Roy Jones Jr., a boxing legend with multiple world championships in four weight classes, has named Sugar Ray Robinson as the only fighter he wishes he could have faced during his career.
Jones, known as "Superman" in the ring, started his professional career in 1989 after winning a silver medal in the light-middleweight division at the 1988 Summer Olympics. The Floridian fighter went on to dominate in the middleweight, super-middleweight, light-heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions, racking up an impressive record of 66 wins (47 by knockout) in 76 fights.
During his career, Jones faced off against some of boxing's biggest names, including Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad, and Joe Calzaghe. Despite this star-studded list of opponents, Jones recently revealed in an interview with ES NEWS that there's only one fighter from any era he wishes he could have matched up against: Sugar Ray Robinson.
Robinson, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, competed across four weight classes from lightweight to light heavyweight. He put together an incredible 91-fight unbeaten streak during his career.
When asked about a hypothetical matchup with Robinson, Jones said:
"Sugar Ray Robinson. It would have been a good fight but I think I would have been too big for him, little more powerful. It would have been a good fight cause he boxed well, but I think I'd have been too big for him."
Jones believes his size advantage and power would have given him the edge, though he acknowledges Robinson's excellent boxing skills would have made for an exciting bout.
Since retiring from professional boxing, Jones has kept himself in the spotlight. In July 2020, he participated in an eight-round exhibition fight against Mike Tyson, which ended in a draw.
Speaking of Tyson, the former heavyweight champion is now set to face Jake Paul in an upcoming bout, despite an age difference of almost 30 years between the two fighters.
Jones' career and his thoughts on facing legendary fighters from different eras show the enduring fascination with "what if" scenarios in boxing. These discussions continue to fuel debates among fans and keep the sport's rich history alive.