Roy Levesta Jones Jr., professionally known as Roy Jones Jr. is an American born Russian former boxer, boxing commentator, boxing trainer, rapper, and actor. Roy Jones Jr. was an active boxer from 1989 to 2018 and is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. During his professional boxing career, he held middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight championships. He became the undisputed light heavyweight champion in 1999 and unified the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles.
He won a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and 1986 Moscow Goodwill Games. Before retirement, he compiled a record of 66 wins out of 75 professional fights. He won 47 of his fights via knockout.
What is Roy Jones Jr. Famous For?
- Considered one of the greatest boxers of all time.
- Won Best Boxer ESPY Award three times.
- World Boxing Hall of Fame named him the Fighter of the Year in 2003.
Source: @pensacolanewsjournal
Where is Roy Jones Jr. Born?
Roy Jones Jr. was born on 16 January 1969. His birth name was Roy Levesta Jones Jr. His birth place is in Pensacola, Florida in the United States. He holds both American and Russian citizenship. He was granted Russian citizenship after he met Vladimir Putin in 2015. Thus, he is of American as well as Russian nationality.
He was born to a father, Roy Jones Sr., and a mother, Carole Jones. He comes from a boxing family. His father, a Vietnam war veteran, was a middleweight boxer.
Roy Jones Jr. Amateur Career
- Roy Jones Jr. won the 1984 United States National Junior Olympics in the 119 lbs (54 kg) weight division.
- He won the 1987 United States National Golden Gloves in the 139 lbs (63 kg) in the 139 lbs (63 kg) division.
- He won the 1987 United States National Golden Gloves in the 156 lbs (71 kg) division.
- He won the silver medal in the 156-pound weight class at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. He was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. It was one of the most controversial final ever. The controversy in the match led Olympic organizers to establish a new scoring system for Olympic boxing.
- As an amateur, he ended his career with a 121-13 record.
Source: @gettyimages
Roy Jones Jr. Professional Career
- Roy Jones Jr. turned professional in 1989. Before turning professional, he had already fought with several professional boxers.
- He made his professional boxing debut knocking Ricky Randall out on 6 May 1989.
- He compiled a record of 15-0 before knocking out former World Welterweight Champion Jorge Vaca on 10 January 1992.
- He won his first title, IBF middleweight championship defeating Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision on 22 May 1993.
- Jones then won the IBF super-middleweight Championship defeating undefeated IBF super-middleweight champion James Toney on 18 November 1994. Jones won the title by unanimous decision.
- He then won his next title, Interim WBC Light Heavyweight championship in November 1996 after he defeated former three-weight world champion, Mike McCallum, via a shutout decision. He was eventually made full champion. He earned $2.8 million from his fight against McCallum.
- Jones suffered his first professional loss in 1997 when he lost to Montell Griffin via disqualification. Jones easily knocked out Griffin in a rematch.
- He unified his WBC and WBA title after defeating WBA light heavyweight champion, Lou Del Valle in 1998.
- He became the undisputed light heavyweight champion in 1999 after defeating IBF champion Reggie Johnson. He also became the first boxer since 1983 to unify the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles.
- He became the first former middleweight titleholder to win a Heavyweight title in 106 years after he defeated John Ruiz for the WBA Heavyweight title on 1 March 2003.
- Jones returned to the light heavyweight division and retained the WBA (Super), IBO and The Ring Light Heavyweight Championships defeating Antonio Tarver on 8 November 2003. He also won the Tarver’s WBC title.
- His downfall started in 2004 after he lost against Antonio Tarver in May 2004, Glen Johnson in September 2004, and Antonio Tarver in October 2005.
Source: @prnewswire
- Following his loss to Tarver, he resumed his commentary duties for HBO World Championship Boxing. However, HBO let him go due to his lack of commitment in January 2006.
- Jones returned to winning after he defeated Prince Badi Ajamu on 29 July 2006 to win the WBO NABO light heavyweight title.
- He then defeated Anthony Hanshaw on 14 July 2007 to win the vacant International Boxing Council light heavyweight title.
- Jones then defeated Felix Trinidad in January 2008 before losing to Joe Calzaghe in November 2008 for The Ring Light Heavyweight Championship.
- He then claimed the vacant WBO NABO light heavyweight title defeating Omar Sheika on 21 March 2009.
- Jones then defeated Jeff Lacy in August 2009 before losing to Danny Green in December 2009.
- Jones won the Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) Intercontinental Cruiserweight Championship after he defeated Max Alexander via unanimous decision on 10 December 2011.
- Jones won the vacant WBU cruiserweight title in December 2013 after defeating Zine Eddine via unanimous decision.
- Jones suffered his 9th defeat and 5th knockout against Enzo Maccarinelli in December 2015.
- He defeated Vyron Phillips in March 2016 and Rodney Moore in August 2016.
- Jones then defeated undefeated bare-knuckle fighter and former world title challenger Bobby Gunn in February 2017 to win the vacant WBF Cruiserweight championship.
- Jones then won the vacant World Boxing Union cruiserweight championship defeating Scott Sigmon February 2018.
- It was his last professional fight. He recorded 66 wins and 9 losses in his 75 professional fights.
- It was reported in July 2020 that Roy Jones Jr. will return in an exhibition fight with Mike Tyson.
Rapping Career
- Jones released a rap CD, Round One: The Album in 2001. His debut single was “Y’All Must’ve Forgot”.
- He formed a group, Body Head Bangerz in 2004.
- Body Head Bangerz later their album, Body Head Bangerz: Volume One.
Source: @twitter
Who is Roy Jones Jr. Married to?
Roy Jones Jr. is a married man. He is married to Natlyn Jones. The couple has 3 children together, Roy Jones III, De Andre Jones, and DeShaun Jones. Jones keeps his personal life private, away from the limelight.
A woman once claimed to be Jones’ mistress. Jones denied the claims.
Roy Jones Jr. Body Measurements
Roy Jones Jr. stands at a height of 1.8 m i.e. 5 feet and 11 inches tall. He has an athletic body build. He has a reach of 1.88 m i.e. 74 inches. He has a body weight of 88 kg. His sexual orientation is straight.
Roy Jones Jr. Net Worth
Roy Jones, a former boxer, is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Having compiled a record of 66 wins out of 75 professional fights, he has accumulated over $45 million in a purse from his fights. Besides his fighting career, he has also appeared in several movies and tv shows. As a singer, he has released two albums. His net worth is estimated at $10 million at present.
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