Roy Jones Jr. is an American boxing great, widely regarded as one of the most gifted fighters of the modern era, with world titles from middleweight all the way to heavyweight. At his peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, he was often considered the best pound‑for‑pound fighter in the sport.

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Roy Levesta Jones Jr. was born January 16, 1969, in Pensacola, Florida, and was raised in a strict boxing environment by his father, a former fighter. He developed quickly as an amateur, ultimately winning a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in a famously controversial decision loss to South Korea’s Park Si‑hun.

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Jones turned professional on May 6, 1989, scoring a knockout over Ricky Randall and racing to a record of 15–0 with 15 knockouts. On May 22, 1993, he won his first world title by outpointing Bernard Hopkins for the vacant IBF middleweight belt, showcasing a blend of speed, reflexes, and unorthodox offense.

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Moving up, Jones captured the IBF super middleweight title by dominating the unbeaten James Toney in November 1994, a win that cemented him among the elite. In this period he was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring in 1994 and later recognized as Fighter of the Decade for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

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Jones then climbed to light heavyweight, unifying the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles by defeating Reggie Johnson in 1999 to become undisputed champion at 175 pounds. On March 1, 2003, he jumped to heavyweight and outboxed John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title, becoming the first former middleweight champion in over a century to claim a heavyweight belt and the only man to do so after starting as a junior middleweight.

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After returning to light heavyweight, Jones suffered high‑profile defeats to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson but continued fighting into his late 40s, adding various minor titles before his final bout in 2018. He retired with a record of 66 wins and 9 losses, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022, and is remembered for his extraordinary athleticism, highlight‑reel knockouts, and influence on a generation of fighters.

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Beyond boxing, Jones has worked as a television commentator and trainer, recorded rap music, and acted in films, expanding his profile beyond the sport. He also holds dual American and Russian citizenship, reflecting his international popularity and post‑career business and promotional ties abroad.