Co-Founder of Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions Selected for Induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame

Co-Founder of Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions Selected for Induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame

PhilBoxing.com
Wed 22 Dec 2021

LAS VEGAS (December 21, 2021) – Boxing legend Roy Jones, Jr. is universally regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers in boxing history. In June, he will travel to Canastota, New York, for his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF).

IBHOF Class 2022 inductees will be inducted June 9-12 in Canastota, New York, along with formal 2021 and 2020 class inductions postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“This is one of the highest honors you can get to be placed in the International Boxing Hall of Fame,” Jones said of his selection for induction. “I have the utmost respect for the Hall of Fame. I want to thank them for inducting me and everyone in my career throughout my life, starting with the days with my father (Roy Jones, Sr.), to the days with Coach Merk (Alton Merkerson) , with ‘Whop’ (Valérice Cooper). The list goes on. I thank everyone who participated and I hope I didn’t leave too many people behind.

“It takes a group of people to build a community, not just one person. It took a lot of people to make my career what I have become. I thank God especially for that. We are trying to build the future champions of tomorrow. I feel like now that I’m in the Hall of Fame as a boxer, my next goal is to become a Hall of Fame coach. Peace be to you all.

Jones, 52, has done pretty much everything in boxing and more as a fighter, trainer, promoter, actor, color commentator and rapper. He is the undisputed king of boxing!

One of the most prolific amateur boxers in the world, Jones compiled a record of 121-13, including gold medals at the 1984 National Junior Olympics and the 1986 and 1987 National Golden Gloves tournaments. At the Games 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Jones reached the final of the light middleweight division against Park Si-Hun of South Korea. Jones arguably suffered the worst decision in boxing history, losing 3-2, despite beating his opponent, 86 to 32 punches, and he was forced to settle for a silver medal. Even his opponent admitted that Jones won their fight and the AIBA subsequently suspended the three judges who picked the hometown fighter as the winner. Jones was selected as the winner of the Val Barker Trophy as the best boxer in the 1988 Olympics and, due to controversy, the Olympic boxing scoring system was changed, replacing the mandatory 20 point system with a scoring electronic, and the five judges were suspended.

Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Jones became a 10-time world champion in 4 divisions (heavyweight, light heavyweight, super middleweight and middleweight) as a professional, finishing with an incredible 66-9 (47 KOs ) professional record, especially considering the elite-caliber opponents he fought during his career (1989-2018). He was 22-3 (14 KOs) in the world title fights, beating one of the Who’s Who world champion opponents: Jorge Vaca, Jorge Fernando Castro, Bernard Hopkins, Thulani Malinga, James Toney, Vinny Pazienza (Paz), Eric Lucas, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffin, Virgil Hill, Lou DelValle, Otis Grant, Reggie Johnson, Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Clinton Woods, John Ruiz, Antonio Tarver, Felix Trinidad and Jeff Lacy.

In 2013, Jones co-founded Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions (RJJ Boxing), and the Las Vegas-based promotion company managed and promoted some of the world’s most talented boxers, such as two-time bantamweight world champion Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko, two-time challenger for junior bantamweight title “Mighty” Aston Palicte, interim world super featherweight titlist Bryan “El Toquito” Vazquez (37-4, 20), Connor “The Kid “Coyle, John” The Phenom “Vera (18-1, 11 KO), Kendo” Tremendo “Castaneda, Randy Moreno, Max” The Baby-Faced Assassin “Ornelas, Ray” Valentino “Ximenez, Juan” Just Business “Barajas and former WBC “Youth Heavyweight Champion Alexander” Le Grand “Flores.

Professional boxers Jones currently trains include Chris Eubank, Jr. (31-2, 23 KOs), Michael Williams, Jr. (19-1, 12 KOs), Brian Perrella (17-3, 14 KOs), Andrew Murphy ( 4- 0, 3 KOs), Kevin Newman (12-3-1, 7 KOs), Ikrau Kerwat (10-3, 5 KOs), Glenn Hagler (6-1-2, 4 KOs) and 4 times national amateur champion Tika Hemingway (1-0).

In 2012, RJJ Boxing president Lisa Veltre first met Roy, who expressed interest in getting involved as a boxing promoter, and RJJ Boxing was quickly trained in Las Vegas.

“Roy is the biggest prankster,” Veltre revealed. “He loves to make jokes. He is the most down to earth person to partner with in business. We have become good friends. I learned so much from him about boxers, the boxing business and what goes in and out of the square circle.

“I never really look at him from a business standpoint because we’re personal friends – Roy became more of a mentor to me – so I never thought about what that meant for our business when he did. been selected to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. I knew it was a huge honor, but it was on the horizon for a few years (until he became eligible). Delighted! This is so amazing. If all goes well, from a schedule standpoint, because things change so quickly in boxing, we want to be at Canastota Jim to support him when he receives the highest honor in boxing.

Well-known boxing media personality James Smitty has been known since the 1980s, first as a longtime guest on the radio show Smitty’s Sportstalk, as well as as a guest on the show. TV show, IN THIS CORNER. “Smitty,” who has hosted the annual IBHOF Induction Weekend since 2016, in addition to working the past four years for RJJ Boxing as a color commentator on UFC FIGHT PASS.

“I knew that when I first laid my pugilistic eyes on Roy Jones. Jr. at the 1988 Summer Olympics that he was destined to become Superstardom as a professional fighter, ”Smith noted. “Physically Roy is as good as anyone who has ever donned a pair of boxing gloves, but he’s also incorporated so much showmanship into his efforts in and out of the ring. He is the embodiment of what a Boxing Hall of Fame is and should be. He was born to one day reside in Canastota. It will be one of my great honors to welcome him to the sacred grounds of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, especially because of my relationship with Roy, whom I am proud to call my friend.

Getting into the IBHOF in his first year of eligibility has been an undisputed lock for Roy Jones, Jr. The only debate is how close he is to the top of boxing’s mythical list of greats. all time.

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com
Twitter: @RoyjonesJRfa @RoyJonesJrOfficial
Instagram: @RoyJonesJrBoxing