was he roys trainer? But the biggest reason is the lack of any fighters in Jones weight division who can push him to his limits. I just found out that it was closed a few years back. This is a shame, because Jones potential has hardly been tested; it is quite likely that he would have prevailed over all the other great middle weights. Jones has always been Pensacola first. What people might be most envious of in this mansion is Jones Jr.s own, personal full-sized basketball court. . 1990-07-14: Tony Waddles: 0 2 0: Bayfront Auditorium, Pensacola W-KO. A boxer with Jones skills and genius easily could rack up a string of victories every year, and expand his visibility to the public. Miami. History was his. More Vilona:Area's greatest athletes not just encompassed by Top 50. Part of the reason probably is his refusal to market himself as a spectacle merely as a spectacular fighter. Jones is still hopeful that Griner will be able to return home safely. The former world heavyweight champion had been called upon by Tyson's team in the summer to take part in an exhibition bout. Gerald didnt have any hard fights before Benn. In fact, to keep things interesting for himself, Jones became the first man to play a game of pro basketball and defend a boxing title in the same dayJune 15, 1996. International Boxing Federation1995 Fighter of the Year and 1995 Fighter of Unlimited Potential. Follow him @Majorpull or on Facebook at Frederic. The 1980s, by contrast, was a middleweight heyday, with a crop of sensational fighters at the top of their form, such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, and Thomas Hearns. Roy Sr. did everything possible to expand the program and help more kids. In a March 1997 fight against Montell Griffin, Jones had to work hard to gain an edge. "I just couldnt believe how nice he was, and, you know, you fall in love., Brady could star in 'Netflix roast' while still 'trying to win back Gisele', Stephen A told 'fix your face and listen' by ESPN guest after fiery debate, OnlyFans star and ex-racing driver Renee Gracie drives fans wild in bikini snaps, Brady admirer Veronika Rajek almost spills out of plunging black jumpsuit, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Natlyn met Jones Jr when they were just teenagers, Jones Jr and Natlyn have three kids together. Contemporary Black Biography. Born in Pensacola, FL. Jones was an extremely In 1995, Roy defended his super middleweight title multiple times firstly knocking out Antoine Byrd in round one, before absolutely pasting former world lightweight champion Vinny Pazienza to defeat in round six. Indeed, whilst most boxing fans and pundits saw otherwise, the fact Roy Jones was willing to do this for charity only made his legacy more endearing. ", Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. works with aspiring fighters at his gym in Pensacola, Florida. ManagerRichard Pope, 704 West Michigan Ave., Pensacola, FL 32505. Something that to this day and in the competitions history has only happened on 3 occasions where the award did not go to one of the gold medal winners. My father didnt raise me to be a pushover, not even to him. Shortly after, he hired Alton Merkerson. Box-am Box-pro All Bouts promoter . Leonard and RobinsonJones is believed by many to be the greatest boxer of all time. Best of all, he did it his way. An investigation ensued, and evidence surfaced indicating corruptioni.e., bribes. 180cm Reach: 74 inches. It's still has boxing but I'm sure it's not what you want. Jones has been especially involved in working with teenagers: by speaking in public to many groups, warning young people about taking drugs, and providing a training program and facility for local youths. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining listicles, Boxing: Roy Jones Jr.s spectacular 1 million mansion has some very interesting features, Tommy Fury vs Jake Paul: Damning comparison of two on the pads, Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: New angle shows how much Tyson Fury shook Problem Child. USA Today, August 29, 1990, p. 1C; June 13, 1996, p. 14C; September 26, 1997; April 30, 1998, p. 14C. Jones has seen up close the effects of one severe knockout punch on a friend of his: Gerald McClellan, whose eyesight, hearing, and speech were badly damaged. Jones, 52, who always touted Pensacola in his fights, was a first-ballot selection and easy choice to headline an eight-member class into the Boxing Hall of Fame. He even improvises with his technique, launching punches from unlikely angles and surprising opponents with unexpected moves and flurries of blows. Jones loyalty to his father was intense, and so he passed up numerous offers from managers and handlers to guide him to greatness. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Griffin was proving himself a tough adversary, and it had gotten to Jones. Its all about sports. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Eubank Jr defeated James DeGale at The O2 last year. 1987 United States National Golden Gloves at 156lbs (71 kg) division. This bout was unsanctioned by the Florida boxing commission. He refused to set up matches against any serious contenders, and stuck instead with second-or third-raters. He has raised money for a number of charitable causes, including his injured friend Gerald McClellan. Jones credits the gutsy roosters for helping teach him about being a valiant and shrewd fighter. Roy Jones Jr. has sealed his place among the greatest boxers of all time. Attended Pensacola Junior College. You know how bad that is? Ill never face anything stronger and harder than what I already have. Jones father, with his overbearing and overwhelming personality, had created a powerful craving in the boxerthe need to become his own man. The separation between him and his father, who was once his trainer, is the most noteworthy. Roy Jones Jr & Jodi Solomon Boxing It wasn't until 2004 against fellow Floridian Antonio Tarver in a light-heavyweight title fight. Roy Jones Jr. is hoping he can use his connections in Russia to help free WNBA star Brittney Griner. (314) 515-2600 Won Golden Gloves in 1986 and 1987. Hes hoping to continue to help facilitate future communication or negotiations as much as hes able. He was disqualified for a low blow in a 1997 bout against Montel Griffin, after Jones built a 34-0 record. Jones said he reached out to his lawyer to get in contact with the White House. Other members of the 2022 Boxing Hall of Fame Class are welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, along with female fighters Regina Hamlich and Holly Holm, plus Tod Morgan in the Old Timer category, boxing publicist Bill Caplan, ring announcer Chuck Hull in the non-participant category, long-time boxing writer Ron Borges and historian/producer Bob Yalen. These include cock-fighting, which Jones has pursued avidly his whole life. The 29-2 star told The Sun: I met Roy at a fight show in February where we started talking. The other side of the issue is that Jones does not want to maim anyone. This is what makes his style. He was so fast, the guy couldnt lay a glove on Roy. The same article includes a quote from U.S. Olympic Committee director of media services Bob Condron:It was not, in any sense of the word, close. The decision was such a blatant injustice that 50 Korean Buddhist monks went to Jones to express their shame. Roy Sr. claimed he was just trying to carefully cultivate his sons career and his character. Jones Jr. has used part of his land to build a farm on his ranch, raising various animals including sheep, chickens, peacocks to name a few. Roy Jones Jr. enters Florida Sports Hall of Fame with rare legacy in boxing, Roy Jones Jr. fights again in surprise exhibition match at Island Fights 52, When Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker and Roy Jones Jr. played basketball against each other, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. As Ross Greenburg, executive producer of HBO Sports, was quoted in a Sports Illustrated feature, he and the other HBO commentatorswere there for Leonard and Hagler and Hearns and Duran in their prime. 1 talking about this. By the time RJJ, as he was also known, turned professional, he had already sparred with a whole host of notable champions including Sugar Ray Leonard. Roy Jones Jr Boxing - Las Vegas. Soon after I asked my father to contact Roy to see if it was possible to train with him, now Im here. 22 Feb. 2023 . ) He could trained in Las Vegas. Congress of Racial Equality1996 Outstanding Achievement Award. It doesnt take an accumulation of punches to mess you up. Ring magazine called Jones performance the most dominant of any big fight in 20 years and though Toney is known to have been wildly unprepared for the fight, the judges scorecards of 119108, 118109, and 117110 bore out Ring magazines assessment of Jones Jrs simply mesmerising performance! God blessed me with boxing, so Im trying to pass my blessing down to other people because thats what God gave me," Jones said. In the final, championship bout for his division, Jones thoroughly dominated his opponent, South Korean Park Si-Hun, with 86 punches to Parks 32and a standing eight count to boot. Undefeated in 46 bouts, Toney was widely rated as the worlds best. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Now is not the time to go outside, he told the residents. Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions | Las Vegas NV On November 18, 1994, he was set to face undefeated IBF super middleweight champion James Toney, #1 ranked pound for pound contender. . Jones Jr only retired at 49, however, in 2018 after a win over Scott Sigmon after a 29-year professional career. Jones Jr was born on January 16, 1969, making him 51 years old. His fighting style was unique and unorthodox. Jones, 52, who always touted Pensacola in his fights, was a first-ballot selection and easy choice to headline an eight-member class into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Jones also took on Stanley Levin, a trusted friend and mentor, to handle the business side of things. As Kevin Monaghan, NBCs boxing correspondent at the games, said inUSA Today, It was an absolute joke. She gave up her potential career as lawyer in order to help raise her three children with Jones Jr. Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. works with aspiring fighters at his gym in Pensacola, Florida. FILE - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner pauses on the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Sept. 3, 2019, in Phoenix. His last time Roy Jones Jr. was in a competition was Nov. 28, 2020 when he fought Mike Tyson in a nostalgic pay-per-view exhibition bout. event bout wiki. As a professional, he became known as the best pound-for-pound fighter of his generation. He then avenged that decision by quickly knocking out Griffin in a rematch five months later and won his next 15 fights, including a heavyweight title against John Ruiz in 2003. Their daddys got a big heart, Natlyn told Bleacher Report about their kids five years ago. I was in pain all day, every day, I was so scared of my father. Legal Statement. That would be bad on my part.". Get in on the latest boxing conversations in our Forum and comment on articles. As his pro career launched, he had Pensacola's famed attorney Fred Levin in his corner as manager/attorney/advisor. Heavyweight Championship of the World; As a middleweight who eventually Inside the spectacular home, Jones Jr. has three bedrooms including his master suite, four bathrooms and such a big kitchen that he has fitted two kitchen islands in there. Reflection: When Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker and Roy Jones Jr. played basketball against each other. PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) Pensacola's Roy Jones Jr. will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame later this week in upstate New York. The boxers home in Pensacola, Florida is 15,000 square-feet, built on 80 acres of land owned by Jones Jr. himself. He could drop his arms, feign indifference, then suddenly land a fury of fists with machine gun speed and efficiency. Something which would subsequently see Jones disqualified and lose his title. His Hall of Fame induction will put Jones on a mantle of greatness with fellow Pensacola athletes running back Emmitt Smith and linebacker Derrick Brooks -- both enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and pitcher Don Sutton, who is enshrined at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, not far from the Boxing Hall of Fame. The fact Jones was able to hang with Tyson, a true heavyweight his entire career, said a lot about Jones own prowess. His final official bout occurred at the Bay Center on Feb. 8, 2018 as part of Island Fights 46, which just had its 72nd show during Memorial Day weekend as a renown circuit for aspiring MMA fighters. Similarly after almost a year away from the ring, Jones focused on training and working as an analyst for HBO Boxing, his return to another defeat from Antonio Tarver on the 1st October 2005 by a wide unanimous decision (117111, 116112, 116112) saw the once unstoppable Supermans career seriously start to falter. The Committee presented Jones with the Olympic Order in September 1997, but this belated consolation prize was no substitute for the medal that was stolen. The phenomenal Olympic boxer was rapidly falling into obscurity. The Pensacola native and Booker T. Washington High graduate, who went from a spartan Boys Club boxing gym off DeSoto Street, into a historic world champion in four different weight classes during his incredible career, was voted Tuesday into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. All rights reserved. In June of 1999 Jones became the first undisputed ight heavyweight champ since 1985 (when Michael Spinks relinquished that distinction to fight at the heavyweight level), to unify the belts, Jones easily overwhelmed International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt-holder Reggie Johnson in a unanimous decision, with Johnson bleeding heavily down several times, and in trouble the entire fight. The exact timeline of events isn't known. His skill so dwarfs that of his nearest ranked oppositionthat providing competitive opponents is a more challenging dilemma than the fights themselves. The expert opinion ofBoxing magazines editor, Bert Sugar, is provided on Jones website: He possesses the fastest hands in boxing with lightning fast moves and explosive power in both hands. After lost the World Boxing Council light heavyweight crown to Jones in a 1996 unanimous decision, Mike McCallum called Jones the greatest fighter of all time., Jones mastery extends beyond mere strength and speed, however. Like so many other Juniors, Roy Jones Jr. was born into a family with a boxing tradition. Not all of its that easy to deal with. During his career, Roy won many versions of different titles - So, that thought alone terrified me.". Sign upfor the latest news, new drops, upcoming sale notices and more. Griffin established an early lead but by round 9 Jones was ahead on the cards and dropped Griffin to the canvas. Roy Lavesta Jones Junior, a former American professional boxer, ring technician and absolute legend of the sport holds one particularly unique career achievement. He took on the most challenging fighters out there, and trounced most of them in a few rounds. Even a great fighter gets hit sometimes, and the human brain was not designed to endure much battering within the skull. Father, an exfighter, was Roy Jr. ' s boxing teacher. To fully duplicate Bob Fitzsimmons feat of 1896 on the 8th November 2003, Jones returned to the light heavyweight division to regain his championship belt from Antonio Tarver. Like nearly all of his boxing peers, his career is not without drama. A pioneer of the game given his