Legendary boxer Roy Jones Jr. has announced that his son, DeAndre, has committed suicide.
Jones Jr., 55, posted the tragic news on social media on Monday.
“Unfortunately, my son DeAndre took his own life on Saturday,” Jones wrote.
“I'm so grateful that God allowed me to go home on Friday night and spend the last night of his life with my family. I know a lot of people are going through hard times right now, but it's not worth taking your own life. It's God who gives life, and it should be God who takes it.”
Jones asked fans to “please respect my privacy as I and my family navigate this loss.”
DeAndre is also survived by his mother, Natlyn, and brothers Roy III and DeShawn.
Roy Jones Jr. won numerous championships in different weight classes, from middleweight to heavyweight.
In 1994, he defeated James Toney by unanimous decision in an IBF super middleweight championship bout dubbed “The Uncivil War”, with Toney going into the bout undefeated at 46-0.
Jones Jr. fought Antonio Tarver three times between 2003 and 2005, winning the first bout but losing the next two.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, or Suicide Prevention Lifeline.org.
