantly faster than Chris. That being said, I would take Roy in a close decision. Byrd's style would cause Jones trouble, very difficult guy to pot shot.

I don't see Roy giving Lewis any trouble at all. I'm guessing he would run to a shutout loss, if he tried to win he would get knocked out the second he pressed the issue.

Tend to agree with Diamond on Sanders, I guess it would depend on how fat Corrie was.

I think Roy could've beaten both Byrd and Sanders.

I remember after seeing how slow and out of shape Lewis looked vs Vitali that if Roy had been in there he could've won, but I reckon Lewis would've found a big punch home eventually, and we know Roy isn't surviving that.