A better fighter across the board, with a size advantage, & no style problems in particular spells a Charles success.
No size advantage, and Jones would most certainly pose style problems.... but in the end I think Charles was smarter, harder and better. Jones would win early rounds, Charles would stalk, read the patterns & settle the argument around the 10th round.
Charles was the bigger man, in truth. What of Jones' style specifically do you believe Charles is vulnerable to?
It's unorthodoxy, range, unpredictability, shear speed. The same things which would give ANY fighter between 160 & 175 incredible problems and difficulties. If Charles was bigger the difference is totally insignificant though.
Charles has a lot of trouble early on, makes the appropriate adjustments and takes command in the second half In a 10 rounder, Jones might be able to have enough work in the back to squeak out a decision
I thought you might mention speed. That isnt a stylistic issue. In fact, its not as if timing, the known speed anti-dote, wasnt a Charles specialty. Most things were a Charles specialty, in truth. Still an interesting fight to watch unfold, though.
There is a difference, a significant difference, between "speed" and the Roy Jones Jr. variety of speed... I think you badly undersell Jones here... there's no such thing as an easy time with a prime Roy Jones... There's never been a light heavy who moved that quickly and that strangely There are guys who beat Roy Jones all-time (Ezzard, the best of all the light heavies, is one of them) but none of them do it with ease, he was far too gifted and unorthodox for that... and his punch had to be respected
Wouldnt call it easy, just dont think it would be in any real doubt. My suspicion is if Jones fought in the 40s, and Charles in the 90s, no one here would be going out of their way to up-sell Jones' chances.
My suspicion is that had they switched places, Jones would now be the GOAT with no credible challenge and Charles would be a forgotten contender. My suspicion is an irrational one as is yours
My suspicion is that if Jones fought in Charles' day and vice versa that Ramone would be on the other side of this debate.
Charles was better. Charles would win. Jones would be better-served with someone like Conn, or Foster.
I didn't say Jones would beat Foster --- just that if the idea was to pit him against a great LHW, Foster is an easier target than Charles. Hell, borderline anyone would be an easier target than Charles. Jones simply isn't in his class, even though, as I say, the bout would be interesting to see unfold. It's a shame SMW isn't a deeper, older division, because that was Jones at his blinding best, IMO.
