Classic
Title WBA
Division Heavyweight
Rounds 12
Venue
Thomas & Mack Center
Place
Las Vegas, NV USA
Promotions
Don King Promotions
Profile
On March 1, 2003, in Las Vegas, Roy Jones defeated John Ruiz, the man who defeated an aging Evander Holyfield, for the WBA heavyweight title. Jones officially weighed in at 193 lb (88 kg) and Ruiz at 226 lb (103 kg). Jones became the first former middleweight title holder to win a heavyweight title in 106 years, though many historians refuse to recognize the accomplishment because Lennox Lewis was the true and lineal champion at the time of the bout. Jones also became the first fighter to start his career as a junior middleweight and win a heavyweight title.
Scoring
116-112 | 118-110 | 117-111
Jones
Facts
Roy Jones Jr. fighting at heavyweight was named The Ring Magazine Event of the Year for 2003.
Jones became the first former middleweight world titlist in 106 years to win a heavyweight world title. (Bob Fitzsimmons, 1897)
Jones never defended his WBA heavyweight title, instead returning to the light heavyweight division.
602,000 PPV buys according to HBO's Mark Taffet.
47 1 0 Record 38 4 1
38 KOs 27
34 Age 31
5'11" Height 6'2"
70" Reach 77 ½ ”
193 lbs Weight 226 lbs
Orthodox Stance Orthodox