10.02.2017
Roy Jones
Roy Jones
Professional Boxer
Roy Jones was born on January 16, 1969 in the city of Pensacola, the administrative center of Escambia County, the westernmost in the state of Florida, USA. Since childhood, his father, Roy Jones Sr., a former professional boxer, tried to instill in Roy a love of boxing. But only at the age of 10 did Roy start boxing. At the age of 11, he won the Alabama Golden Gloves tournament, and then repeated this success four more years in a row. In 1984, Jones won the Junior Olympic Games in the USA, and two years later he won the prestigious US national Golden Gloves tournament in the weight up to 64 kg, defeating Victor Levin in the final on points. A year later, he would win this title again, but in the weight category up to 71 kg, defeating Ray McElroy in the final.
In 1986, Roy lost on points in the semi-finals of the Goodwill Games to Soviet boxer Igor Ruzhnikov, winning bronze. Another famous defeat came when he was trying to win the national Golden Gloves for the third year in a row.
Jones would qualify for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. First, he had to get into the final qualifying tournament, in which 8 participants competed for each place in the national team.
Jones' path to the Olympic final began with an impressive victory over Malawi's Mtender Makalamba. At the very beginning of the fight, he knocked down his opponent, and by the middle of the first round it all ended in a knockout. Then Jones consistently won on points with an overwhelming advantage over Michael Franek, Evgeny Zaitsev and Richie Woodhall.
In the tournament final, considered one of the most unfair in Olympic history, Roy's South Korean opponent, Park Sihoon, took the gold, winning 3-2. This was a shock for everyone, including the Korean himself, not to mention Jones, who was shocked to the core by this development of events.
Jones dominated all three rounds, with the Korean receiving a standing knockdown in the second round. Roy had an overwhelming advantage in blows, as it was later calculated, in the first round he hit 20 blows out of 85, Park Sihun only 3 blows out of 38, the second round - Jones 39/98, Park 15/71, the third round - Jones 36/120, Pak 14/79. However, the judges thought differently. Representatives of the USSR and Hungary gave the victory to Jones with a score of 60-56. Judges from Uruguay and Morocco gave the victory to the Korean with a score of 59-58, considering that he won the 2nd and 3rd rounds. The last judge, from Uganda, scored a draw, but when he had to choose the winner to resolve the tie, he preferred the representative of Korea, as he allegedly had an advantage in the fight.
Park Sihoon, after his “victory,” told Roy through an interpreter that he was sorry for what happened, he knew that he lost the fight, and that the judges gave him the victory. This fight influenced the introduction of a new points system in amateur boxing.
Jones's first opponent in the professional ring was Ricky Randal, who lost 16 of his 20 fights. In the fight, Jones was knocked down twice in the first round and once in the second. As a result, the referee stopped the match due to the clear advantage of Roy Jones.
In November 1994, a fight between two undefeated boxers took place - IBF 2nd middleweight champion James Toney and challenger Roy Jones. Jones dominated the entire fight, occasionally taunting Tony. In the 3rd round, Tony tried to imitate Jones, for which Jones immediately knocked him down. In the post-match interview, Tony did not agree with the counted knockdown, considering it a push. After 12 rounds, Jones won a convincing victory. In his defense, Tony stated that before the fight, in order to lose excess weight, he sat in a pressure chamber and this affected his shape.
In October 1996, Jones entered the ring against the undefeated Bryant Brannon. In the middle of the 1st round, after a series of blows to the head, Jones knocked down Brannon. Brannon began to stand up and was pulled to the side. At the count of 6 he was able to stand up. Jones, mocking his opponent, continued to beat him. In the middle of the 2nd round, Jones knocked down his opponent for the second time with a counter left side kick to the jaw. Brannon again stood at the count of 6. Jones rushed to finish him off and drove him into a corner. After a series of powerful blows, he asked the referee to stop the fight. The referee refused. Then Jones carried out another series of strikes. With a deuce to the head, he sent Brannon into a severe knockout. Brannon lay on the floor for several minutes.
Fragments of the fight were shown in the film "The Devil's Advocate".
After this, Jones moved up to light heavyweight.
In March 1997, a fight between two undefeated boxers took place - Roy Jones and Montell Griffin. At the end of the 7th round, Jones landed a right hook to the head, and then, getting closer, a short left hook to the jaw. Griffin fell. The referee counted to 10 and stopped the fight. Jones' corner was relieved that the fight was over. However, they were then informed that there would be a disqualification.
A rematch took place between Roy Jones and Montell Griffin on August 7, 1997. Jones was very angry. He immediately went on the attack. At the very beginning of the fight, he hit Griffin in the jaw with a left hook. Griffin stumbled backwards and fell onto the ropes. The referee counted the knockdown. 40 seconds before the end of the round, Jones hit his opponent squarely in the jaw with a left hook and uppercut hybrid. Griffin fell immediately. He tried to get up several times, but could not maintain his balance and each time he fell into the ring again. At the count of 10, he fell back into the ring, and the referee recorded the victory by a clean knockout. Jones took convincing revenge. After the fight, Jones accused journalists of being the ones who forced him to humiliate Griffin like that.
In 1998, on July 18, a unification fight took place in the WBC and WBA light heavyweight divisions between Roy Jones and Lou Del Valle. Jones dominated the entire fight: he was noticeably superior to his opponent in speed, number and accuracy of strikes. At the end of the 8th round, Del Valle threw a left cross to the jaw. Jones fell to the canvas, but immediately got up. This was the 1st knockdown of his career. Some experts believed that Jones slipped. Del Valle rushed to finish off the enemy, but could not do anything. At the end of the fight, all the judges gave the victory to Roy Jones with a crushing score.
Jones moved up to heavyweight on March 1, 2003 and faced WBA world champion John Ruiz. Jones defeated the champion. After that, he returned back to light heavyweight.
In 2003, after defeating Ruiz, the WBA assigned Jones mandatory challenger Vitali Klitschko, but the fight did not take place.
Jones faced WBC light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver on November 8, 2003. In a hard-fought battle, Jones won by majority decision. The audience greeted the decision with a dissatisfied roar. Tarver did not agree with the judges' verdict.
In November 2008, a fight took place between Roy Jones and the undefeated Welshman Joe Calzaghe. In the middle of the 1st round, Jones hit his opponent's head with a counter left hook. The Welshman fell to the canvas, but got up at the count of 5. Roy Jones did not rush to finish off his opponent. The Welshman moved forward throughout the fight, throwing a huge number of punches and surpassing his opponent in endurance. The American could do nothing to counter this pressure. By the end of the fight, Jones had a cut above his left eye. At the end of the fight, all judges gave the victory to Joe Calzaghe with the same crushing score of 118-109.
The fight with Jeff Lacy took place on August 15. Lacy started the fight actively, putting pressure and pinning Jones against the ring ropes, but Roy skillfully avoided the blows and blocked most of them. From the 4th round, Lacy became noticeably tired and slowed down, and Jones began to act in his favorite manner: with his arms down, feints with his legs, demonstrating his superiority over Lacey in speed, and at the same time, being at the ropes, he did not forget to talk to the audience. After the 7th round, a large hematoma appeared above Lacey's left eye. In the 9th and 10th rounds, Jones openly mocks Lacey, demonstrating a complete advantage over his opponent. After the 10th round, the referee stopped the fight at the request of Lacey's seconds, recording Jones' victory by technical knockout.
In Moscow on May 21, 2011, a fight took place between Roy Jones and Denis Lebedev. Throughout most of the fight, the advantage was on the side of the Russian boxer. At the end of the 4th round, Lebedev landed an accurate blow and was able to shake Jones. In the 9th round, Lebedev missed a powerful blow to the head, but was able to survive. In the last seconds of the 10th round, Lebedev carried out a series of accurate blows, after which Jones covered his face with his hands and leaned forward a little. It was obvious that Jones was in a severe, so-called “standing knockout.” Despite the obvious severity of Jones' condition, Lebedev deliberately landed a powerful right hand to Jones' head, after which he fell to the floor. Only after this the referee intervened and stopped the fight. It took doctors more than 10 minutes to revive Jones.
