Roy Jones Jr.

Roy Jones Jr. (born January 16, 1969) is a former Middleweight, Super Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight boxing champion and basketball player from Pensacola, Florida. Although he used to play basketball for a team in Birmingham, Alabama, Jones is more widely known for his achievements in the boxing ring. Jones was Ring magazine's "Fighter of the Year" in 1994 and was voted the "Fighter of the Decade" in the 1999 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Jones was then once considered as the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

Professional career

Besides a stellar amateur career and a decade of diligent training, by the time he turned professional, Jones had already sparred with many professional boxers in the gyms including NABF champion Ronnie Essett, IBF world champion Lindell Holmes and all-time great Sugar Ray Leonard. His pedigree was much stronger than that of the average kid about to embark on a professional career. Jones began as a professional on May 6, 1989, knocking out Ricky Randall in two rounds in Pensacola. For his next fight, he faced the more experienced Stephan Johnson in Atlantic City, and beat him by a knockout in round eight.

Related Topics:
NABF - Ronnie Essett - IBF - Lindell Holmes - Sugar Ray Leonard - May 6 - 1989 - Ricky Randall - Atlantic City - Knockout

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Jones built an impressive record of 15-0 with 15 knockouts before stepping up in class, when he met former world Welterweight champion Jorge Vaca in a Pay Per View fight on January 10, 1992. He knocked Vaca out in round one, to reach 16 knockout wins in a row. After one more knockout win, Jones went the distance for the first time, against former world champion Jorge Castro, who lost a 10-round decision to Jones in front of a USA Network national audience.

Related Topics:
Jorge Vaca - Pay Per View - January 10 - 1992 - Jorge Castro - USA Network

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Three more knockouts in a row followed, after which Jones was given his first opportunity to fight for a world title: on May 22 of 1993, he beat future world champion Bernard Hopkins by a narrow but unanimous decision in Washington D.C., to capture the IBF's vacant world Middleweight title. For his next fight, he chose to fight another future world champion, Thulane "Sugar Boy" Malinga, in a non-title affair. Jones beat Malinga by a knockout in six.

Related Topics:
May 22 - 1993 - Bernard Hopkins - Washington D.C. - IBF - Thulane "Sugar Boy" Malinga

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1994 was a very diverse year for Jones. He beat fringe contender Danny "Popeye" Garcia by a knockout in six in another non-title bout, then retained the world title against Thomas Tate in two rounds at Las Vegas on May 27. By this point in his career, Jones was considered to be in the extreme upper echelon of the sport, widely considered one of boxing's Top Four "pound for pound" fighters. On November 18, he and the IBF's world Super Middleweight champion, James Toney, another member of the elite "pound for pound" contenders and a fighter considered by many to be the best in the sport at any weight, met in an anticipated bout at Las Vegas. Jones was able to turn the highly-anticipated fight into a bit of a mismatch, and he added another world championship by dropping Toney in round three, winning virtually every round for a unanimous decision. It was at this point when it became clear that Jones was the best fighter in the sport, defeating arguably the #1 P4P fighter in the world so easily. His outstanding year in the ring was slightly tainted when shortly after his fight with Tate, he was caught by police in the Bahamas, and accused of carrying a gun at Nassau's airport.

Related Topics:
1994 - Danny "Popeye" Garcia - Thomas Tate - Las Vegas - May 27 - November 18 - James Toney - Bahamas - Nassau's

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Jones' proposed opponent for a long time was his good friend Gerald McClellan and many people felt that they would form an exciting rivalry in professional boxing, McClellan had defeated Jones in amateur boxing at the 1988 United States National Golden Gloves in the 156 lb. weight division and won his WBC world Middleweight title in the same month that Jones won his IBF version. McClellan moved up to the Super Middleweight division to fight WBC world Super Middleweight champion Nigel Benn on February 25 1995, just a few months after Jones had done so against Toney. McClellan had been included in the majority of journalists Top Five in the "pound for pound" ratings following his chilling 83-second knockout of Julian Jackson. But McClellan was tragically left permanently disabled at the hands of Benn, and the state in which Jones' friend was left seemed to have an effect on Jones who notably changed his style to a less risky, defence first manner. Jones would constantly site the nightmare of February 25 1995 as his reason for not going head first for knockouts and why he wanted to make his money and get out of the business with his health.

