Boxers in the Cayman Islands could potentially have the former multi-divisional world champion Roy Jones Jr. coaching them straight to superstardom, should the powers that be make it ‘worthwhile’ for him.
Jones Jr. indicated in December that he was in talks with Cayman’s boxing entities and his recent visit to the D. Dalmain Ebanks Boxing Gymnasium suggests that negotiations have been positive.
Jones Jr. confirmed he has been in negotiations with Mike Lawrence and Barry Bodden – two of the men responsible for spearheading the resurgence of boxing in Cayman after the sport took a 31-month pause.
The boxing legend said a two-year plan is the current proposal but details of his title and other particulars are to be decided. However, Jones Jr. confirmed that he would be offering his resources to the Caymanian fighters.
“[The plan] will allow me to come here and train, to bring some of my guys here and train and to bring these guys to my gym,” Jones Jr. told the Compass.
Since retiring, Jones Jr. has been on a mission to give back to the sport, fighting in exhibitions against the likes of the great Mike Tyson and training champion fighters like Jermall Charlo and Chris Eubank Jr., as well as now working with former unified welterweight champion, Errol Spence Jr.
Jones Jr. is considered by many to be pound-for-pound one of the greatest boxers of all time. Among his many accomplishments, he was the only boxer in history to start his professional career at light middleweight and go on to win a heavyweight title.
Jones Jr. said if he signs a deal with Cayman, he promises to create a Caymanian world champion boxer.
“If we do this, I will be the man, without a question,” he said, noting that Cayman fighters will have the opportunity to train and spar in places like New Orleans, Jacksonville and Atlanta to get a variety of looks.
“It is a decent set-up down here, [but] when I go home I’ll be doing a training session with Errol Spence and if he likes it, then we will start training. But if there was a situation where I would say Errol, we’re going to move training camps to the Cayman Islands, then these kids get to hang out and train and see what it’s like … and that will give them the encouragement to get better and some of them can even get in the ring with him.”
‘Costly but possible’
Throughout his illustrious career, Jones Jr. amassed significant wealth and as of 2024, Celebrity Net Worth estimates him to be worth around US$7 million. For his exhibition against Tyson, Jones Jr.’s estimated fight purse was around $3 million.
“I don’t really care about all the material things in life but I care about my family and who I can help in this world of boxing because that’s what God blessed me with. So my goal in life is to share my gift … with as many people as possible.”
It’s a gift he believes will be the key to Cayman’s success in the sport, emphasising that without exposure, local boxing talent will remain stagnant, and noting that there is a ceiling preventing Cayman fighters from excelling.
“Because they don’t get out and get the opportunities that they need … so the first time they see it, it will shock them ’cause they’ve never seen it before. So, if I could bring that here to them, then that ceiling is erased.”
Jones Jr. noted that he Lawrence and Bodden “have been negotiating heavily”.
“If they make it worth my while, I can’t see why we won’t make it happen,” he said, adding that he brings “so much more to the island”.
“It’s costly but we can make it happen.”
Related Videos
With the small number of boxers we have this is “overkill”.