Roy Jones Jr.: Boxing Is Not as Exciting as It Used to Be

Roy Jones Jr. believes there are far fewer fighters in modern boxing who can combine high activity, spectacular combinations and constant pressure – qualities that were common among the great names of previous generations.

The former four-division world champion is widely regarded as one of the most talented boxers in history. Jones became a unique figure after winning a world title at middleweight before eventually moving all the way up to the heavyweight division. Beyond his accomplishments, he remains known for his unorthodox style, incredible speed and devastating punching power.

During a conversation with Sean Zittel, Jones Jr. was asked about some of his favorite fighters from the past. He highlighted names such as Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Larry Holmes, but also explained why he believes modern boxing looks very different.

“A lot of these guys were really good boxers, and some of them really knew how to punch,” Jones said.

According to Jones, high activity and combinations are among the things missing from many fights today.

“You don’t see a lot of that in fights today, which is why boxing is not as exciting as it used to be. Except for ‘Boots,’ Benavidez, Inoue, ‘Bam’ does it too. But not many people do it. It’s a handful of guys who throw those kinds of combinations.”

Jones specifically named Jaron “Boots” Ennis, David Benavidez, Naoya Inoue and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez as the modern fighters who best embody that aggressive and entertaining style.

All four have strong arguments to support that assessment. Inoue is a four-division world champion and undisputed champion in two weight classes, with 27 knockouts in 33 professional victories. Benavidez is also regarded as one of the most aggressive fighters of his generation and is known for his high punch volume and relentless pressure.

Jesse Rodriguez, meanwhile, continues to make his mark on boxing history. In June, he captured a world title in a third weight class after stopping Antonio Vargas.

That same month, Jaron “Boots” Ennis further strengthened his reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous young champions by stopping Xander Zayas in the seventh round to become a unified world champion at junior middleweight.

For Jones, fighters like these are reminders of an era when the biggest names did more than simply win – they turned their fights into spectacles. According to the legend, those fighters are now the exception rather than the rule.