Boxers sign autographs, take pictures with Eglin Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Amid cheers from waiting Airmen, Roy Jones Jr. stepped off the bus at a 33rd Fighter Wing hangar with his hands hoisted in the air as if proclaiming victory.

Following closely behind him were Don King and fellow champion boxer Felix Trinidad, here to visit and sign autographs for Eglin Airmen Dec. 4.

A Pensacola, Fla., native, Jones said he has a special tie to the military community.

"If you want to thank someone other than God for being free and doing what you want to do, then you have to thank the military," he said.

Don King, the flamboyant fight promoter, did what has made him famous in boxing circles--got the large crowd of Airmen packed into bleachers excited.

"Only in America," King bellowed repeatedly throughout his visit with Airmen, "the greatest nation in the world."

Promoting an upcoming fight between the two boxers, King's signature "finger-in-the-light socket" spiked haircut stood out among the crowd while he shook hands, signed autographs and praised the Airmen for their service in a time of war.

"They're the vanguard of our nation. They're the protectors of our soils, which means they're the protectors of the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy," King said. "We couldn't be here asking and answering questions if we didn't have these strong people who would go out and put themselves in harm's way for the protection of freedom and democracy."

Airman after Airman at the 96th Air Base Wing and 33rd FW took pictures with the boxing icons while they signed autographs. The boxers had no problem accommodating their fans.

"For me, it's a big thing because without their support and what they're doing for us, we wouldn't have the freedom to do the type of things we're doing," Jones said.

The boxers and accompanying entourage also took time to visit with Airmen at the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron for a re-enlistment ceremony for Master Sgt. Johnny Long before going to The Breeze dining facility for another meet and greet.

In their illustrious careers, Jones and Trinidad have held 13 world titles. Jones resume' includes the defeat of John Ruiz for the heavyweight championship. Jones became the first former middleweight title holder to win a heavyweight title in 106 years. Jones, at a record of 51-4, also became the first fighter to start his career as a junior middleweight and win a heavyweight title. He is a former four-division champion.

Trinidad, a five-time world champion and a former three-division champion, will be coming out of his second retirement for the fight against Jones, a former four-division champion, on January 19, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.