After the fight, when asked about the last blow, Lebedev said that he had no regrets. In response to accusations of incompetence on the part of the referee who could have prevented the final blow, the referee stated that he did not know Jones was badly knocked out. Although at that moment he was two steps away from the boxers. When asked what Jones himself thought about the last blow, he answered philosophically: “I forgive him.”
In 2014 and 2015, Jones had 6 fights, all of which ended early. On July 26, 2014, Jones knocked out Briton Courty Fry in the fifth round, and on September 26 of the same year, he won by knockout over Hani Atiyo. In 2015, fights against Willie Williams, Paul Vasquez, and Eric Watkins ended in early victories. On December 12, Jones lost by knockout in a rating fight against Enzo Maccarinelli, in which he competed under the Russian flag.
After the loss, Roy Jones Jr. made a statement that he was ending his cooperation with promoter Vladimir Khryunov and hiring Umar Kremlev.
In 2016, on February 10, the sports director of the Patriot promotion company, Dmitry Luchnikov, announced the end of the sports career of Roy Jones Jr. However, Roy Jones continued to fight in 2016.
In addition to professional boxing, Roy Jones also participates in various filming. From 2004 to 2006, Roy Jones worked as a commentator for HBO.
In November 2015, after receiving Russian citizenship, he became one of the commentators and presenter on the new TV channel Match TV.
In August 2015, in Sevastopol, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he asked for his help in obtaining Russian citizenship.
Roy Jones Jr. received Russian citizenship on September 12, 2015. The corresponding decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin: “To satisfy the application for admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation of Jones Jr. Roy Levesta, born on January 16, 1969 in the United States of America.”
Roy Jones began his music career in 2001 when he recorded the rap album Round One: The Album. In 2004, Roy founded the rap group Body Head Bangerz, which released their debut album the same year.
Roy Jones
Height: 180 cm.
Weight: 80 kg.
Date of birth: January 16, 1969
American boxer Roy Jones Jr. has forever written his name in history. Having won on points in a 12-round fight against John Ruiz, who outweighed him by 15 kilograms, Jones won the WBA world heavyweight title and became the first boxer in the world to have an average of 72 gold belts in his collection. .6 kg), super middle (76.2 kg), heavy (79.4 kg) and super heavy weights. Perhaps, this was achieved only by the Soviet boxer Evgeniy Ivanovich Ogurenkov (1913-1973), who successfully performed consistently in six weight categories, and back in 1943, being a middleweight, won the title of absolute champion of the USSR.
Born on January 16, 1969, Jones lived in Pensacola, Florida, where he began boxing at the age of 10. Weighing 69 pounds, Jones defeated 14 year old boxers weighing 85 pounds. This was just the beginning. Jones was predicted to have a great amateur career when he won the 1984 US Junior Olympics; National Golden Gloves in 1986 at 139 pounds; and, after moving up two weight classes, National Golden Gloves again in 1987 at 156 pounds. However, his dream of winning the Gold Medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics did not come true. In what would later be considered one of the worst decisions in Olympic history, Jones' South Korean opponent took the gold and Jones the silver, losing 3-2. In an ironic attempt to correct the fight's judging fiasco, Jones was awarded the Val Barker Trophy as the 'Outstanding Boxer' of the 1988 Olympics.
In 1992, Jones defeated former world champion George Vaca and former US Boxing Association champion Art Servano by knockouts in 1 round. He won, as a result of a unanimous decision, against George Castro and dealt with the previously unbeaten Glen Thomas by technical knockout in the 8th round. Jones' first title came in 1993. On May 22, Jones, having defeated Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision, became the IBF world champion in the Middleweight category.
