Many consider Roy Jones Jr. to be one of the greatest fighters of all time thanks to his impressive showings in the prime of his career.
Although Jones Jr. last competed in an exhibition fight with Mike Tyson, the fighter is also a four-division world champion.
Jones Jr. has defeated James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, and many other top fighters throughout his accomplished career. Making his debut in 1989, Jones Jr. was truly one of a kind.
Despite the success in his career Jones Jr. revealed the one regret that he had from his lengthy boxing journey.
Roy Jones Jr. tells Andre Ward the biggest regret he had in his career
Speaking to fellow former world champion Andre Ward on The Art of Ward podcast, Jones Jr. reminisced on his career.
At one stage in the interview, Ward asks Jones Jr. what his biggest career regret was. Jones Jr. said, “After I beat [Antonio] Tarver the first time, I would’ve retired.”
“My body went through a whole lot and I know that now. It took me a while to figure out, but after that first fight, I should’ve stopped for a while.”
Jones Jr. went on to add that he felt he did not let his body recover properly and for long enough following his first meeting with Antonio Tarver.
Although Jones Jr. felt that’s what he should have done, he admitted that he never would have walked away from professional fighting at that time.
- READ MORE: Roy Jones Jr. opponent went from being homeless in Jamaica to fighting for the world title
Roy Jones Jr. lost two fights in trilogy with Antonio Tarver
Defeating Tarver in November 2003, Jones Jr. was able to hand his rival the second loss of his career, dropping his record to 21-2.
Had Jones Jr. walked away from boxing at that time, he would have retired with a professional record of 48-1. Jones Jr.’s sole loss to that point came via disqualification against Montell Griffin.
However, Jones Jr. suffered three consecutive losses following his Tarver victory. Rematching six months after their first meeting, Tarver would score a second-round TKO over Jones Jr. in May 2004.
Their trilogy meeting would not come until October 2005, after Jones Jr. lost another fight to Glen Johnson the year prior via stoppage.
Jones Jr. would not be able to boast bragging rights over Tarver, as he fell to a second loss to his rival, losing their third meeting via decision.