Jones Pulls Out of Fight Because of Illness

Roy Jones Jr., a silver medalist at the 1988 Olympics, has pulled out of tonight’s scheduled fight with Roberto Rosales at the San Diego Sports Arena because of a sore throat and swollen glands.

“I don’t want any fighter to go in there if he’s not 100%,” said the event’s promoter, Scott Woodworth of Arena Boxing Enterprises.

Woodworth said the six-bout card, which begins at 7:30, will go on as planned with Kid Akeem (20-0) defending his North American Boxing Federation super-flyweight title against Ricardo Mijares (31-6). Isiah Zamudio, NABF flyweight champion, will also be on the card against Jose Herrera in a 10-rounder.

Jones (10-0 with 10 knockouts) became ill Saturday, according to father, Roy Jones Sr.

“He tried to run his normal 10 miles Sunday, but he had to stop after about four,” Jones Sr. said.

Dr. Irwin Nemeth, who examined Jones Sunday night, said Jones had “an infection in his neck gland.”

“There was a lot of pain and swelling in his neck, so I put him on antibiotics,” Nemeth said.

Dr. Richard Lucey, Jones’ personal physician in his hometown of Pensacola, Fla., flew out to examine Jones Monday. He said Jones’ condition has improved, but not enough to send him into the ring.

“It’s a simple infection and he’ll be OK in about a week,” Lucey said. “But not knowing how much gas he has in the tank to begin with, he could not have anything left after a couple rounds.”

Woodworth said he is hoping to reschedule Jones’ fight with Rosales for Nov. 6 in the Sports Arena.

Stanley Levin, the Joneses’ business manager, said he is hoping to make San Diego a home away from home for Jones.

“We don’t want to lose the credibility with this area,” Levin said.