Related Topics:
Gerald McClellan - United States - Golden Gloves - WBC - IBF - Nigel Benn - February 25 - 1995 - Julian Jackson

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In 1995, Jones defended his IBF world Super Middleweight title successfully three times, knocking out Antoine Byrd (brother of future IBF world Heavyweight champion Chris Byrd) in round one, former multiple time world champion Vinny Pazienza in round six, and Tony Thornton in round two.

Related Topics:
1995 - IBF - Antoine Byrd - Chris Byrd - Vinny Pazienza - Tony Thornton

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In 1996, Jones maintained his winning ways, defeating Merqui Sosa by a knockout in two, future world champion Eric Lucas in round 11, Bryant Brannon in round three, and former multiple world champion and eventual hall of famer Mike McCallum, by a decision in 12, to become a member of boxing's exclusive group of world champions in three weight divisions by winning the vacant WBC world Light Heavyweight crown. When he boxed Lucas, he became the first athlete to participate in paid basketball and boxing events on the same day, because he had played a game in Alabama in the morning and crossed back over the state line after his game, to defend his title in his hometown that evening.

Related Topics:
1996 - Merqui Sosa - Eric Lucas - Bryant Brannon - Hall of famer - Mike McCallum - WBC

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1997 began with more controversy for Jones. He suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of Montell Griffin, losing his world Light Heavyweight belt in the process. But the defeat was also filled with controversy, because Jones had dropped Griffin with what appeared to be a legal punch in round nine, and then hit him again on the head as Griffin was on the canvas, leading to Jones Jr.'s disqualification. They had an immediate rematch, and on August 21, Jones regained the world Light Heavyweight title by knocking out Griffin in the first round. By then, Jones had signed a lucrative contract with HBO, to have all his fights telecast on the HBO Boxing TV show.

Related Topics:
1997 - Montell Griffin - August 21 - HBO - Telecast - HBO Boxing

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In 1998, Jones began by knocking out former Light-Heavyweight and future world Cruiserweight champion Virgil Hill in four rounds in a non-title bout at Biloxi, Mississippi with a sharp right hook to the body. He followed that with a win against the WBA's world Light Heavyweight champion, Puerto Rico's Lou Del Valle, by a decision in 12 on July 18, to unify the WBC and WBA belts. In the fight with Del Valle, he had to climb off the canvas for the first time in his career, as he was dropped in round eight. Then followed a presentation against Otis Grant. He retained the crown in that fight by a knockout in ten.

Related Topics:
1998 - Virgil Hill - Biloxi, Mississippi - Puerto Rico - Lou Del Valle - July 18 - Otis Grant

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Jones began 1999 by beating New York City cop Rick Frazier in two rounds to defend his title. After this, many boxing critics started to criticize Jones, often suggesting that he seemed to be hand-picking his opponents himself, despite the fact that his opponents were top-rated by the sanctioning bodies whose belts he wore and that he had to fight them in order to keep his championships. In his only other fight that year, on June 5, he beat the IBF's world champion, Reggie Johnson, by a decision in twelve to add that belt to the WBC and WBA belts he already owned in the division.

Related Topics:
1999 - New York City - Rick Frazier - June 5 - Reggie Johnson

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2000 began with a bang for Jones, as he beat David Telesco by a decision in twelve to retain the world championship, on January 15, on what was the Radio City Music Hall's first boxing show ever. Jones entered the ring that night surrounded by the famous group of dancers, The Rockettes. His next fight was also a first-time boxing event for a venue, as he travelled to Indianapolis and retained his title with an 11-round knockout over Richard Hall at the Conseco Fieldhouse. He ended the year by beating Eric Harding by a knockout in nine, once again retaining the title.

Related Topics:
2000 - David Telesco - January 15 - Radio City Music Hall - The Rockettes - Indianapolis - Richard Hall - Conseco Fieldhouse - Eric Harding

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In 2001, Jones released a rap CD, his most noticeable song on it being Ya'll Must've Forgot, probably referring to the fact that some critics who used to point him out as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound were now criticizing his quality of opposition. That year, he retained the title against Derrick Harmon by a knockout in ten, and against future world champion Julio Gonzalez of Mexico by a 12-round unanimous decision. There was strong talk of facing him and Félix "Tito" Trinidad in a super-fight, but that possibility was soon forgotten after Trinidad was defeated by Hopkins.

Related Topics:
2001 - Rap - Derrick Harmon - Julio Gonzalez - Mexico - Félix "Tito" Trinidad

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In 2002, Jones retained his title, beating Glenn Kelly by a knockout in seven, famously dodging Kelly's punches while holding his hands behind his back, mimicking one of his fighting game cocks, and the unleashing a furious right hand that knocked out Kelly. He defeated British Commonwealth champion Clinton Woods of England by a knockout in six. The Woods fight was held at the Rose Garden in Portland, and it was, once again, the first time boxing had been held at that venue, and also the first time in 45 years Portland had a world title boxing fight.

