23 years ago
Roy Jones Jr vs Glenn Kelly
Date: 2nd February 2002
Venue: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, USATitle: WBC, WBA, IBF, IBA, IBO & WBF World Light Heavy Titles
Promoter: Square Ring Inc
Referee: Max Parker Jr
Tv: HBO World Championship Boxing
Roy Jones Jr
(
45
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 172 lbs
Glenn Kelly
(
28
-
0
-
1
)
Weight: 174 1/2 lbs
On February 2, 2002, Roy Jones Jr. defended his unified light heavyweight title against Australia's Glenn Kelly at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The bout showcased Jones' dominance as the reigning champion across multiple organizations, including the WBC, WBA, IBF, IBA, IBO, WBF, and the newly reinstated Ring Magazine belt. Kelly, ranked #1 by the IBF, entered the contest as an undefeated challenger with a record of 28-0-1, facing the unenviable task of dethroning one of the sport's most dominant champions.
Jones, weighing 172 pounds, displayed his usual confidence and flair, entering the fight with a record of 45-1. Kelly, slightly heavier at 174½ pounds, was looking to make his mark on the world stage, though few gave him a realistic chance against Jones, who was in peak form.
The early rounds set the tone for the fight, with Jones showcasing his trademark speed, reflexes, and unorthodox techniques. By the third round, Jones began to assert his control with a knockdown, catching Kelly cleanly and sending him to the canvas. Kelly rose to his feet but was already facing a significant uphill battle as Jones continued to dictate the pace.
Jones' dominance became more apparent as the fight progressed. Kelly struggled to land anything meaningful, connecting on just 15% of his punches, according to Compubox statistics (30 of 196). In contrast, Jones was sharp and efficient, landing 37% of his punches (82 of 221). The disparity in skill and precision left Kelly unable to mount any serious offence, with the unofficial scorecard by HBO's Harold Lederman showing Jones leading 60-52 after six rounds.
The sixth round saw another knockdown as Jones landed a clean shot, further demoralizing Kelly. Despite Kelly's efforts to press forward, Jones' superior movement and counterpunching rendered the Australian ineffective. Then came the seventh round, which produced one of the most memorable finishes of Jones' career.
Jones dropped both hands behind his back as Kelly advanced with a jab in a display of supreme confidence and showmanship. In a split second, Jones countered with a powerful right hand over the top of Kelly's jab, landing flush on Kelly's head. The punch sent Kelly crashing to the canvas, where he was counted out by the referee at 1:55 of the round. The audacious manoeuvre highlighted Jones' ability to combine athleticism, skill, and psychological warfare in the ring.
The victory marked Jones's 10th defence of the WBC light heavyweight title, which he had won in 1997, and added another highlight to his illustrious career. Jones earned $1.5 million for the bout, while Kelly took home $512,000. The fight underscored the gulf in class between Jones and most challengers during his reign, as Jones consistently demonstrated why he was regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter of the era.
Roy Jones Jr vs Glenn Kelly on YouTube