A knockout victory over top contender Thomas Tate in 1994 set Jones up to face IBF Super Middleweight champion James 'Light Out' Thuney in November 1994. Undefeated in 46 fights, Thuney was known as the best fighter in the world. and, for the first time in Jones' career, he was perceived in advance as the underdog. Jones won by unanimous decision and became the world champion in the second weight category Super Middleweight.
In 1995, Jones scored three victories over three boxers, none of whom saw the start of the seventh round. In 1996, three more victims faced Jones and another world title was successfully defended. In January, Jones defeated Mercui Sosa via TKO in the 2nd round. And six months later, he won the title in the third weight category Light Heavyweight after a difficult 12-round fight with the legendary Mike McCallum.
On March 21 in Atlantic City, Jones experienced the second setback of his career, which he would later call “the biggest disappointment” since the Olympic Games. Jones's plan was to take down the tenacious, powerful challenger Montella Griffin. Acting strictly according to his plan, Roy began to press, while Griffin gradually got tired. While the referee was in an unfortunate position and was considering whether to intervene or not, Jones landed two punches on the collapsing Griffin. Then the referee finally made up his mind and stopped the fight, disqualifying Jones. The victory was awarded to Griffin.
After the fight, Jones insists that he did not lose the fight to Griffin and promises to return the WBC world title. Roy didn't waste much time fulfilling his promise. He regained the WBC world title in August 1997 in their rematch with 2 minutes and 31 seconds remaining in the first round.
1998 brought Jones to Biloxi, where he defeated former WBA champion Vergel Hill in a 12-round non-title bout; to New York, where he defended the WBC title and won the WBA title by unanimous decision in a 12-round fight against current WBA champion Lou Del Valle; and to Connecticut where Roy defeated former WBO Middleweight champion Otis Grant by technical knockout.
Roy Jones' explosive combinations, blinding jabs and fantastic footwork continue to amaze spectators as he eliminates his opponents. Currently, Jones himself is his own manager and promoter, discovering new facets of his talent. But Jones' talent isn't limited to the ring ropes. Jones spends most of his free time talking to young Americans about the benefits of education and the dangers of drugs. Roy's close friends describe him as 'ten thousand times more of a man than a boxer'.
There is no doubt that Jones is completely unstoppable, regardless of opponent or location. He sets his own rules, clouds the opponent’s mind and moves forward. This combination of strength and kindness has created a true champion for us in the ring and in life.
In the history of boxing there are many outstanding fighters who have reached great heights. But, perhaps, it is difficult to find a boxer who, in the manner of fighting, in the speed of the blow, in the unpredictability, would be at least somewhat similar to Roy Jones Jr.
From this article you will learn the main milestones in the biography of Roy Jones, each of which is accompanied by a video of the fights of this great athlete.
Childhood
Roy Levesta Jones Jr. was born on January 16, 1969 in Pensacola, Florida, USA. Roy Jones Sr., his father, was also a professional boxer, but he never managed to become a champion. Therefore, he dreamed that his son would continue his path and reach heights that his father had not conquered.
When Roy put on gloves at the age of 10, it immediately became clear that he had a unique talent and a very bright future in boxing. After all, even then he began to defeat guys who were older and heavier than him.
1988 Olympics
In 1988, Roy Jones performed at the Olympic Games in the capital of South Korea, Seoul. Throughout the tournament, Roy easily defeated his opponents and reached the finals, where he faced the Korean Park Si Hoon. Almost no one doubted that Roy Jones would win and receive the gold medal. However, it all ended unexpectedly and scandalously.
Throughout the fight, Roy Jones had a significant advantage over his opponent, but according to the judges' decision, the victory was given to the Korean athlete. As a result of the scandal of the judges who gave the victory to the Korean,
was removed from judging, and Roy Jones decided not to compete outside the United States again, so as not to fall for the bias of the judging again.
