Coping With Son’s Demise, Roy Jones Jr’s Huge Step With Errol Spence Jr. Raises Questions

Rick Glaser has a fresh update. He has now shared reports of boxing great Roy Jones Jr. purportedly joining Errol Spence Jr. for his October showdown with Sebastian Fundora. Now this may come as a shock to many, especially since Jones Jr. is grieving the recent loss of his son just a few days ago. The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) inductee has a few questions about the move.

Though strictly not retired, Roy Jones Jr. has a few commendable training outings to cite in his glittering resume. He trained Chris Eubank Jr. not too long ago. Then reports and snaps of him honing Jermall Charlo during his comeback fight against Jose Benavidez Jr. sparked considerable interest among fans. Errol Spence Jr., on the other hand, returns to the ring after his epic battle with Terence Crawford. So what if the chatter, as Rick Glaser mentioned, becomes true? Well, talks about Spence Jr.’s plans to retire after the Fundora fight are also in the mix. To prepare him for his swan song, the former unified welterweight champion, now without long-time trainer Derrick James, might have felt a need to stay at the forefront. This might suggest that Errol Spence Jr. wants to end on a winning note. But what does Glaser think about the move?

Roy Jones Jr.’s move during a period of anguish and painADVERTISEMENT

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Rick Glaser wrote, “Rumors abound that #ErrolSpence will be trained by #RoyJonesJr for his October fight with #WBC World Champ #SebastianFundora.“ However, it should be noted that two days ago, through an Instagram post, the Seoul Olympic silver medalist and former four-division champion revealed that his son DeAndre had died by suicide.

Rumors abound that #ErrolSpence will be trained by #RoyJonesJr for his October fight with #WBC World Champ #SebastianFundora. If true its a worthy decision by Spence. But, the flip side is can Errol actually learn anything on the backend of his career, & he’s now so shot will it…

— Rick Glaser (@RealRickGlaser1) June 26, 2024

“Unfortunately, my son DeAndre took his life on Saturday,” he said. He further added that he felt grateful for receiving a chance to spend some time with his son the night before he passed away. He said, “I know a lot of people are going through tough times right now, but nothing is worth taking your own life. God gives it, and God should be the one to take it away.”

He requested everyone respect the privacy of the family and support them in this time of grief. He received a lot of condolences from several corners, with many known names joining him to share his sorrow. But Rick Glaser seems to have a few questions. Not for Roy Jones. Jr., but for Spence Jr. The veteran matchmaker believes that if the reports stand true, then it would be a wise move on the part of Spence Jr.

However, he does have some questions for the former world champion. “But the flip side is, can Errol actually learn anything on the backend of his career, & he’s now so shot, will it even matter?”

Is Errol Spence Jr. walking towards the final round?ADVERTISEMENT

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Though just 34, Errol Spence Jr. seems to have been through a lot, both physically and mentally, of late. After his loss to Terence Crawford, he was out of the boxing scene for a considerable time. Then, towards the end of last year, when he emerged from the shadows, news came that he needed to undergo surgery to treat his cataract. This followed his earlier decision to pursue a rematch with ‘bud’. As things stand, few see any chance of Crawford-Spence Jr. 2 ever coming up. Even ‘Bomac’ McIntyre, in a recent interview, didn’t sound enthusiastic about it.

via Getty

In the meantime, Errol Spence Jr.’s relationship with long-time trainer Derrick James also deteriorated over time. Eventually, the 2022 Trainer of the Year award recipient filed a lawsuit against the former world champion over unpaid dues. With so many things happening around him, news also came that Errol Spence Jr. had decided to move a division. To become a champion for one last time, perhaps? It may not be clear what he precisely meant. Many fans saw him tweet, “Might be last time you see me.” Does this hint at an eventual retirement?

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So it might be because of the multitude of challenges unfolding that Rick Glaser would have cited his reservations. Taking up a legend like Roy Jones Jr. is no short move, but whether he is up to the task? Now, that’s the big question.

What’s your take on Rick Glaser’s comments? Do you think Errol Spence Jr. might have lost the narrative while navigating the tumultuous changes in his life?