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COLORADO SPRINGS, Runde. (September 6, 2018) – Living legend Roy Jones, Jr., universally recognized as one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all-time, leads a celebrated quintet of Class of 2018 inductees into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
Der zweite jährliche Empfang der Hall of Fame der USA Boxing Alumni Association, in Verbindung mit dem gehalten 2018 USA Boxing Elite und Youth National Championships sowie Junior und Prep Open, Dezember 2-8, will be held Dec. 7, im Radisson Hotel (215 S. Temple St.) in Salk Lake City, Utah.
Neben Jones, Die Klasse der 2018 also includes two U.S. Olympic gold medalists and world (Profi) Meister, Andre Ward und Claressa Shields, sowie ehemaliger USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel Steward und Veteran USA Boxing Official Tom Cleary. Die beiden letzteren werden posthum eingeführt.
Die im letzten Jahr eingeführte Charterklasse inklusive Muhammad Ali und Evander Holyfield, sowie erfahrene Trainer Roosevelt Sanders und Tom Coulter.
“I am honored to be selected for induction into the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame,” Jones commented, “especially as a member of this great class with my fellow inductees.
“Amateur boxing gave me the chance to learn life skills as well as face every other possible scenario inside of the ring.”
Jones, ironisch, got into boxing at the age of 11 because of Ali. “I saw Ali vs. (Joe) Frazierand just felt as though Ali and I had the same mental concept on life,” Jones explained.
Jones went on to become one of the best amateur boxers in the world, compiling a reported 121-13 Rekord, including gold medal performances at the 1984 National Junior Olympics and 1986 & 1987 National Golden Gloves Tournaments.
Am 1988 Olympische Spiele in Seoul, Südkorea, Jones reached the championship final of the light middleweight division against Park Si-Hun, von Südkorea. Jones suffered arguably the worst decision in boxing history, losing 3-2, despite outpunching his opponent, 86 bis 32 landed punches, and he was forced to settle for a silver medal. Even his opponent admitted that Jones won their fight, leading the AIBA to later suspend the three judges who selected the hometown fighter as the winner.
How disgraceful was this decision? Jones was selected as the Val Barker Trophy winner as the best boxer of the 1988 Olympische Spiele und, due to controversy, the scoring system for Olympic boxing was changed, replacing the 20-point must system with electronic scoring.
“I was angered,” Jones admitted, “yet promoted to prove that I was the best fighter there, and in the world, at that time.”
Jones made his professional debut May 6, 1989, at home in Pensacola, Florida, in a scheduled eight-round bout, in which RJJ stopped Ricky Randall in der zweiten Runde. His long, glorious journey has produced a remarkable 66-9 (47 KOs) pro Datensatz, highlighted by nine major world titles in four different weight classes.
In 2003, Jones defeated John Ruiz by way of a 12-round unanimous decision to become the first former world middleweight champion to become world heavyweight title holder in more than a century.
The possessor of exceptional hand and foot speed, Athletentum, movement and reflexes, Jones went undefeated through his first 34 Profi Kämpfe, 22-3 (14) in WM-Titel kämpft. Against former, present or future world champions, Jones was 19-9 (8 KOs) and included among his victims were greats such as Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Mike McCallum,Vinnie Pazienza, Virgil Hill, Antonio Tarver und Felix Trinidad.
Heute, the 49-year-old Jones, technically speaking, is still an active fighter. He also has two promotional companies and gyms, located in Pensacola and Las Vegas, trains several pro boxers and serves as a color commentator for HBO Boxing. He recently opened gyms in South Africa.
For the past two years, Jones has hosted the “Future Stars of Boxing Tournament” in Las Vegas, showcasing some of the best amateur boxers in the world.
“Hosting the tournament in Las Vegas gives me the opportunity to give back to amateur boxing,” Jones explained. “It’s a great experience for the boxers and it reminds them that who they may have or still look up to, are watching them as well.”
Roy Jones, Jr. with one of the many amateur boxers who participated in this year’s “Zukünftige Stars des Boxens” tournament in Las Vegas (photo courtesy of RJJ Boxing Promotions)
“When USA Boxing alumni discuss their favorite fighters,” sagte, Chris Cugliari, Exekutivdirektor der USA Boxing Alumni Association, “Roy Jones is near the top of everyone’s list. His spectacular talent, dedication to his craft, and infectious personality make him a no-brainer to headline this year’s Hall of Fame class. He continues to give back to amateur boxing and support the next generation. Roy deserves to be celebrated for all he has accomplished, and we look forward to honoring him in December.”
Erstellt, um ein Leben lang zu verfechten, für beide Seiten vorteilhafte Beziehungen zwischen USA Boxing und seinen Alumni, –Boxer, Beamte, Trainer und Boxfans — Der Alumni-Verein verbindet Generationen von Champions, inspirieren und den zukünftigen Boxchampions von USA Boxing etwas zurückgeben, in den und aus dem Ring.
Die USA Boxing Alumni Association steht allen offen, die das Boxen lieben und mit dem Amateurboxen in Verbindung bleiben möchten. Mitglieder erhalten Zugang zu einer Vielzahl von Sonderveranstaltungen, die von der Alumni-Vereinigung veranstaltet werden, einschließlich des Empfangs der Hall of Fame der USA Boxing Alumni Association.
Beitritt zur Alumni Association, einfach unter registrieren alumni@usaboxing.org Für ein $40.00 pro Jahr Mitgliedsbeitrag. Neue Mitglieder erhalten ein T-Shirt, Schlüsselbund und E-Wallet.
Quotes of Note from other World Champions
George Foreman: “(Jones) hits like a heavyweight and moved like a lightweight.”
Montell Griffin: “Floyd (Mayweather, Jr.) was no comparison as far as speed. Roy was much faster.”
Mike McCallum: “(Jones is) the greatest fighter of all time.”
If he ever hangs-up his gloves for good, Roy Jones, Jr. will be a first ballot inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. There may never be another boxer quite like RJJ.
INFORMATIONEN:
Zwitschern: @USABoxing, USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USA Boxing
ÜBER USA BOXING: Die Mission von USA Boxing ist es, die Vereinigten Staaten zu ermöglichen’ Sportler und Trainer, um nachhaltige Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu erreichen, Charakter entwickeln, unterstütze den Boxsport, und fördern und wachsen olympisches Boxen in den Vereinigten Staaten. Die Verantwortung von USA Boxing liegt nicht nur in der Produktion von olympischem Gold, sondern auch alle Aspekte des Amateurboxens in den Vereinigten Staaten überwachen und regeln.