The Olympic Games marked the final stage of Roy Jones Jr.'s amateur career. The Roy era began in professional boxing.
Beginning of a professional career
Roy's first coach was his father. Worried about his son, he selected his opponents very carefully, not very famous, and not very skilled. As a result, fatherly love played a cruel joke. Jones Jr. did not like to easily defeat weak opponents, which is why there was a quarrel with his father, and Roy found himself a new coach. It was Elton Merkenson.
Under the leadership of a new coach, by 1992, Roy Jones had won 20 victories, 19 by knockout, without suffering a single defeat. Roy danced in the ring, moved as he wanted, hit from any positions, from any distances, from any angles, in a word, he did everything in the ring that his heart desired.
As a result, in 1993, having defeated Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins on points, Roy Jones won his first title. He became the IBF world middleweight champion.
Roy's next step was the transition to second middleweight in 1994. In his first fight, which became a fight for the IBF super middleweight world champion title, he faced the then undefeated James “Lights Out” Toney. The fight lasted until the final bell, and the victory was awarded to Roy Jones on points. Thanks also to this fight, in 1994 Roy received the title of “Fighter of the Year”.
Roy Jones Jr. is a very versatile person. One of his hobbies is basketball. In June 1996, on the afternoon before defending his title, Jones played basketball for a professional team, and in the evening he defended the title in brilliant style, defeating Eric Lucas.
The second middleweight was conquered and Jones moved to the light heavyweight camp. Sweeping away everyone in his path, he almost immediately became a champion in this weight. Thanks to this, Roy was at the top of the ranking of the best boxers in the world, regardless of weight category. By this time, Jones Jr.'s record included 34 victories and not a single defeat.
1997 was the year of the first defeat. In a fight against Montell Griffin, the WBC light heavyweight champion, Montell took a knee in the ninth round after a left hook to the jaw. Jones, in an attacking rush, did not notice this and delivered a couple more to the head, from which Griffin fell to the canvas. Such finishing was the reason for disqualification. Thus, Roy Jones suffered the first defeat in his professional career.
However, in the same 1997, revenge took place. In the first round, Roy Jones knocked Griffin out with a blow to the jaw. Here's how it went:
This is how Roy Jones’s career progressed until 2003. He mocked his opponents in every way due to his too great superiority over them. They simply had no chance of winning.
Career peak
This prompted Roy to move to heavyweight. It was a shock for the whole world. They tried to dissuade him, citing health risks. They thought that Roy was already going too far and this could end badly.
But Jones Jr. did not heed the persuasion and chose WBA world champion John Ruiz, who defeated Hollyfield himself, as his opponent. This fight was expected as some kind of extraordinary event. Whatever the outcome, there was a sensation: either Jones’s first defeat, or the victory of a middleweight boxer over a heavyweight. Roy Jones fought the fight very confidently and smartly, tactically completely outplaying Ruiz. Ruiz was never able to oppose Jones, and he, having created a sensation, became the world heavyweight champion.
Perhaps this was the peak of Roy Jones' career, after which he began to decline. After all, no one is a robot, and even the greatest people are inexorably influenced by time.
Roy Jones has returned to light heavyweight. Antonio Tarver settled there during his absence. Jones won the first half of the fight, but then suddenly went into defense. And Tarver successfully began to punch through it. The fight was even and Roy did not have his former superiority. Some of the rounds in the second half of the fight remained with Tarver. However, Roy won on points, and Antonio Tarver did not agree with the results of the judging and demanded revenge.
First defeat by knockout
The rematch took place on May 15, 2004 in Las Vegas. On this day, something happened that all Roy’s fans feared and that his opponents desired. From that day on, Roy Jones ceased to be the best boxer in the world. In the second round of the rematch, Antonio Tarver hit Roy in the jaw with a left hook, causing him to collapse. Jones stood up, but there was emptiness in his eyes and the referee stopped the fight. This was Roy Jones Jr.'s first knockout. The first and most offensive.