supreme natural talent, Jones began to test himself throughout his career by moving seamlessly through the weight classes until he hit heavyweight. ." Jones able to take solace from the fact Park himself apologised to Jones afterwards. On turning professional, he had already sparred with many professional boxers, including NABF champion Ronnie Essett, IBF world champion Lindell Holmes and Sugar Ray Leonard. Jones is also noted for holding a record seven belts at the same time; the WBC, WBA, IBF, IBO, NABF, WBF, and IBA light heavyweight championships. Roy Jones Jr. (65-9, 47 KOs), reigned as the pound-for-pound king for about a decade. Which led to calls for Jones to be awarded the gold medal. Governor Ron DeSantis told Floridians in a live-stream from his conference room in the Capitol to stay at home to stop the spreading of the disease. I have ties with Russia because of my athleticism and my athletic career," Jones told Fox News Digital. Box-pro. Eubank will be on hand with Pensacola's Jones (66-7, 49KOs)the 51-year old former four-division championfor a celebrated eight-round exhibition match with fellow retired ring legend, 54 . The IOC however stood and still officially stands by its decision. Roy Jones Jr used to have a gym called The Dungeon in back of his dads house. It was famous for being the home gym of boxer Roy Jones, Jr. and the namesake of his company "Square Ring Promotions." After sustaining nearly $200,000 of damage during Hurricane Ivan, it was sold to Mike Bass in October 2004 and razed in 2005 to make way for the Court of North Hill development. There was no escape, no excuse, no way out of nothin. State honor: Roy Jones Jr. enters Florida Sports Hall of Fame with rare legacy in boxing, One more fight: Roy Jones Jr. fights again in surprise exhibition match at Island Fights 52. Used to think about killin myself anyway. Theres no way to know whether or not Jones would have become a world champion fighter without this extremely punitive upbringing, but theres little question it toughened the young man. The boxing world was stunned by this outrageous decision. . Jonescareer finally started to soar. "I dont do all that. A total of 54 people have died in Florida owing to the coronavirus outbreak, with the infection rate hitting more than 4,000. The fight was the most anticipated and biggest fight of the year with Toney actually predicted to win by many experts due to the superior level of competition he had faced. Picassos My Man Chris Eubank Jr believes he may have found the perfect trainer to help him achieve his potential in Roy Jones Jr. #1. Qs Ne, Jones, James Earl 1931 Jones made boxing history his way. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. That win made Jones the first boxer in 100 years to go from a middleweight to heavyweight champion. New York Times, August 3, 1997, magazine, p. 23. The current interim WBA super-middleweight champion has enjoyed a revival in his career since he was beaten convincingly by George Groves over two years ago in the World Boxing Super Series. Sign in or register here to comment BoxingScene Default SportsIllustrated, May 24, 1993, p. 56; June 26, 1995, p. 78. You dont give a kid $2 million and the prestige of a world title. The incident involved a dog, which had bitten Jones younger sister in fear. event bout wiki. Look at their condition 10 years after theyre done. These boxers incited and pushed each other; many of their fights were epic battles. Born Roy Jones Jr., January 16, 1969, in Pensacola, FL. Won IBF belt in June of 1999 to become the first undisputed light heavyweight champion since 1985. Jones 75th and final professional fight took place in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida on the 8th February 2018 vs Scott Sigmon in which he won the vacant WBU Cruiserweight title in a one sided unanimous before announcing his retirement. fight lasted the full 8 rounds and was declared a draw, Amateur, Professional, Trainer, Commentator, Rapper. Jones began as a professional on May 6, 1989, knocking out Ricky Randall in 2 rounds in Pensacola at the Bayfront Auditorium. So great was Jones that he essentially did not lose his first fight until he was 35 years-old. Jones also loves the game of basketball, and he even played professionally with the United States Basketball Leagues Jacksonville Barracudas during the summer of 1996. Also ensuring Roy became a member of an elite class of boxing champions who had won titles at three weight classes. Jones Jr. for the first time in his career was the underdog, but it made little difference quite frankly as Superman boxed rings round Toney (as he would go on to do to many others) and even handed Lights Out a very rare flash knockdown in the 3rd round on route to a 12-round unanimous decision. For his next fight, he faced the more experienced Stephan Johnson in Atlantic City, beating him by a knockout in round eight. Id guess 95 percent of people reaching out wanted something from him. Pazienza credited with throwing five punches and landing zero! The highly-anticipated bout has boxing fans all across the world excited to see two of boxings greats one more time in the ring. State honor: Roy Jones. Roy Sr. has never forgiven his son: He refuses to talk with Roy Jr. As he said in SportsIllustrated, Once you break the plate at my table, you can never eat there again.. Roy Jones Jr would win several further showmanship fights between 1999 and 2003 before his next major boxing milestone was achieved. How old is Roy Jones Jr and how tall is he? Mr. Jones, having a lifelong passion for the sport of boxing, has freely opened his home, which includes a self made boxing gym and barn, to countless citizens in Pensacola and various parts of the world. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 27, 2022. It enabled him to stage HBO fights in Pensacola and bring other aspiring Pensacola boxers to an prelude undercard in these bouts. "Everyone thinks how much easier life must get when your boat comes in, but theres a lot of other stuff you have to be ready for too. This is an absolutely marvelous feeling, said Jones, speaking to boxing media members after his selection. And wife Natlyn and his three kids will be there every step of the way to watch along. "First, shes an athlete. "Its nothing political. Jones finished with a record of 66 wins, nine losses and all of those losses after turning 30. His mother, Carol, was warm and easygoing, whereas his father, Roy Sr., was much like a Marine drill sergeant with respect to his son. He has a well-developed conscience, and would hate to inflict a terrible injury. The decision was later overturned and Jones was recognized as the winner. Jones, a Booker T. Washington High graduate, makes it a Fab Four for Pensacola with enshrined Hall of Fame athletes. Earned WBC light heavyweight title in 1996. Middleweight Championship of the World, I went to the beach and did this or that, but one of the main highlights was meeting Roy Jones Sr. man great story. The Jones/Toney fight was ultra-hyped, and Jones for the first time in his career was the underdog. (Lorraine Taylor/Fox News Digital), "Im not a politician," he said. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File), "So, I thought about it for a little while and one night I was sleeping and it hit me what if it was my daughter stuck in a foreign country?" NJ TK 8 Sep 3 Ron Amundsen . Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jones-roy-jr-1969. or redistributed. Natlyn was born on June 3, 1975 in Pensacola, Florida, where Jones Jr grew up too. Actor Legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr. wants to help get NBA star Brittney Griner back home to the U.S. This is what puts him in conversation among the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time. Ring magazine called Jones performance the most dominant of any big fight in 20 years. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. So who was this guy? And foremost. If you ever go to Pensacola, go to Roy Jones Sr.'s house. See the linked article. you cant expect the same treatment on floyd gym though. Roy Jones Jr 66: 9: 0: 47 KOs 5 KOs; wiki. Griffin took a knee in order to avoid further punishment, and Roy unwisely hit him twice. Jones, considered by many to be one of the greatest boxers of all time with an illustrious career spanning nearly 30 years, became aware of Griner's predicament and decided he might be able to help. Natlyn and Jones Jr have three sons together, Roy III, DeShaun and DeAndre. It was obvious Roy had won the fight. Russian news media has repeatedly suggested that Griner could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, otherwise known as "The Merchant of Death." He also connected with a friend who knows people well-connected in Russian politics. Jones has made clear many times that he has conflicted feelings about boxing, mostly because of the sports inherent dangerfor both combatants. The boxing icon was born in Pensacola, Floria, where he currently resides with his wife and three sons. Jones first professional loss occurred in March 1997 with a disqualification against Montell Griffin. "Jones, Roy Jr. 1969 He brought world audiences with several title bouts in Pensacola televised on Home Box Office and pay-per-view. The formal induction ceremony will be part of a four-day, series of events in that community to celebrate boxings history. Jones having played a basketball game in the morning before defending his boxing title in Jacksonville, Florida in the evening! Career; Widely considered best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Son of Roy Sr. and Carol Jones. (Lorraine Taylor/Fox News Digital). Sometimes however its just simply best to watch a man in motion! His body-head Island down in Pensacola and out west coast Las Vegas. In addition to being a great athlete, Jones is intelligent and sensitiveand he does not want those qualities diminished. Jones rose from humble beginnings in Pensacola into a Golden Gloves youth champion, then became the worlds choice in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, after being denied the 156-pound gold medal in a widely-panned, judges decision against a South Korean fighter. Toney, an admitted former crack dealer who talked enough trash to fill a city dump, had gone undefeated in 46 bouts and was rated the best in the world. His only loss in his first eight years of fighting was a controversial disqualification in 1997 against Montel Griffin for the World Boxing Council Light Heavyweight title.

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