Roy Jones Jr and Bernard Hopkins are often commended for being two of the greatest fighters to have ever graced the sport.
The American duo became rivals during the 1990s, facing each other on two occasions throughout the course of their respective professional careers.
Jones defeated ‘The Executioner’ in their first encounter, which took place back in May of 1993, defeating his countryman via unanimous decision to capture the vacant IBF middleweight title.
They clashed for the second time 17 years on from their first bout, although it was Hopkins that got his revenge this time around, outpointing Jones at the conclusion of their 12-round non-title match-up at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.
One man in particular that has experience in sharing the ring with both Jones and Hopkins is former IBF light-heavyweight champion Glen Johnson, who faced a number of other highly-rated fighters during his professional career.
Speaking on The Boxing Breakdown, Johnson sensationally claimed that former light-heavyweight world champion Tavoris Cloud actually punched harder than both Jones and Hopkins in a surprising admission.
“The hardest hitting opponent … I think it’s Tavoris Cloud. … He was a strong fighter. … We went toe to toe back and forth. Yeah, I think he was the hardest puncher that I fought.”
Johnson challenged Cloud for his IBF light-heavyweight title back in 2010 but ultimately fell short, suffering a unanimous decision defeat to the American.
‘The Road Warrior’ would face Jones and Hopkins prior to his defeat to Cloud however, losing via 10th round stoppage defeat to ‘The Executioner’ who held the IBF middleweight title when they fought back in 1997.
Johnson defeated Jones in what was the maiden defence of his IBF world title in September 2004, stopping him in the ninth round of their showdown at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
