Jones Hits His Shots, Then Hits Lucas to Cap Full Day

Maybe boxer Eric Lucas should take up basketball.

Roy Jones Jr. has, and he took out Lucas in 11 rounds Saturday after playing a bit more than 14 minutes for the Jacksonville Barracudas in a U.S. Basketball League game a few hours earlier.

And after playing for the Barracudas on Friday night.

Jones (32-0, with 28 knockouts) successfully defended his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title to cap a unique doubleheader in which he earned $1.7 million for boxing and one game’s worth of a $300-a-week salary for basketball.

Jones toyed with Lucas for four rounds before getting more aggressive against the Canadian, who suffered a broken nose and a cut over his right eye before referee Brian Garry stopped the fight.

Stamina was no problem.

“He was durable and tough, just like I thought,” Jones said of Lucas, who showed he could take a punch. “The basketball didn’t hurt me. It’s like a boxer jogging to make weight. My mind was sharp and I felt good.”

Jones had scored five points on two-for-four shooting in Saturday’s basketball game to help the Barracudas beat the Treasure Coast Tropics, 107-94.

He went to the bench for good 29 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Jones said he hasn’t taken any special precautions to avoid injuries in basketball other than refraining from trying to go behind opposing players’ backs for steals.

“I know you can catch an elbow like that and I didn’t want to sustain a cut over my eye before I fight,” he said.

And before he could open a cut over Lucas’ right eye.