SPORTS

Jones claims WBA heavyweight title

March 02, 2003 12:16 IST

Roy Jones Jr. scored a unanimous decision over John Ruiz and claimed the WBA heavyweight title and a piece of boxing history on Saturday.

Jones, considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing, outboxed Ruiz for 12 rounds and became just the second person, to hold both light-heavy and heavyweight belts.

Michael Spinks, who beat Larry Holmes in 1985, was the first.

The victory also gave the 34-year-old Jones a rare hat-trick of titles becoming the first fighter in 106 years to capture middleweight, light-heavy and heavyweight crowns.

Not since Bob Fitzsimmons recorded a 14th round knockout of James "Gentleman Jim" Corbett in 1897 had a former-middleweight beaten a heavyweight champion.

Source: REUTERS
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