Peak Roy Jones Jr vs peak Calzaghe: who would win? (2024)

Jonny Ninja said:

I’d take Jones but it’s irrelevant really. They fought and joe beat him. Very few great fighters meet in both of their primes and the record books is what people will remember a little way down the line. We know it wasn’t prime Jones, just as we know canelo beat a past prime golovkin, or fury/Joshua beat past prime wlad.

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IMO Jones not only "wasnt prime", but was 10% of prime form. Not all great boxers declined so fast.

IF they were both at their peak it's RJJ, no question, but they fought and Calzaghe was at a better part of his career. Like Jonny said though, few fighters ever meet while both are at their absolute best.

Prime RJJ is one of the best to ever put on gloves.

Roids said:

I think Jones beats the crap out of him. Why didn't they fight in the 90s? The WBO belt wasn't taken seriously back then I assume that is the reason?

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Why didn't they fight in the 90s when both were active? It happens. It's normal. Calzaghe was coming up and not a name while Roy was already established. A fighter who Roy SHOULD have really fought was Steve Collins.

Calzaghe maybe took a little too long to get American fights, but what can you do? Sometimes things don't line up.

Roids said:

Steve Collins would have been a highlight reel to prime Roy.

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I’m glad we get to agree on something.

Gregoire1 said:

IMO Jones not only "wasnt prime", but was 10% of prime form. Not all great boxers declined so fast.

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yeah I don’t disagree. They are roughly the same age as well, give or take a couple of years. The moving up and down weight classes probably didn’t help Roy’s longevity tbh

2 great fighters though. & Roy at his peak was 1 of the very best ever

Jones was attacking from all angles. One of the few that I'd pick over Calzaghe.
But I already mentioned in another thread recently that I don't like fantasy match up's involving Jones, because he was pretty much unbeatable from 160-175.

Calzaghe vs. James Toney... Calzaghe vs. Andre Ward... Calzaghe vs. Canelo... I'd much rather watch any of those than Calzaghe vs. Jones Jr.

deucesarewild said:

Why didn't they fight in the 90s when both were active? It happens. It's normal. Calzaghe was coming up and not a name while Roy was already established. A fighter who Roy SHOULD have really fought was Steve Collins.

Calzaghe maybe took a little too long to get American fights, but what can you do? Sometimes things don't line up.

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I think i heard before Calzaghe was afraid of flying. Anyone else hear this?

Mickf said:

I think i heard before Calzaghe was afraid of flying. Anyone else hear this?

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everyone had excuses, for Roy's part, he didn't want to fly to someone's hometown and get screwed. Most of it boiled down to protecting what they had until they had less to protect.

Gregoire1 said:

Jones from Toney fight and Joe from Hopkins fight. I take Roy slightly... 60/40.

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Hard to say, Jones was 39 and Calzaghe 36 or 37 yrs old at the time. Neither of them were in their prime or at their "peak" when they fought.
I feel like Calzaghe is one of the most underrated champ in boxing. He used to be called "Joe Slapzaghe" back then but his "slaps" were super effective. He also had crazy stamina/workrate.
Jones was of course amazing in his prime but styles make fights. And no matter how fast or invincible he seemed at his peak..He still lost against Tarver.
Calzaghe was a nightmare for any styles in his prime. So who knows ? I'd say 50/50

Jonny Ninja said:

I’d take Jones but it’s irrelevant really. They fought and joe beat him. Very few great fighters meet in both of their primes and the record books is what people will remember a little way down the line. We know it wasn’t prime Jones, just as we know canelo beat a past prime golovkin, or fury/Joshua beat past prime wlad.

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No, it's not irrelevant that Joe hid out in Europe and refused to fight Jones (and many others) for so many years.

Your picking jones proves that... his beating a faded jones is what is irrelevant--at least to you, and me.

mozfonky said:

everyone had excuses, for Roy's part, he didn't want to fly to someone's hometown and get screwed. Most of it boiled down to protecting what they had until they had less to protect.

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Yeah, but Jones fought in the far deeper and more respected market at the time, was the bigger name, and the champ, why should he fly to Joe's hometown?

djacobox372 said:

No, it's not irrelevant that Joe hid out in Europe and refused to fight Jones (and many others) for so many years.

Your picking jones proves that... his beating a faded jones is what is irrelevant--at least to you, and me.

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Lol at Hiding in Europe? Jones could’ve come to Wales and fought Calzaghe earlier but he probably wasn’t even on his radar. Especially considering they were in different weight classes for much of Calzaghe reign

djacobox372 said:

Yeah, but Jones fought in the far deeper and more respected market at the time, was the bigger name, and the champ, why should he fly to Joe's hometown?

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you're right, but at the end of the day, he fought him anyway and lost. Those kinds of games really hurt the sport and they've been going on forever.