Newcastle United’s stadium was again the home of Super League’s ‘Magic Weekend’, beamed to the nation and beyond by Sky Sports.
But those packed into the NINE Bar at St James’s Park knew where the MAGIC was really coming from, Roy Jones Jnr.
The four-weight world champion entertained the fans in an event promoted by Steve Wraith on Sunday evening.
The word legend is often bandied about willy-nilly by fourth rate journalists like this writer.
But in the case of Roy, the word legend barely sums up a man who won his first world title at middleweight in 1993 against Bernard Hopkins and,
incredibly defeated John Ruiz to become WBA champ at heavyweight 10 years later. Now he is a top-notch TV commentator with HBO in the USA.
Those at the NINE Bar loved Jones and the feeling was mutual, with the 49-year-old d
escribing UK supporters as “the best fans in boxing.”
Roy told punch-lines: “When they come out like this it’s because they appreciate you.
“They want to hear what you have to say, they want to ask questions.
“Even though they did not get to see me box in England they are such loyal fans.
“I love to stand and talk boxing to people who love boxing.”
Jones posed for pictures with every fan at the start of the show, before talking through his career with compere, John Gibson, the legendary Evening Chronicle writer (pictured above), with questions ‘from the floor’ to finish off.
Roy was engaging to talk to and still looks fit enough to box, so have we seen the last of him inside the square ring?
“The last of me in the United States, for sure,” answered the man who retired in February after a career spanning 30 years and featuring 66 wins (45 by KO).
“It would take an awful lot of money to bring me out of retirement because retirement is kinda cool.
“I have a contract with HBO and I love the work I do with them.
“They want me to keep my faculties intact and HBO are afraid if I continue to fight them I won’t keep my faculties intact.
“I understand what they say but they don’t know me well enough, because I’m very smart!”
There was a big turn-out of fight figures at St James’s Park today, notably top trainer Mal Gates, his welterweight Tom ‘TNT’ Whitfield, ex-Northern Area light-welter champion Paul Charters, former Commonwealth lightweight champ Kevin ‘Bulldog’ Bennett, rugged heavyweight Richy ‘Crazy Horse’ Horsley, new pro Mark Downing and heavyweight Jone Volau.
Also there from the entertainment world was Boy Jumps Ship drummer, Gav Gates.
Words: Roy Kelly
