Few boxing fans would argue that, in his prime in the 1990s, four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr was one of the greatest fighters of all time.
In his 76 fight professional career, Jones shared the ring with some of the best boxers of his era – and has revealed who he ranks as the finest of them all.
In a recent interview with Boxing News, ‘Captain Hook’ stated that James Toney “had everything,” and was a cut above the rest of the men he faced.
“James “Lights Out” Toney. He was 44-0 when I fought him; undefeated; the best shoulder-roll fighter that I’ve ever seen. He had power. He had speed. He had defence. He had everything. He could knock you out from round one to round 12, so, he’s definitely the best fighter I ever fought. He’s in the hall of fame now.”
“You got to have strategy, to beat that.”
“As a shoulder-roll fighter in my opinion he is and always will be a better fighter than Floyd Mayweather.”
“He can knock you out in any round. Any fight he fights is going to be an exciting fight because he knock you out from round one to round 12, and he has combinations; he has speed; he does it all. And he ain’t going to worry about playing it safe; he believed in his defence so he ain’t got to worry about playing it safe.”
Though Jones got the better of Toney when they fought, ‘Lights Out,’ actually did not return the compliment when he was asked the same question earlier this year.
Toney is back in the ring next month, when he till take on former heavyweight world champion Razor Ruddock in an exhibition bout in Kingston, Jamaica.
As for Jones, he continues to forge a career as a trainer, most recently linking up with Jermall Charlo.