The past eight years have been particularly difficult for fans of Roy Jones Jr. -- a spiraling journey that began with a stunning knockout loss to Antonio Tarver in 2004 and continues today as a 40-something Jones collects defeats against anonymous names in faraway lands.

The truth about Jones is that there isn't another win or loss remaining that can change how we remember him. What's been done is, well, already done -- something all the more difficult to swallow for the staunch protectors of his legacy.

One thing we all can agree on is that Jones' stock was never higher than after his March 2003 win over John Ruiz, when Jones became the first former middleweight champion since 1897 to win a piece of the heavyweight title. He was also never the same after hastily dropping back down in weight eight months later to defend his light heavyweight championship.

Roy Jones Jr., right, reached a career pinnacle in 2003 when he moved up in weight to face John Ruiz, whom Jones toyed with before taking his heavyweight title. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Let's look past wondering how large Jones' legend would have grown had he retired after beating Ruiz -- a flawed theory that assumes Jones, then 34 and virtually undefeated (having avenged his lone disqualification loss by first-round KO), would have walked away at the peak of his earning power after the crowning moment of his career.

Instead, consider this: What if Jones had remained a heavyweight after the Ruiz win? With a string of handpicked opponents, could Jones have made a run as a heavyweight attraction, where advantages in hand speed and movement might have allowed for longevity as his physical tools deteriorated?

By defending his title against fading, smaller heavyweights such as Evander Holyfield, James Toney, Michael Moorer and Mike Tyson -- while raking in truckloads of cash -- could Jones have sustained enough success to carry the division in the ensuing years, when the retirements of Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko (mixed with two shocking KO losses for Wladimir Klitschko) led it to rock-bottom status?

More important, could a fighter known for not taking chances in the ring commit to placing himself in harm's way every fight?

"Implied in the question is whether Jones had the physical talent do this, but it takes more than physical talent," said recently retired HBO analyst Larry Merchant. "To me, it's a moot question. His was a one-off and a way to demonstrate that he had rare ability. It was a way of answering a question in his head, demonstrating how big his talent was. But he didn't have the desire to fight the big guys. He felt he could get ruined by them."

The prospect of Roy Jones Jr. competing -- and contending -- in the heavyweight division wasn't as wild a notion during his prime as it might sound today. The Ring Magazine/Getty Images

Flashbacks of Jones on the business end of concussing power shots can reinforce just how crazy an idea this seems in hindsight. But the reality is that Jones as a heavyweight was a healthy topic in 2003.

Negotiations to fight a 40-year-old Holyfield at Madison Square Garden in October 2003 fell apart at the last minute. There was also legitimate talk about Jones facing Corrie Sanders -- fresh off his upset of Wladimir Klitschko -- along with rumors of a superfight against Tyson or Lewis in Nairobi, Kenya. Knowing what we know now, though, many are skeptical.

"Evander, at that point, was a much tougher fight for him -- and forget about Tyson," Showtime analyst Al Bernstein said. "Remember, Roy didn't rush to fight guys who were super-difficult. Once he is in against bigger men, if they have a skill level that is adequate, then he could have a problem. He didn't win with skill; he won with athleticism. And if that's your trump card, then it's tricky if some of that eludes you when you get a half-step slower. Now you are in trouble."

To some, the idea of Jones as a heavyweight was fool's gold, more a case of perfect matchmaking against the hard-charging and limited Ruiz.

"Beating John Ruiz was kind of a perfect storm for him and exactly the right person as a heavyweight who was not a big puncher," Bernstein said.

Jones responded well to Ruiz's size and power but proved unable to handle flush shots upon his return to light heavyweight.

The prevailing theory, supported by Jones, was that his shedding nearly 20 pounds of muscle over the eight months after the Ruiz fight left him too weak for ensuing bouts against Tarver.