In the next fight with Glen Johnson, Roy was knocked out again after a right hook. It seemed as if Roy had begged for this blow. Next was the third fight against Tarver, which Tarver won on points.
The end of the Roy Jones era
After such shocks, Roy seemed to be afraid of missing a blow, going into defense. But this is not his strong point and not his style. Roy Jones became a boxer with whom many could now compete. And he had to really survive. There was no longer that courage. There were brilliant victories over Jeff Tracy and Felix Trinidad, and bitter defeats, such as from Danny Green and Joe Calzaghe. The only thing that remained clear was that the era of Roy Jones had come to an end.
The only fight in which Roy resembled his prime in style and speed was against Bernard Hopkins in 2010. However, Hopkins won that fight on points. Watch the last round of this fight:
In May 2011, Roy Jones traveled to Russia to fight rising star Denis Lebedev. Here, many boxing fans could not decide who to root for: a legend, perhaps the best boxer in history, or a native Russian boy. Moreover, Denis was considered the favorite. The fight took place with Denis having a confident advantage and ended badly for Roy Jones: ten seconds before the end of the last round he was knocked out.
According to Roy's promise, if he defeats Glazewski, his next opponent will be Wlodarczyk, the WBC cruiserweight world champion.
This is the professional path of Roy Jones Jr. This is real life, in which there was a phenomenal rise, a peak, a turning point, a decline and a constant irreconcilable struggle with oneself. Despite everything, Roy continues to enter the ring and prove, first of all, to himself that he has not given up, that he can still fight for the highest places. Isn't this a real role model for any man?
Let's take another look at the best moments in the career of this outstanding athlete:
Roy Jones Jr entered boxing history by becoming the first boxer to win championship titles in the middle, super middle, heavy and super heavy weight categories. Winning on points John Ruiz and being 15 kg lighter than him, Roy Jones won WBA champion title in the heavyweight division. In 1992, the champion had meetings in the ring with former champions Jorge Vacoy And Artom Servano: The fights lasted only until the second round. Then there was a fight with George Castro, an experienced boxer who managed to make it to the twelfth round, but still lost. After this, a meeting with Alton Merkerson, and again victory. But the first serious title went to Roy Jones after defeating Glen Thomas, knocked out in the eighth round.
In 1993, a meeting was held with Bernard Hopkins for the IBF middleweight title. The fight was difficult, Hopkins tried not to miss his chance for the title, but also lost by decision of all the judges. Roy fought three fights in 1995, none of which went longer than seven rounds. The next year gave him another title. 
All the titles and titles can be listed for a long time: Roy won more and more belts in different weight categories, easily defending them in matches with challengers. But at the end of his career he suffered several defeats, among which – from Antonio Tarvera in the rematch and from Glencoff Johnson. The fight with the latter turned out to be the most unsuccessful in Jones’ career: his opponent knocked Captian Hook down with a powerful blow to the temple, causing him to lost consciousness. It became clear to everyone: the best years of the great boxer were behind him. Finally, the boxer lost in 2010 to a once weaker Bernard Hopkins as part of meetings of the best fighters of their time.
Roy Jones was a versatile person: in addition to boxing, he had many different hobbies. He was seriously studying professional boxer, was a music producer, and also tried himself as a singer, actor and commentator. However, Jones will forever go down in boxing history as an excellent boxer and great champion.
Nickname: Junior Captain Hook
Citizenship: USA
Place of birth: Pensacola, Florida, USA
Accommodation: Pensacola, Florida, USA
Rack: Right-handed
Height:180 cm
Professional career: 57 victories ( 40 knockouts) + 8 lesions ( 4 knockout) + 0 draws = 65
Amateur career: 121 victory ( 13 knockouts) + 4 lesions ( 0 knockouts) + 0 draws = 134
Achievements: Silver medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games. World champion in middleweight (IBF version, 1993-1994), second middleweight (IBF version, 1994-1996), light heavyweight (WBC version, 1997, 1997-2002 and 2003-2004; WBA version, 1998-2002; IBF version, 1999 -2002) and super heavyweight (WBA version, 2003) weight categories. The Boxing Writers Association of America named Jones "Boxer of the Decade" in the 1990s. Repeatedly recognized as the best boxer in the world, regardless of weight category.
