Roy Jones Jr. vs. Éric Lucas, billed as Basketball Jones?, was a professional boxing match contested on June 15, 1996, for the IBF super middleweight title.
Background On May 14, 1996, reigning IBF super middleweight champion Roy Jones Jr.'s next title defense was announced to occur one month later against fringe contender Éric Lucas. However, this defense was no ordinary one for Jones, as it was also announced that Jones would first compete in a professional basketball game for the United States Basketball League's Jacksonville Barracudas, whom Jones played point guard for in addition to his boxing career, with Jones intent on becoming the first athlete to compete in two different sports professionally within a 24-hour day.Roy Jones Jr. Set for Title Fight, Baseketball on Same Day, News & Record article, 1996-05-14, Retrieved on 2025-01-02 Jones insisted that the act was not a publicity stunt nor did he intend to disrespect his opponent Lucas, stating "don't take what I'm doing as a stunt. I don't create stunts. I'm doing it because I want to try to do something different in life. I want boxing to have a better name. I'm trying to do my sport a favor and do myself a favor at the same time."Champ to Play Basketball, Box on Same Day, Associated Press article, 1996-06-14, Retrieved on 2025-01-02 Jones, then The Ring magazine's number-two ranked pound-for-pound fighter was an overwhelming favorite over Lucas, who was only the 12th-ranked super middleweight contender by the IBF, with odds reportedly 100 to 1 in Jones' favor.Double's no trouble for Jones, Tampa Bay Times article, 1996-06-16, Retrieved on 2025-01-02
Jones completed the first part of his two-sport doubleheader playing approximately 15 minutes and scoring five points on 2-4 shooting during a Barracudas victory over the Treasure City Tropics. Jones had been averaging just over four points and 21 minutes per game up to that point. The game ended at 4:08 PM, giving Jones just over 6 hours between sports, as his fight started at 10:39 PM. Jones told reporters after the game that he "felt good."Jones Jr.: 1 down, 1 to go, Tampa Bay Times article, 1996-06-16, Retrieved on 2025-01-02
The Fight Having knocked out all four of his opponents he had faced in title defenses no later than the sixth round, Jones dominated Lucas through 11 rounds, but struggled to put Lucas away, as the Canadian proved to be durable and able to take Jones' punches. Lucas was unable to land many punches on the elusive Jones, as he only landed 90 of the 306 punches he threw, while Jones landed over triple the amount of punches Lucas did, having scored with 316 of the 746 punches he threw. The ending came between rounds 11 and 12, with Lucas' face having sustained a vast amount of punishment to the point that he had suffered a gash above his right eye and had his nose broken. After conferring with the ringside physician who decided Lucas should not continue, referee Brian Garry stopped the fight.All in a Day's Work: Roy Jones Jr. Took Moonlighting to a New Level, Sports Illustrated article, 1996-06-24 Retrieved on 2025-01-03
Fight card Confirmed bouts: Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round NotesSuper Middleweight168 lbs.Roy Jones Jr. (c)def.Éric LucasRTD11/12Featherweight126 lbs.Kevin Kelley (c)def.Derrick GainerKO8/12Middleweight160 lbs.Keith Mullingsdef.Anthony BradleyTKO3/8Heavyweight190+ lbs.Ezra Sellersdef.Earl TalleyTKO1/8Middleweight160 lbs.Jason Papilliondef.Earl AllenTKO3/8Heavyweight190+ lbs.Paul Madisondef.Mitch SammonsKO2/8Lightweight135 lbs.Lemuel Nelsondef.Jonathan SciandraTKO1/6Welterweight147 lbs.Victor McKinnisdef.Daryn ThomasTKO4/6
Broadcasting Country Broadcaster HBO
References