[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18424-18425]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    PAYING TRIBUTE TO ROY JONES, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
achievements of one of my constituents, the World Boxing Association's 
heavyweight champion of the world, Roy Jones, Jr.
  Roy began his rise to greatness when he was awarded the Silver Medal 
in the 1988 Olympics and was voted the outstanding boxer of the Games. 
Roy has since compiled a record of 48 wins and 1 loss with 38 of his 
wins being by knockouts over the period of his career. Roy Jones, Jr., 
earned his first title by beating IBF middleweight champion Bernard 
Hopkins in 1993. He quickly moved up to the super middleweight division 
and dominated the weight class by beating James Toney in 1994.
  Roy's next move to the super light heavyweight division produced even 
more success by winning the welterweight boxing champion 1997, WBA 
1998, and IBF titles in 1999. His only loss was due to a 
disqualification to Montel Griffin, which he avenged with a first-round 
knockout 5 months later.
  Roy is widely considered the best pound-for-pound boxer of this era. 
He became the first boxer in over a century to win both a world 
middleweight title and a world heavyweight title.
  Roy is one of the boxing world's best ring technicians by finding 
ways to beat his opponents who are often bigger than he is. He 
attributes much of his success in the ring to watching tapes and 
finding his opponents' weaknesses and then exploiting them.
  On March 1, 2003, he squared off against the WBA champion, John Ruis, 
who had a 50-pound weight advantage

[[Page 18425]]

over him. He won the title from Ruis, proving that only one fighter, 
Roy Jones, Jr., can make history and overcome such an enormous 
disadvantage.
  Roy has always given back to his communities through mentoring of 
amateur boxers, encouraging locals to get involved with African 
American community issues through his music, and his vast philanthropic 
work. Roy has not forgotten his roots and always shows the pride of his 
hometown when he thrusts his arms in the air and screams ``Pensacola'' 
after each victory in the ring.
  Roy is constantly distinguishing himself with achievements that are 
unmatched by any boxer in history. Northwest Florida is recognizing 
this great man by designating July 19, 2003, as Roy Jones, Jr., day.
  And on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to 
recognize this very special person, Roy Jones, Jr., for the example he 
has set in the sports world, in his country, and in northwest Florida. 
I offer my sincere thanks for all that he has done for northwest 
Florida and the United States of America.

                          ____________________