World Exclusive: Mike Tyson was the biggest puncher I ever faced, says Roy Jones Jr.
- Joe Hewlett
- 30 June 2021
James Toney, Bernard Hopkins and John Ruiz are just some of the fighters to have tasted leather from Roy Jones Jr.
However, according to "Captain Hook", none of them compare to a particular opponent.
After retiring as a professional at the age of 49, Jones returned last year at 51 and fought heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, 54, and labelled the bout as a personal favourite.
Jones and Tyson are regarded as the two greatest from their era but never met despite brief negotiations taking place following Jones' heavyweight win over Ruiz in 2003.
Jones, a former four-division world champion, said in a world exclusive to Planet Sport that he had expected to face "Iron" Mike for a second time.
"That was one of the best experiences ever (against Tyson) and Mike is a big puncher and the biggest I've ever been in the ring with," Jones revealed.
"He was very, very strong. I was hoping we could do it again but I guess he can't help what comes up but it was definitely a brilliant experience.
Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fought in an eight-round exhibition in November
"My career has brought nothing but great memories," Jones said while reflecting on his record-breaking career.
"A real career is how you deal with obstacles, how you deal with the bad with the good and if you don't have that then you really don't have a truly defining career. It's the final script."
Canelo Alvarez is currently rated as boxing's Pound for Pound best following wins over Billy Joe Saunders, Sergey Kovalev and Gennadiy Golovkin.
Like Jones, Alvarez has won world titles in four divisions and is bidding to become super middleweight's first undisputed champion on Mexican Independence weekend against Caleb Plant.
"He's [Alvarez] had a great career and is Pound for Pound the best right now and I think he's had an excellent career and I love what he's doing.
"There's nothing to really think about," Jones said when asked about who would win between himself and Canelo in their primes.
"He's going to say he'll beat me and I'm going to say I would beat him. But that isn't fair question, of course I'm going to say I could have," he concluded.
