Roy Jones Jr. has tragically revealed that his son has died by suicide.
The 55-year-old boxer wrote a heartbreaking post on social media.
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In it, he expressed how grateful he was to have spent the final evening of DeAndre’s life with him.
And the former four-weight world champion has naturally asked for time to accept this devastating defeat.
DeAndre is believed to have been 30 years old at the time of his tragic death.
Jones Jr. wrote: “Unfortunately, my son DeAndre committed suicide on Saturday.
“I am so grateful that God allowed me to spend the last night of his life with me and his family on Friday night.
“I know a lot of people are going through a tough time right now, but there’s nothing better than taking your own life.
“God gives and God must take it away.
“Please respect our privacy while my family and I come to terms with this loss.
“Thank you for the love and support.”
DeAndre was one of three children of Jones Jr. and his wife Natalyn – born after his brothers Roy III and twin DeShawn.
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His legendary father reached the pinnacle of fame in the boxing world in the 1990s – when he won a silver medal as an amateur at the 1988 Olympics.
He was crowned middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight world champion, cementing his status as one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring.
In 2003, Jones Jr. became the first boxer in 106 years to win both the middleweight and heavyweight world titles.
He won 66 of his 76 fights – 47 by knockout.
Jones Jr. came out of retirement in 2020 for an exhibition bout with Mike Tyson, which ended in a draw after eight rounds in Los Angeles.
However, he lost his most recent bout to Anthony Pettis in April 2023, three months after his 54th birthday.
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Just months later, he parted ways with British star Chris Eubank Jr. after two years of coaching.
Jones Jr. released his debut studio album – Round One: The Album – in 2002 and has also appeared in various films.
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you’re not alone
Every 90 minutes someone in the UK commits suicide
It does not discriminate, but affects the lives of people from every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car accidents.
And men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women.
Yet it is rarely spoken about, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop now and pay attention.
This is why The Sun launched the ‘You Are Not Alone’ campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about mental health, we can all do our part to save lives.
Let us all pledge to ask for help when we need it and listen to others too… you are not alone.
If you or someone you know needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations offer support:
