10 Things Boxing Fans Should Know About Roy Jones Jr.'s Life Outside Of Boxing

Highlights

Roy Jones Jr. is actively involved in his children's upbringing, teaching them accountability and responsibility on their family farm.
In 2015, Jones obtained Russian citizenship after meeting with Vladimir Putin, expressing his dedication to working in Russia.
Jones has a successful rap music career, releasing albums and producing chart-topping hits, alongside his boxing fame.

Roy Jones Jr., despite having one of the lengthiest professional careers in heavyweight boxing, has a life outside the ring. At 54, after over three decades in the professional boxing world, he now works as a boxing coach.

While he's celebrated as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he's also made the most of other opportunities stemming from his boxing fame. Roy's life outside of boxing is a captivating story worth exploring from difficult childhood to his music career.

10 Roy Jones Jr. Is A Husband And A Father To Three Children

Roy, together with his wife Natlyn Jones, is the proud parent of three sons: Roy III, DeShaun, and DeAndre. He also has a daughter. The former undisputed light heavyweight champion is actively involved in their upbringing, overseeing their daily routines on their family farm, which includes morning workouts and chores.

"I teach them to be accountable and responsible," Jones said in an interview with ESPN, continuing: "This equips them with the skills they'll need to start their own families when I'm no longer here. Some things you can only learn on a farm." None of his children have taken up boxing, but his eldest son, Roy Jones III, shows promise as a basketball player.

9 Roy Jones Jr. Is A Russian Citizen

In 2015, Jones sparked controversy when he met Vladimir Putin in Crimea with the aim of acquiring Russian citizenship. Surprisingly, the Russian leader swiftly granted the legendary boxer's request, signing a decree within just one month. Putin justified this decision by stating that Jones had expressed his intention to dedicate a substantial portion of his life to working in Russia, as per the Kremlin's official website.

8 Roy Jones Jr. Is a Successful Rapper

Jones embarked on his rap music career back in 2001 when he released his album "Round One: The Album," featuring the debut single "Y'All Must've Forgot." In 2004, he took a step further by forming a group called the "Body Head Bangerz" and dropping an album titled "Body Head Bangerz: Volume One," which boasted collaborations with notable artists such as B.G., Juvenile, Petey Pablo, Lil' Flip, and Mike Jones, among others.

Notably, Jones, hailing from the Florida panhandle, has maintained a deep connection to Florida State University, producing numerous songs in support of their athletics. His venture into the world of music has proven successful, with chart-topping hits like "I Smoke, I Drank," along with his iconic boxing-themed tracks "Can't Be Touched" and "Can't Lose."

7 Roy Jones Jr. Had A Beef With Fat Joe Over A Lyric

Roy and New York rap artist Fat Joe have long since buried their feud. However, the pair famously almost came to blows over a song lyric that the boxer took offense to. In "The Fat Joe Show," the duo explained how they nearly came to blows.

Joe's verse in Ja Rule's infamous 2004 diss track, "New York," referenced Roy's losses to Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson that year with the lines, "True Story, I'm bringing the T back / Even Roy Jones was forced to Lean Back." Suffice it to say, Jones was not pleased with the lyric, and it led to the former boxing champion infamously confronting Joe at the release party for Ja's "R.U.L.E." album back in 2004. Joe admitted that he was in the wrong due to their friendship.

6 Roy Jones Jr.'s Short Acting Career

Jones had a stint as an actor, often appearing as himself in various roles. He showcased his acting skills when he portrayed Captain Ballard in blockbuster movies like The Matrix Reloaded and Enter the Matrix. His notable credits also include Little Fockers and Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning.

5 Roy Jones Jr.'s Relationship With His Father

During his formative years, Jones received training from his father. These training sessions, however, were characterized by their intensity and, unfortunately, often involved abusive treatment. According to a report by Sports Illustrated, this challenging training regimen commenced when Jones Jr. was merely 5 years old. His father, Jones Sr., would engage in taunting and relentless pushing, sometimes crossing the line into abusive behavior. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Jones Jr. revealed that his father's harsh treatment had pushed him to the point where he contemplated suicide.

"I was in pain all day, every day. I was so scared of my father. He'd pull up in his truck and start looking for something I'd done wrong. There was no escape, no excuse, no way out of anything. Every day, it was the same: school, homework, farmwork, training. Getting hurt or dying might have been better than the life I was living. So I turned into a daredevil. I'd do anything. It didn't make much difference. I used to think about killing myself anyway."

In an interview with ESPN's "Highly Questionable," Jones said he finally severed his relationship with his father after he killed his dog after a minor biting incident.

4 Roy Jones Jr. Grew Up On A Farm

Jones was born and raised in Pensacola on a farm where he was subjected to several hours of daily chores under his father's rigorous and disciplined upbringing. In his interview with Sports Illustrated, Jones talked about working on the farm until midnight following his boxing training sessions.

Notably, he utilized the skills and work ethic instilled in him from growing up on a farm to earn money by picking fruit on farms in both the United States and Mexico, which he then used to support his burgeoning boxing career.

3 Roy Jones Jr. Is A Certified Dog Lover

Given his upbringing on a farm, it's evident that Jones possesses a considerable knowledge of animal care and is a certified dog enthusiast. In the past, he was involved in breeding Pit Bulls, and presently, he has two of them along with a Golden Retriever.

Although the precise count of dogs he owns remains uncertain, Jones once mentioned in a YouTube video, where he skillfully handled snakes, that he has quite a collection, declaring, "he's got 'em all."

2 Roy Jones Jr. Is A Fan Of The UFC

Roy Jones's passion for combat sports goes beyond just boxing. Despite not actively participating in other martial arts, this multi-division boxing champion is an enthusiast of the UFC.

He has been spotted in numerous events and brought his Roy Jones Boxing to the UFC Fight Pass after a meeting with UFC executive Dana White.

1 Roy Jones Jr.'s Humanitarian & Charity Work

Jones ran the Roy Jones Jr. Foundation, which was dedicated to helping children with healthy living and nutrition. The boxer embarked on a charity visit to Morozov Children's Hospital in Moscow and has been involved in other charitable endeavors throughout his boxing career, such as the OKC Charity Fight Night Committee and helping the less fortunate.