Roy Jones Jr., a Pensacola native, is a prolific former professional boxer who coined the term "Pensacola in the house!" – his staple opening remark in ringside interviews.
One of Pensacola's greatest athletes and revered in the sport, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York in 2022. At his peak he was often heralded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Among the same Hall of Fame class was James Toney, a man Jones defeated in a 12-round unanimous decision in 1994 for the super middleweight title.
Jones, a graduate of Booker T. Washington high school, is the fourth Pensacola athlete to be enshrined in a Hall of Fame, joining MLB's Don Sutton and the NFL's Emmitt Smith and Derrick Brooks.
Roy Jones Jr. on wrong side of "worst decision in Olympic boxing history"
As an amateur boxer representing the U.S., Jones won the silver medal in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, but anyone who watched the fight knows he should have taken home the gold.
According to olympics.com, "In the final of the light-middleweight class, Jones faced KoreanPark Si-Hun, and punished him. There was no doubt that Jones had won every round, and won each convincingly, but at the end the referee raised Park’s hand. Park even apologized, later saying, 'I am sorry. I lost the fight. I feel very bad.'”
One of the judges later revealed that he felt so badly for the Korean, fighting in front of his hometown fans, that he gave him the vote, feeling it would make the result only 4-1 for Jones. Unfortunately, two other judges did the same thing, given the decision to Park, 3-2, olympics.com says.
Although the world-at-large recognized that Jones had won the bout – with olympics.com noting the decision as the worst decision in Olympic boxing history – taking silver still seems to eat at Jones.
It’s “a feeling that’s never been digested in my stomach, never been digested in my heart, to this day I feel like that was yesterday,” Jones said at an International Boxing Association press conference in 2021, the Washington Post reported. “I was the youngest kid on my team, 19 years old, I gave nine years of my life to get to the Olympics and win a gold medal, and to have it stolen from me at the end was horrific.”
Roy Jones Jr. made boxing history
Jones fought in his first professional boxing match at the age of 20, debuting at the Pensacola Bay Center.
He made history after beginning his career as a light middleweight and going on to win titles in four different weight classes. He was also known for his unique fight style, dropping his arms to lure in his opponent before unleashing a flurry of punches.
What is Roy Jones Jr.'s boxing record?
Jones official boxing record is 66-10, knocking out 47 of his opponents throughout his career.
The prolific boxer held a 34-0 record before his first loss in 1997. He was disqualified in his match against Montel Griffin for a low blow, but in a rematch five months later he beat Griffin in a stoppage.
Jones wouldn't lose again until 2004 when Antonio Tarver beat him in a light-heavyweight title fight.
His final fight, according to BoxRec, was against debutant Anthony Pettis in 2023.
Roy Jones Jr.'s film career
Throughout his career, Jones also made his way to the silver screen, making his first appearance as himself in one episode of "Married...with Children" in 1996, according to IMDB.
He's best known for playing himself in the 2015 film "Southpaw," the 2018 film "Creed II," and his character Ballard in the 2003 film "The Matrix Reloaded."
IMDB also lists Jones as a character named Jamar in an upcoming project in 2025.
Did Roy Jones Jr.'s son pass away?
Jones announced the death of his son DeAndre Monday via social media. The boxing phenom said DeAndre took his own life Saturday, one day after spending time with his family.
"I'm so thankful that God allowed me to come home Friday night to spend the last night of his life with me and the family," Jones wrote on Facebook. "I know a lot of people are going through tough times right now, but nothing is worth taking your own life.
"God gives it and God should be the one to take it away," he added.
Jones ended the post by thanking the community for their love and support and asking that people respect the family's privacy as they process their loss.
If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Bill Vilona contributed to this report.
