Roy Jones, Jr.

Roy Jones, Jr. won the Val Barker Award at the 1988 Olympics as the most technically proficient boxer in Seoul. It was given to him as a sort of apology for what was the worst decision in Olympic boxing history. In the final of the light-middleweight class, Jones faced Korean Park Si-Hun, and punished him. There was no doubt that Jones had won every round, and won each convincingly, but at the end the referee raised Park’s hand. Park even apologized, later saying, “I am sorry. I lost the fight. I feel very bad.”

One of the judges later revealed that he felt so badly for the Korean, fighting in front of his hometown fans, that he gave him the vote, feeling it would make the result only 4-1 for Jones. Unfortunately, two other judges did the same thing, given the decision to Park, 3-2.

This did not stop Roy Jones, Jr., who went on to a superb professional career over the next 15 years. He is one of those fighters who held, for a time, the unofficial crown of “best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.” Jones won world titles in eight weight classes, and for multiple organizations, even moving up to win the WBA Heavyweight title. The Boxing Writers Association of America named Jones Fighter of the Decade for the 1990s. He ended his professional career with a record of 64 wins (46 by KO) and 9 losses, staying in the game a bit too long, as is common with pro boxers. After he finished boxing, Jones did some acting and also dabbled in rap music.

In 2023 he returned to professional boxing at the advanced age of 54 but suffered a points defeat to novice boxer Anthony Pettis, whose previous ring experience was limited to mixed martial arts contests.