BOXING legend Roy Jones Junior has handed a three-year pro contract to a West Yorkshire fighter.
Light-welterweight Fes Batista, who is based in Las Vegas, has signed up for Jones’s Square Ring Promotions.
The 23-year-old, who works for the WBC anti-bullying campaign, left for the USA three years ago and has previously trained with the Floyd Mayweather camp.
Jones believes he can see potential in his newest recruit.
He said: “Fes wants to be something in boxing. He had a lot of dreams and hopefully we can make them happen for him.
“That’s why I’ve decided to give him a promotional contract. He has improved over the last six months since I met him.”
Batista came back to his roots last year to talk to pupils at Russell Hall Primary School in Queensbury and plans to do the same next month when he returns home to renew his visa.
Batista, who has been sparring with MMA hall of famer Dewey Cooper, said: “I’ve watched Roy for many years and he is one of the greatest of all time. He is a superstar.
“I looked up to him a lot and to have somebody like that behind me will push me on even more.”
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