BoxRec

As much as we love a Prime Roy who looked virtually untouchable, I have a feeling Ward would've had Roy figured out by the late rounds and

controlled the tempo of the fight. If Montell Griffin gave Roy fits just IMAGINE what type of success Ward would've had?? No way Roy would've

agreed to fight Andre boxing politics would have ruined any chances for this showdown no fornicating way.....I hate to admit it but Andre would have

bested a prime Roy Jones Jr in a mythical aspect IMagine a young Bernard Hopkins with CAT LIKE

reflexes! That's EXACTLY what Andre Ward is! His whole around boxing iq is more polished

I personally think you are overrating Ward BIGTIME. Ward is undefeated but his resume is weak overall and he has not beat anyone with Roy's speed. Ward has beat a bunch of slow guys. Roy's hand speed was really quick in his prime. Let's not forget Roy knocked down Griffen badly in that first fight and Griffen faked a KO DQ and in the second fight Roy took him out in a minute or so. Just pitiful really.

Tanzio,RJJ,KO,8

Nobody is beating a proper Roy Jones at 160 or 168

ward has nothing that would have bothered Roy. Jones does everything better.

RJJ by a big decision.

Out boxes him easily. A prime RJJ at that weight was close to unbeatable.

168lb was Roy's best weight. That said, his resume isn't the strongest and he never faced anyone as good as Ward (though a pre-prime Hopkins comes close). The same can be said vice-versa - Ward never faced anyone close to as good as a prime RJJ.

Who is the better fighter is a tough question, because Ward is clearly the more skilled, more complete fighter, while Roy is the more talented, with superior power and speed. In a post-prime matchup I think it's clearly Ward, but prime-for-prime, Jones has to be the favourite. I think he wins a scrappy, 116-112 type decision.

Lancenix wrote:I personally think you are overrating Ward BIGTIME. Ward is undefeated but his resume is weak overall and he has not beat anyone with Roy's speed. Ward has beat a bunch of slow guys. Roy's hand speed was really quick in his prime. Let's not forget Roy knocked down Griffen badly in that first fight and Griffen faked a KO DQ and in the second fight Roy took him out in a minute or so. Just pitiful really.

Let's also not forget that Griffin had outworked and outlanded a prime RJJ through the first eight rounds of their first fight. It was a close and competitive fight up until the ending. Makes a prime Jones look a hell of a lot less invincible than some make him out to be.

Be careful not to underestimate Andre Ward.

Roy Jones Jr had other wordly handspeed & athleticism, but he was a terrible tactitian.

Andre Ward is much more technically sound, although, to be honest, that didn't help James Toney when he fought RJJ.

I'm inclined to lean towards Jones Jr, but he wouldn't dismiss Ward easily.

I think Ward is good enough to give anybody problems at 168, but Roy really was special at that weight. He outgrew it pretty fast, which is a shame, but I find it hard to envisage Ward being able to stifle Roy['s lightning attacks and counter his movement.

Ward spoils to last the fight, but clear win for Roy

Very close fight in my estimation, I always snicker when Roy is gifted these wins. Gun to my head, I'd pick him too but he doesn't run over Ward or calzaghe.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Very close fight in my estimation, I always snicker when Roy is gifted these wins. Gun to my head, I'd pick him too but he doesn't run over Ward or calzaghe.

True, he just KOs both. But, who knows?

I was always hoping that someone would clip him in his prime. Later, after Ruiz, I wanted him to retire.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Very close fight in my estimation, I always snicker when Roy is gifted these wins. Gun to my head, I'd pick him too but he doesn't run over Ward or calzaghe.

Tanzio wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Very close fight in my estimation, I always snicker when Roy is gifted these wins. Gun to my head, I'd pick him too but he doesn't run over Ward or calzaghe.

True, he just KOs both. But, who knows?

I was always hoping that someone would clip him in his prime. Later, after Ruiz, I wanted him to retire.

I don't think he'd KO either of them. He obviously was capable, huge power at that weight, but I think he'd be using his speed to outpoint these guys in competitive fights. Roy wasn't fond of southpaws, that much we know.

If he would have retired after Ruiz we'd be talking about how delusional Tarver was for all those years and how Roy would have schooled and ko'd him.

Plus I am pretty sure without exception the dudes he really dominated were dudes he was much, much more athletic than. I think the athleticism gap would be closed enough by both Calzaghe and ward that it would be no cakewalk a la Clinton woods

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:

Tanzio wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Very close fight in my estimation, I always snicker when Roy is gifted these wins. Gun to my head, I'd pick him too but he doesn't run over Ward or calzaghe.

True, he just KOs both. But, who knows?

I was always hoping that someone would clip him in his prime. Later, after Ruiz, I wanted him to retire.

