Roy Jones Jr has named a chap Hall of Famer whose velocity would person posed large problems if they ever collided successful the ring.
The American possessed bonzer velocity himself, peculiarly during his ascendant surge betwixt mediate and light-heavyweight, wherever his lone decision came against Montell Griffin successful 1997.
Even then, Jones was simply disqualified for hitting Griffin portion helium was down connected 1 knee, and yet won their rematch by first-round stoppage aboriginal that year.
Irrespective of that blemish, the pound-for-pound fable was astir untouchable passim his premier years, but nevertheless admits that chap icon Sugar Ray Leonard would person been a hard match-up.
While Jones was arguably astir effectual betwixt 168 and 175lbs, Leonard claimed 2 of his astir important victories – against Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran – astatine 147lbs.
He past stepped up to middleweight and, astir notably, edged a razor-thin divided determination against Marvin Hagler, earlier rematching Hearns astatine a catchweight of 164lbs successful 1989.
By this point, Leonard was past his champion and yet, adjacent astatine middleweight, ‘Sugar Ray’ would person been considered a fierce hostile for Jones.
In a societal media clip reposted by BeeBoxing, Jones explains that Leonard’s velocity and spite would person caused him issues.
“I ne'er truly wanted to combat [Leonard]. I knew that, [against] a accelerated combatant similar him, the jab is your occupation – you can’t [keep] the jab successful his face.
“If you fto him determination astir and bash what helium [wants to] do, he’s going to bushed you, due to the fact that he’s precise explosive and he’s precise mean.”
In the end, Leonard yet retired aft losing to Hector Camacho successful 1997, yet it indispensable beryllium said that some helium and Jones were shadows of their erstwhile selves by the clip they hung up the gloves.
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