American boxer Roy Jones Jr. forever inscribed his name in boxing history. Jones, having won on points in a 12-round fight against heavyweight John Ruiz, who outweighed him by 15 kilograms, won the WBA world title in the heavyweight category and became the only boxer in the world who managed to win the average belt (72.6 kg). ), super middleweight (76.2 kg), heavyweight (79.4 kg) and super heavyweight.
Roy Jones was born and lived in Pensacola, Florida. There he began boxing at the age of 10. From childhood, his father, Roy Jones Sr., a former professional boxer, instilled in his son a love of boxing. He wanted to raise a champion, which he himself could not become. Already at the very beginning, Roy weighed 31 kg. easily defeated 14 year old boxers weighing 38 kg. After Jones won the 1984 US Junior Olympics, the 1986 National Golden Gloves at 62.5 kg, and the 1987 National Golden Gloves again at 70.2 kg, he was predicted to have a great amateur career.
But his dream of a Gold Medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was not destined to come true. In a judges' decision that was later recognized as one of the most controversial and dishonest in the history of the Olympics, Jones's South Korean opponent received the gold medal, and Jones the silver, losing 3-2. To correct this judicial misunderstanding, Jones was still awarded the Val Barker Trophy as the "Outstanding Boxer" of the 1988 Olympic Games.
In 1992, Jones knocked out former world champion George Wack and former WBA champion Art Servano in the first round. In the same year, Roy won on points against George Castro and defeated Glen Thomas, who was previously considered invincible, by technical knockout in the 8th round. Jones won his first championship title in 1993. On May 22, he defeated Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision to become the IBF world middleweight champion. After winning by knockout against mandatory challenger Thomas Tate, in 1994 Jones received the opportunity to meet IBF world super middleweight champion James “Lights Out” Toney. Undefeated in 46 fights, Tony was recognized as the best fighter in the world. And for the first time in Jones' career, his opponent was perceived as the favorite. However, Jones won by unanimous decision and became the IBF champion in the second weight class at super middleweight.
In 1995, Jones scored three victories, all by knockout before the 7th round. In 1996, three more boxers faced Jones and he again defended his championship title. In January, Jones won by technical knockout in the 2nd round in a fight with Mercui Sosa. And half a year later he took the champion title in his third weight category, first heavyweight, from famous boxer Mike McCallum, defeating him in a tough 12-round fight.
On March 21 in Atlantic City, Jones suffered the first “defeat” of his professional career, which he would later call “the biggest disappointment” since the Olympic Games. In this fight, Jones intended to defeat the strong and powerful contender Montell Griffin. As a result of Jones' powerful and fast combinations, Griffin gradually got tired and eventually dropped to his knee, but Roy, in excitement, struck the fallen Griffin with another blow. The referee stopped the fight, disqualifying Jones for an illegal strike. The victory was awarded to Griffin. After the fight, Roy stated that he had not lost to Griffin and promised to regain the WBC title in a rematch. “Captain Hook” did not waste time fulfilling his promise and in August 1997 regained the WBC championship belt in a re-fight at 29 seconds of the first round, brutally knocking out Griffin.
1998 was no less successful for Jones. First, in the city of Biloxi, he knocked out former WBA world champion Virgil Hill in the 4th round. Then in New York, he defended his WBC title and won the WBA belt on points in a 12-round fight against defending champion Lou Del Valle. In his next fight in Connecticut, Roy defeated former WBO middleweight champion Otis Grant by technical knockout. After his unconditional victory over world heavyweight champion Johnny Ruiz on March 1, 2003, Roy never received offers from other fighters in the elite weight category and decided to return to his “native” weight, where the “talkative” Antonio Tarver was already waiting for him.