I don't think he'd KO either of them. He obviously was capable, huge power at that weight, but I think he'd be using his speed to outpoint these guys in competitive fights. Roy wasn't fond of southpaws, that much we know.

If he would have retired after Ruiz we'd be talking about how delusional Tarver was for all those years and how Roy would have schooled and ko'd him.

Counter-puncher wrote:Plus I am pretty sure without exception the dudes he really dominated were dudes he was much, much more athletic than. I think the athleticism gap would be closed enough by both Calzaghe and ward that it would be no cakewalk a la Clinton woods

I'm not saying that either would be a cakewalk. I think that RJJ had a gear or two beyond either of them. He would have hit it out of necessity and finished both mid to late.

But, again, who knows?

Andre Ward's resume and gaps in his fighting career does not even warrant this discussion. A lot of people and boxing fans do not like RJJ and in these types of discussions it always shows. Ward's resume is so weak that to put him next to RJJ is a joke!!

jezzamundo wrote:

Lancenix wrote:I personally think you are overrating Ward BIGTIME. Ward is undefeated but his resume is weak overall and he has not beat anyone with Roy's speed. Ward has beat a bunch of slow guys. Roy's hand speed was really quick in his prime. Let's not forget Roy knocked down Griffen badly in that first fight and Griffen faked a KO DQ and in the second fight Roy took him out in a minute or so. Just pitiful really.

Let's also not forget that Griffin had outworked and outlanded a prime RJJ through the first eight rounds of their first fight. It was a close and competitive fight up until the ending. Makes a prime Jones look a hell of a lot less invincible than some make him out to be.

The fight was basically even on the cards when the knockdown occurred. And after the Griffen knockdown the end was very near. We both know that. And in the rematch after Griffens acting job it lasted all of 90 seconds. That put it all to rest.

You want to talk about Darnell Boone? Who knocked Ward down and had him hurt badly in their fight. That is far worse than Jones first 8 rounds with Griffen. And when Jones was KO'd by Tarver and Johnson he had lost that quickness he had earlier in his career and his poor habits had caught up to him. Jones does not have the greatest list of opponents either but I still think they are far better than Ward's/

Ward's wily defensive mastery would prevent RJJ from getting the stoppage. But, Roy was one of the most complete boxers that I've ever seen, and I would predict a conclusive points victory for him against Ward.

And I'm being generous to Andre.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Very close fight in my estimation, I always snicker when Roy is gifted these wins. Gun to my head, I'd pick him too but he doesn't run over Ward or calzaghe.

I agree

Lancenix wrote:Andre Ward's resume and gaps in his fighting career does not even warrant this discussion. A lot of people and boxing fans do not like RJJ and in these types of discussions it always shows. Ward's resume is so weak that to put him next to RJJ is a joke!!

Ward's easy wins over Kessler and Froch show how good he really is.

At 168 Ward has the better wins for me. I'd pick Roy as I think offensively he would be too much for Ward, but it isn't cut and dry.

My HEART says Roy Jones but my stable mind says bet on Andre Ward! He's a much bigger more aggressive version of

Rigo with ELITE Gold Medal pedigree Ward has won all of his contest in DECISIVE fashion! I'm telling you come the 7th round everybody

will be saying "Man...Roy Better Step It Up He BETTER DO SOMETHING!" Andre would make a UGLY mugging fight type of fight where those rounds

go by FAST in his favor look up and it's already the 10th 114-111 in favor of Ward. His mugging style, his fast reflexes like a super feather

Mayweather, and difficult body posturing would make it HARD for Roy to tee off on him. Ward wins it 116-113 and avoids a rematch runs like hell

Roy would DESTROY Ward in a rematch though! Forget about the Montell fight his way of thinking his persona he likes to get back! Prime Roy

loves payback! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=istJXUJJP0g Andre Ward have to take that win over a PRIME Roy and damn near go into

hiding avoiding any type of talks of a rematch.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

Lancenix wrote:Andre Ward's resume and gaps in his fighting career does not even warrant this discussion. A lot of people and boxing fans do not like RJJ and in these types of discussions it always shows. Ward's resume is so weak that to put him next to RJJ is a joke!!

Ward's easy wins over Kessler and Froch show how good he really is.

Those 2 fighters are slow. Jones would have ran circles around him.

Lancenix wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

Lancenix wrote:Andre Ward's resume and gaps in his fighting career does not even warrant this discussion. A lot of people and boxing fans do not like RJJ and in these types of discussions it always shows. Ward's resume is so weak that to put him next to RJJ is a joke!!

Ward's easy wins over Kessler and Froch show how good he really is.

Those 2 fighters are slow. Jones would have ran circles around him.

I think Jones would have won, but not as easily as some might think. Ward is class.