Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. revealed that his son, DeAndre, had committed suicide on Monday, June 24. Jones thanked God for the last hours he spent with his son and offered words of encouragement to others that no matter how difficult life may be, it's never worth ending.
“Unfortunately, my son DeAndre committed suicide on Saturday,” Jones posted on social media on Monday afternoon. “I am so saddened Grateful God allowed me to be here on Friday night to spend the last night of his life with him and my family.”
“I know a lot of people are going through tough times right now, but it's not worth taking your own life,” he continued. “It's God who gives life, and it should be God who takes it.”
— Roy Jones Jr. (@RealRoyJonesJr) June 24, 2024
Roy Jones Jr. asks for privacy
Roy Jones Jr., 55 years old, born Born January 16, 1969, Jones has won world titles in four different weight classes, becoming just the second light heavyweight boxer in history to hold a heavyweight title and the first middleweight champion in 106 years. record He has 66 wins and 10 losses, with 47 of those being by knockout.
Before turning professional in 1989, Jones represented the United States at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, where he won a silver medal. The award was the result of a highly controversial decision by the judges. Many people agree Jones should have won the gold medal.
At one point in the 1990s, Jones was “widely considered the best boxer of his generation.” Britannicanoted that Jones “was quickly recognized as a unique talent, an extremely skilled boxer with great speed, exceptional reflexes and the ability to throw punches in seamless combinations.” He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022. Jones is also a rap artist and has appeared in various television shows and films.
Roy Jones Jr. is married to Natolyn and the couple have three children: Roy Jones III, DeShawn and DeAndre. They were twinsDeAndre was 32 when he died. Jones ended the post with, “Please respect our privacy while my family and I process this loss. Love And support.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 or 988 Lifeline.