Related Topics:
2002 - Glenn Kelly - British Commonwealth - Clinton Woods - England - Rose Garden - Portland

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Jones then announced he would challenge John Ruiz for the WBA's world Heavyweight championship. On March 1 of 2003, he defeated Ruiz by a decision in twelve rounds, to become the first world Middleweight champion in 106 years (after Bob Fitzsimmons) to win the world's Heavyweight title, and the third world Light Heavyweight champion in history (after Michael Spinks and Michael Moorer) to win the world's Heavyweight title. This is considered a minor accomplishment, however, because Lennox Lewis, at the time, was regarded as the legitimate undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Ruiz was ranked #5 by Ring Magazine at the time of the fight. The day before the fight, he, Ruiz and people in their entourages became involved in a press conference brawl, with Ruiz's manager requiring hospitalization.

Related Topics:
John Ruiz - March 1 - 2003 - Bob Fitzsimmons - Michael Spinks - Michael Moorer - Lennox Lewis - Ring Magazine

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Roy Jones decided he wanted to keep campaigning as a Light-Heavyweight, relinquishing the WBA Heavyweight title on February 20, 2004. Jones recovered his old belt with a 12 round majority decision over Antonio Tarver, who had succeeded Jones as world champion in the Light-Heavyweights, on November 8. This was considered a controversial majority decision. Jones, having lost nearly 25 pounds of muscle mass to make weight, looked sluggish and tired throughout the fight and Tarver was able to catch him on the ropes repeatedly. Jones, to his credit, fought bravely during the championship rounds of the fight.

Related Topics:
Antonio Tarver - November 8

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On 15 May 2004 Jones faced a rematch with Antonio Tarver, who he defeated in November 2003. Despite the fact that Jones was heavily favoured to win, Tarver knocked him out at 1:41 of the second round. This, Jones' first unquestionable loss, ended Jones' reign as pound-for-pound champion of boxing, and sent shock waves through the boxing world. Jones had won the first round, but in the second, as he was in a corner, he missed a punch and was caught by a big left hook by Tarver, and was technically knocked out. He tried to get up, and did so with much effort, but was barely able to beat the count of ten and was deemed unable to continue by referee Jay Nady.

Related Topics:
15 May - 2004 - Antonio Tarver - 2003

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On 25 September 2004 Jones attempted to win the IBF light heavyweight title from Glencoffe Johnson in a match in Memphis, Tennessee. Johnson knocked out Jones at 48 seconds into the ninth round. Jones laid on the canvas for more than five minutes, a shocking sight to see for those who had seen Jones dominate the competition for ten years. Johnson was ahead on all three judges? scorecards at the time of the knockout (77-75, 77-75, 78-74) and had landed 118 punches to Jones?s 75. Jones used the ring's canvas that night as a billboard for his upcoming rap CD, due to come out on the markets on November 1.

Related Topics:
25 September - 2004 - Glencoffe Johnson - November 1

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After almost a year away from the ring, focusing on training and working as an analyst for HBO Boxing, Jones was scheduled for a rematch with Antonio Tarver on October 1 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, which will air on HBO PPV. For the first time in his career, Jones was considered an underdog going into the fight. Although he showed flashes of the old Roy Jones in the 4th and 5th rounds of the fight, Jones was tentative to press the action and spent more time posturing than fighting, as if afraid of being knocked out for the third straight time. In the end, Tarver easily won a unanimous decision. In the post-fight interview, Jones seemed to acknowledge that he is not the fighter he once was and that Tarver would have given him problems even in his prime.

Related Topics:
October 1 - St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa, Florida

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His record currently stands at 49 wins, 4 losses, with 38 wins by knockout.

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Roy Jones Jr's personal statistics:

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• Height: 1.80 m (officially 5 ft 11 in, though purportedly actually shorter than this)
• Weight: (Heavyweight)- 87.6 kg (193 lb) (Light Heavyweight)- 79.4 kg (175 lb)
• Class: Currently Light Heavyweight and formerly Heavyweight.
• Other talents: Acting (Matrix Reloaded), Basketball (Played semi pro ball and on the same day fought and won defending his light heavyweight title) and Rapping; Roy Jones Jr. used to face off in rap battles in his hometown's local parks.