Former World Cruiserweight Champion, Tony Bellew, has branded Roy Jones Jr as ‘the greatest fighter’ the sport of boxing has ever seen.
The man from Liverpool isn’t alone in his thinking. Jones Jr is the only man to start his pro career at super welterweight and go on to win a heavyweight title.
He had a stint as undisputed at 175lb, and was known for having the dual skillsets of impeccable defence with knockout power. Bellew told Seconds Out that he ‘idolised’ Jones when he was a younger man.
“Roy? My hero. The greatest fighter to ever put on gloves.”
“I absolutely idolised him. I’ve never seen a fighter so equal in offence and defence. Ever. If you think you see something special in Lomachenko. This guy was Lomachenko, this guy was Mike Tyson … This guy was so many fighters rolled into one.”
“This guy could do anything. This guy played a game of semi professional basketball and went and beat the number one contender on the same day. Eric Lucas.”
Jones defeated Eric Lucas by 11th round stoppage to defend his IBF super middleweight belt in 1996.
The Canadian would go on to brand his hand speed a ‘blur’ and his defence ‘perfect’, and said that by the time he would work out his attack, Jones ‘had already changed place.’
Jones later moved up to win world titles at light heavyweight and heavyweight before a stint at cruiserweight to close out his career.
Despite many fans and pundits having seen enough to label him one of the greatest to ever lace up, the 54-year-old is not in official retirement, having been inside the ropes as recently as this month – a majority decision loss to former MMA fighter, Anthony Pettis.
He’s also turned his hand to training, and currently corners Chris Eubank Jr.