Credit: JOHN RUTHROFF/AFP via Getty Images

Roy Jones Jr. retained title against star he called ‘so dangerous’ after gruesome in-ring injury

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Ross Markey | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 9:32 PM ET

Facing some massive tests during his gold-laden career, Roy Jones Jr. had no qualms about a 2000 title defense, which he found quite dangerous.

A dominant former middleweight and light heavyweight, veteran Floridian puncher Roy Jones Jr. ruled the roost in boxing during the 1990s, before taking his talents to the next millennium at the light heavyweight limit.

Taking hold of the IBO, IBF, WBC, and WBA light heavyweight crowns at the turn of the noughties, Jones Jr. still had one of his most formidable challengers awaiting him.

And when pitted with an unbeaten southpaw technician, Jones Jr. admitted post-fight how he had dealt with one of his most “dangerous” foes.

Roy Jones Jr. scored dramatic win over Eric Harding

On this day in 2000, Jones Jr. returned to the ring for a premier trip to New Orleans, taking on unbeaten upstart Eric Harding, hoping to continue his roughshod run at the light heavyweight limit.

And ultimately prevailing, Jones Jr. was forced to the tenth round by the undefeated Harding — who suffered a brutal injury during the contest.

Attempting to snatch the crowns from Jones Jr. — whose sole career loss came three years earlier in a controversial disqualification clash with Montell Griffin, Harding suffered a bicep tear, leaving him unable to answer the bell for the next round.

Roy Jones Jr. making James Toney stumble back into the ropes & take a count in one of the very few “knockdowns” of Toney’s career. Roy put on a masterful, career best performance against Toney, who like Roy, was considered one of the best fighters in the world. November 18, 1994. pic.twitter.com/X8xqcmghDl
— b0xingfan (@b0xingfan) August 9, 2024

Following his successful defense of the light heavyweight belts for the third time as part of his four-belt reign, Jones Jr. made a rather honest admission on his fight with Harding.

Roy Jones Jr. admits danger of facing Eric Harding

Scoring countless knockouts during his middleweight and super middleweight runs, Pensacola pugilist Jones Jr. enjoyed quite a patchy run of victories via stoppage up a division.

Reflecting on his win over Harding post-fight, Jones Jr. admitted he was unable to get the challenger out of the ring earlier in the fight before injury nixed the clash, due to the former’s ability.

“I didn’t train like I needed to,” Jones Jr. said. “I had too many things to do. Too many promotions and things.

“I wanted to take him to the late rounds. Why take a chance early when he’s so dangerous?”

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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