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COLORADO SPRINGS, Αγκαλιά. (Σεπτέμβριος 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.
The second annual USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception, held in conjunction with the 2018 USA Boxing Elite and Youth National Championships and Junior and Prep Open, Δεκέμβριος 2-8, will be held Dec. 7, at the Radisson Hotel (215 S. Temple St.) in Salk Lake City, Γιούτα.
Εκτός από την Jones, η κατηγορία του 2018 also includes two U.S. Olympic gold medalists and world (επαγγελματίας) champions, Andre Ward και Claressa Shields, as well as former USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Emanuel Steward and veteran USA Boxing official Tom Cleary. The latter two will be posthumously inducted.
The charter class inducted last year included Muhammad Ali και Evander Holyfield, as well as veteran coaches Roosevelt Sanders και 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, ειρωνικώς, 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 ρεκόρ, including gold medal performances at the 1984 National Junior Olympics and 1986 & 1987 National Golden Gloves Tournaments.
Στο 1988 Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες στη Σεούλ, Νότια Κορέα, Jones reached the championship final of the light middleweight division against Park Si-Hun, της Νότιας Κορέας. Jones suffered arguably the worst decision in boxing history, losing 3-2, despite outpunching his opponent, 86 να 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 Olympics and, 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, Φλόριντα, in a scheduled eight-round bout, in which RJJ stopped Ricky Randall στο δεύτερο γύρο. His long, glorious journey has produced a remarkable 66-9 (47 KOs) pro record, highlighted by nine major world titles in four different weight classes.
Σε 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, αθλητισμού, movement and reflexes, Jones went undefeated through his first 34 αγώνες υπέρ, 22-3 (14) σε αγώνες παγκόσμιου τίτλου. 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, Βιργίλιος Χιλ, Antonio Tarver και Felix Τρινιδάδ.
Σήμερα, 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” στο Λας Βέγκας, 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 “Future Stars of Boxing” tournament in Las Vegas (photo courtesy of RJJ Boxing Promotions)
“When USA Boxing alumni discuss their favorite fighters,” είπε Κρις Κούλιαρι, Εκτελεστικός Διευθυντής της Ένωσης Αποφοίτων Πυγμαχίας των ΗΠΑ, “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.”
Created to champion a lifelong, αμοιβαία επωφελείς σχέσεις μεταξύ του USA Boxing και των αποφοίτων του, –μπόξερ, αξιωματούχοι, προπονητές και λάτρεις της πυγμαχίας — ο Σύλλογος Αποφοίτων συνδέει γενιές πρωταθλητών, εμπνέει και δίνει πίσω στους μελλοντικούς πρωταθλητές πυγμαχίας της USA Boxing, μέσα και έξω από το δακτύλιο.
Η Ένωση Αποφοίτων Πυγμαχίας των ΗΠΑ είναι ανοιχτή σε οποιονδήποτε έχει αγάπη για την πυγμαχία και θέλει να παραμείνει συνδεδεμένος με την ερασιτεχνική πυγμαχία. Τα μέλη έχουν πρόσβαση σε μια μεγάλη ποικιλία ειδικών εκδηλώσεων που διοργανώνει η Ένωση Αποφοίτων, including the USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
Για ένταξη στον Σύλλογο Αποφοίτων, απλά εγγραφείτε στο alumni@usaboxing.org για ένα $40.00 ετησίως συνδρομή μέλους. Τα νέα μέλη θα λάβουν ένα μπλουζάκι, μπρελόκ και ηλεκτρονικό πορτοφόλι.
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.
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ΠΕΡΙ Η.Π.Α: The mission of USA Boxing shall be to enable United States’ athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence, αναπτύξουν χαρακτήρα, υποστηρίζει το άθλημα της πυγμαχίας, and promote and grow Olympic style boxing in the United States. The responsibility of USA Boxing is not only to produce Olympic gold, but also oversee and govern every aspect of amateur boxing in the United States.