He also won the WBA heavyweight title in his only fight in this weight class. Jones was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Jones had a very successful career as an amateur boxer: He won the 1984 United States National Junior Olympics in the 119 lb (54 kg) weight division, the 1986 United States National Golden Gloves in the 139 lb (63 kg) weight division and the 1987 United States National Golden Gloves in the 156 lb (71 kg) weight division. As an amateur, Jones ended his career with a 121-13 record. Jones represented the United States at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, where he won the silver medal.
Jones began as a professional on May 6, 1989 and built a record of 15-0 with 15 knockouts before stepping up in class. Jones was given his first opportunity to fight for a world title on May 22, 1993, he beat future undisputed world middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision, to capture the IBF's vacant middleweight title. Jones was considered one of boxing's top "pound for pound" fighters. Jones career has been long and successful.
On March 1, 2003, in Las Vegas he defeated John Ruiz by a 12-round unanimous decision for the WBA heavyweight championship. Jones officially weighed in at 193 lb (88 kg) and Ruiz at 226 lb (103 kg). Jones became the first former middleweight title holder to win a heavyweight title in 106 years and also the second man in History to advance from the Middleweight to the Heavyweight Championship. Jones also became the first fighter to start his career as a junior middleweight and win a heavyweight title. Jones decided to keep campaigning as a light heavyweight and eventually relinquished the WBA heavyweight title without ever defending it.
Stats
ROY JONES, JR -- 54-5, 40 KOs…American…Pro Years: 1989-Present…eight-time world champion in four divisions…1990s Fighter of the Decade…first middleweight in more than 100 years to win world heavyweight title…silver medalist in 1988 Olympics but selected as Outstanding Fighter…Notable Victories: Otis Grant, Jeff Lacy, Virgil Hill, Antonio Tarver, Lou Del Valle, David Telesco, Thomas Tate, James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, Vinny Pazienza, Richard Hall, John Ruiz, Eric Lucas, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffith and Eric Harding.
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