Roy Jones Jr. Recounts Almost Quitting Boxing After Being Robbed of an Olympic Gold Medal

Roy Jones Jr. had one of the most illustrious boxing careers in history, having won championships across divisions. However, his career ended before it started. RJJ almost quit boxing after a controversial decision loss in the Gold Medal fight at the 1988 Olympics.

He spoke to Shannon Sharpe and opened up on the experience. “I was sick. I said this may not be the sport for me because anytime you run a race and finish first and still come second, there’s something wrong with that sport. You know? Maybe boxing ain’t for me.”

RJJ added, “I should quit boxing and let it go. Then I got home and realized, that it could be a blessing in disguise. Because after, nobody was looking for guys that won gold medals.

“They were looking for guys that got cheated and got the silver medal. that blew my mind. To show quickly God can turn your worst nightmare into the biggest blessing of all time. In my worst time, when I was at the lowest point of my life.

“I had sacrificed 9 years, and I got robbed, I thought that was it for me. I was more famous than anyone. Even the guys that won the gold medal.”

Roy Jones Jr.- What happened in 1988?

Roy Jones Jr. competed in the light-middleweight division in the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Getting to the gold medal match was no problem for the 19-year-old amateur who breezed his way into the final.

His opponent was South Korean Park Si-hun, who had won a controversial decision in the semi-finals to make it to the last match. RJJ dominated and landed 86 punches, while Park hit just 32.

What’s more, Park also faced 2 standing 8-counts. Despite this, he won the fight in a 3-2 split decision, a result that disgusted the referee, Aldo Leoni, as well.

RJJ was given the silver medal, and the greatest injustice in Olympic boxing history still stands after multiple failed appeals by multiple arbitration bodies.