Although Jones beat Tarver on points in the first fight, many after this fight disputed the judges' decision and stated that Jones still lost this fight. To be objective, Roy still won fairly. However, it was not the same confident and crushing victory as over all his previous opponents. A rematch was planned, in which Roy had to prove that his unconvincing performance in the first fight was due only to rapid weight loss. But the result of the re-match came as a shock to the entire boxing world. In the 2nd round, Jones misses a powerful hook and is knocked out for the first time in his career. As a result of this defeat, Jones lost the WBC light heavyweight title to Antonio Tarver. After the fight, Roy announced that he intended to retire, but when the emotions subsided, he decided not to rush into leaving.
In September 2004, Roy Jones met with Glen Johnson. In the 9th round, Johnson sent the ex-champion to a heavy knockout with an accurate blow from his right hand. In October 2005, Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver met for the 3rd time. Tarver had a slight advantage during the fight and won by unanimous decision. In January 2008, a duel took place between Roy Jones and Felix Trinidad. In the first three rounds, Felix had an advantage, but then Jones seized the initiative and in the 7th round delivered a powerful right hook to the head, which knocked the Puerto Rican down. At the end of the 10th round, Jones again forced his opponent to the floor with a counter jab right on the jaw. Trinidad stood up immediately. At the end of the fight, the judges unanimously awarded Jones a victory on points.
In November 2008, a long-awaited fight took place between Roy Jones and the undefeated Englishman Joe Calzaghe. In the 1st round, Jones caught his opponent with a counter left hook. Calzaghe was slightly knocked down and was able to rise to a count of 5. The Welshman did not look shaken and went forward throughout the fight, throwing a large number of punches and surpassing his opponent in speed. Roy was unable to resist this pressure. By the end of the fight, Jones had a cut above his left eye. As a result, all the judges unanimously awarded the victory to Joe Calzaghe.
The fight against Omar Shakey in March 2009 took place in Jones' native Pensacola. Roy, as usual, mocked his opponent. The neck looked more like a pear. In the 5th round, after another series of blows that hit the target, the referee stopped the fight. Omar Sheika was clearly not happy with the judge's decision. It’s interesting that Shakey was prepared for this fight by the legendary Kevin Rooney, who once trained “Iron” Mike Tyson.
On August 15 of that year, Jones met with Jeff Lacy. His opponent started the fight actively, pinching and putting pressure on Roy at the ring ropes, but Jones skillfully blocked and dodged the blows. After the 4th round, Jeff began to gradually get tired, and Jones began to box in his favorite manner: with lowered, relaxed hands and various feints, showing a complete advantage over Lacey in speed, and at the same time, being at the ropes, he did not forget to communicate with the audience. After the 7th round, Lacey's left eye swollen, and in the 9th and 10th rounds Jones openly mocked his opponent, demonstrating complete superiority. After the 10th round, Lacey's seconds threw out the white towel and the referee stopped the beating, recording Jones' victory by technical knockout.
The fight against Danny Green was another disappointment for Jones and his fans. Green started the fight actively and knocked Jones down in the 1st round, but he was able to continue the fight, although he almost did not respond to Green’s blows. A minute before the end of the round, the Referee stopped the fight, awarding Green a victory by technical knockout. After the fight, Jones accused Green of using prohibited materials when wrapping his hands. Jones' victory in this fight was a prerequisite for the fight with Bernard Hopkins. Despite Jones' defeat, Hopkins expressed a desire to meet with his longtime adversary. Thus, their revenge took place 17 years later. Then, in 1993, Roy Jones won. This time Hopkins imposed sticky and dirty boxing and turned out to be stronger, winning on points.
Other occupations of Roy Jones Jr.: owner of his own boxing promotion company "Square Ring Promotions", music producer and record label owner, rap artist, actor, professional basketball player, television commentator on HBO.
