Roy Jones Jr

The most athletically gifted boxer of the 1990s — light heavyweight champion who moved up to heavyweight to claim the title.

Roy Jones Jr was born in Pensacola, Florida in 1969. He won a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in a bout widely considered a robbery — his opponent Park Si-hun received the decision despite Jones landing significantly more punches, in a result later acknowledged as fixed by multiple officials. The scandal directly contributed to rule changes in amateur boxing. He turned professional in 1989. His combination of reflexes, hand speed and footwork made him the consensus best pound-for-pound boxer in the world for the better part of a decade in the 1990s and early 2000s. He won world titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight and super light heavyweight. He moved up two weight classes to heavyweight and defeated John Ruiz in 2003 to win the WBA heavyweight title — the first light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title in 106 years. He is considered by many boxing historians as the most naturally gifted offensive fighter of the modern era. He maintained an active boxing career into his late 40s. His 1988 Olympic injustice remains one of sport's most discussed judicial failures.

Counter-puncher with exceptional athleticism, unorthodox style, lightning-fast reflexes

Considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers ever, dominated multiple weight classes

• IBF/WBC/WBA Light Heavyweight Champion
• WBA Heavyweight Champion (2003)
• IBF/WBC/WBA Super Middleweight
• Ring Magazine Fighter of Decade (1990s)