Roy Jones Jr vs Eric Lucas

On June 15, 1996, at the Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida, Roy Jones Jr. successfully defended his IBF Super Middleweight Title for the fourth time, defeating Eric Lucas by RTD at the end of the 11th round. The fight showcased Jones' dominance in the division and Lucas' toughness, as the Canadian challenger endured significant punishment but refused to go down.

Both fighters weighed in at 166 lbs, with Lucas ranked #12 by the IBF going into the bout. While Lucas would later go on to become the WBC Super Middleweight Champion, he was overmatched against Jones on this occasion. The fight was officiated by referee Brian Garry, with judges Harry Davis, Ric Bays, and Al Rothenberg all scoring the fight heavily in favour of Jones—110-98, 110-99, and 110-99, respectively.

Jones dominated every round, landing 316 of 746 punches for a 46% connect rate compared to Lucas, who managed 90 of 306 punches, a 29% connect rate. Despite the lopsided action, Jones was unable to score a knockdown. Lucas' durability came at a cost, however, as he suffered a broken nose and a cut over his right eye. At the advice of the ringside physician, the referee stopped the fight after the 11th round, giving Jones a TKO victory.

Jones praised Lucas after the fight, calling him "durable and tough" and inviting him to serve as a sparring partner for future training camps. This victory further cemented Jones' reputation as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters of the era.

Remarkably, just hours before the fight, Jones played point guard for the Jacksonville Barracudas of the United States Basketball League. He scored five points in 14 minutes of play, contributing to the Barracudas' 107-94 win over the Treasure Coast Tropics. For his efforts on the court, Jones earned $300, a sharp contrast to the $1.7 million he earned for the Lucas fight.

The bout highlighted Jones' unique athleticism. On the same day, he balanced a professional basketball game with a dominant title defense in the ring. This feat remains a testament to his extraordinary abilities as a boxer and an all-around athlet