Champ coming to town
Published 1:13 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Anyone remotely familiar with boxing knows the name Roy Jones Jr. A five-time world champion boxer in four different weight classes, Jones is also known as a boxing promoter, hit music performer and actor.
Saturday, Jones is scheduled to appear at Chilton County High School for a “Knockout Evening with the Champ” from 5-8 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. He will greet fans and sign autographs.
The event is a fundraiser for the local American Red Cross disaster relief fund.
“It’s a great opportunity for young people to see and hear one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world to encourage them to be successful despite life’s tough times,” said School Principal Greg DeJarnett. “I would encourage both young and old to come out.”
Prior to the event, Jones will have dinner with local dignitaries.
During the signing, members of Chilton County High School’s “Blast from the Past” will perform several songs.
The event is open to the public.
“We are very grateful to Roy Jones Jr. for taking time out of his extensive schedule to come to Chilton County, and for showing consideration for the American Red Cross disaster relief program,” said Red Cross Director Betty Byrd.
Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Tickets are available from the school office between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., or from the Red Cross office.
For more information, call the Chilton County American Red Cross at 755-0707, Byrd at 351-1134, or Chilton County High School at 280-2710.
More about the Champ
A few of Jones’ past accomplishments include:
named Ring magazine’s “Fighter of the Year” in 1994
named “Fighter of the Decade” in the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America
IBF middleweight champion
IBF super middleweight world champion
undisputed light heavyweight champion
first former middleweight champion to win the world heavyweight crown in over 100 years (March 1, 2002)
first middleweight to win the heavyweight championship since Bob Fitzsimmons in 1897 (March 1, 2003)
musically, he has recorded “The Album: Round One,” distributed under his own Body Heat Entertainment label
motion picture and television appearances include: “The Sentinel,” “Living Single,” “Watcher,” “In Living Color,” “Married With Children,” “Dateline,” “Arliss,” “The Wayan Brothers,” “New Jersey Turnpikes” and the final two films of “The Matrix” trilogy.
appears on the new video game based on “The Matrix,” and has his own video game, “Knock Out Kings,” from EA sports, making its debut this fall.