Roy Jones Jr. delivered a ruthless message that may have defined Kevin Newman II’s win on Saturday night.
Newman II struggled during key moments in the fight against Elijah Garcia.
But the turning point appeared to come from his own corner, as the boxing legend did not hold back when speaking to him between rounds.
Roy Jones Jr.’s brutal words sparked a Kevin Newman II response
Jones Jr. issued a fierce demand mid-fight, saying to the 34-year-old: “He’s b—— you out, okay? Go either fight the m——— or don’t fight. You’re gonna fight or f—— quit, alright? He’s b—— you out right now, okay? Fight or f—— quit boxing.”
The former multi-weight world champion’s authority made the message impossible to ignore. He was visibly upset.
Newman II then responded by increasing his output and edging the majority decision win over Elijah Garcia, with scorecards reading 95-95, 98-92 and 96-94.
Devin Haney backs Roy Jones Jr.’s approach
The moment quickly went viral and drew praise from fellow fighters.
Devin Haney publicly supported the intervention, writing on X: “A1 coaching… told him exactly what he needed to hear.”
Jones Jr.’s reputation as one of boxing’s all-time greats added weight to his words, and Newman II’s response highlighted the impact of elite coaching under pressure.
The win now stands as proof that one message can shift everything.