Jones dominated the boxing world in the 1990s and early 2000s, winning world titles from middleweight all the way up to heavyweight. His exceptional speed, reflexes, and genuine punching power made him a force to be reckoned with. Jones often relied on volume and accuracy, and had the ability to end fights suddenly, famously knocking out Virgil Hill with a single body shot.
Despite his dominance, Jones wasn't invincible. When opponents managed to land on 'Captain Hook,' they found he could be hurt. Five of his ten losses came inside the distance, showing that even the great Roy Jones Jr had his vulnerabilities.
In his interview, Jones singled out Merqui Sosa as the fighter who came closest to adding an eleventh loss to his record. The fight, an IBF super middleweight title defense, left a lasting impression on Jones.
"Merqui Sosa was a very powerful guy. You couldn't push him back; he didn't give up anything in the ring. I had to get him out of there early. He was very strong and wasn't planning on going nowhere."
Jones recalled a near-miss that could have changed the course of the fight:
"Merqui missed me with a shot that almost buckled my knees. If that had landed it would have been different. I was like, 'Wow, this guy's trying to kill you!' I went to work on him after that and got the fight over."
The fight turned into a two-round demolition job. Jones took control from the opening bell, with Sosa absorbing a lot of punishment. In the second round, Sosa hit the canvas but made the count. Jones then unleashed a barrage of combinations with Sosa's back against the ropes, prompting referee Kenneth Zimmer to stop the fight.
Sosa, flabbergasted by the stoppage, pushed the referee and complained. Despite the quick end, Jones remembers Sosa's power vividly, even comparing it to another noted puncher he faced:
"Tarver had good punching power, but he didn't punch harder than Merqui Sosa."
Sosa, while not achieving the same heights as Jones, was a dangerous and respected presence in a deep era of talent. He amassed a record of 34 wins, with 27 by knockout, against 9 losses. Though he fell short at world level multiple times, his power left a lasting impression on one of boxing's greatest.