In the 1990’s, Roy Jones Jr transfixed world class fighters with sharp reflexes and blistering hand speed. At his dazzling peak he was untouchable; an unrivalled pound for pound king that cleaned out multiple weight classes in a career punctuated by controversy.
Here are five fights that defined his career as one of the greatest to ever do it.
Seoul Scandal
Jones should have struck Gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympic games but fell foul to arguably the most damning decision in amateur boxing history.
Jones-Hopkins 1
Redemption came five years after the sham in Seoul, when he scalped unbeaten middleweight Bernard Hopkins to claim his first crown.
Jones-Toney
Jones moved up to toy with James Toney in a dominant and defining victory for the super middleweight strap. At the time Toney was considered a pound for pound fighter.
Jones-Griffin II
During a routine defence against Montell Griffin, RJJ received a disqualification for illegally punching his defenceless opponent who had taken a knee. Intent on vindication, Jones settled straight into a wild rhythm, stopping Griffin in round one of their rematch with a monster left uppercut.
https://youtu.be/-Goj-6yneb4
Jones-Ruiz
The Florida man’s flirtation with the idea of moving up to heavyweight came to fruition in 2003. He danced around the much bigger champion, John Ruiz, in a landslide victory.
https://youtu.be/Pr6ov–K9C4
In the boxing business, there are few fairytale endings. RJJ returned to the well again and again, as his irresistible ability faded and faded. The once peerless star began to take beatings from lesser men, each loss a stain on a stellar career.
On Thursday evening, RJJ will step out under the light for his last dance, aiming to claim one last title. History will remember him for making world-class operators look silly in every weight class, but also for nights like these – fighting for a dud belt as nothing more than a novelty act.
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In The Ring With A Legend: Brits remember fighting Roy Jones Jr