BILOXI, Miss. —- Like a king surveying his kingdom, Pensacola, Florida’s Roy Jones Jr. stood on the dais at Saturday's post-fight press conference and basked in the glow of the tribute paid him by his dutiful subjects.

Roy Jones Jr. was indeed back. Media at the press conference was easily out-numbered by Jones' ardent supporters, which quickly turned the press conference into a love-fest.

Just minutes earlier, Jones returned from a 12-month layoff and won a unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Anthony Hanshaw in the 12-round main event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

Jones also sent Hanshaw to the canvas in the 11th round. In earning the victory, Jones (51-4, 38 KOs) won the IBC Light Heavyweight championship.

The card was promoted by Murad Productions and Jones' Square Ring Inc., in association with Gary Shaw Productions and the IP Casino. The card was aptly billed as "He's Back: Witness The Return Of A King: Jones-Hanshaw.

Promoters estimated attendance at 9,000.

"This is what boxing is all about," Jones said afterward. "I deal with people who are challenges. This man (Hanshaw) gave me 130 percent tonight. I was glad to see Hanshaw had as much heart as I thought he had."

"I won the fight. The scoring was all (messed) up," Hanshaw said immediately after the fight. "Roy is a legend. I'll have to talk to my promoters and see where I go from here."

Hanshaw's tone was much more conciliatory at the press conference. He gave Jones a standing ovation when Jones arrived and the two hugged. There was somewhat of a feud in the days leading up to the fight because Hanshaw was not allowed to use the ring in pre-fight workouts reportedly on orders from Jones.

"I thought (Jones) won but two or three rounds. I'm really a super middleweight. I backed him up all through the fight."

Jones put Hanshaw (21-1-1, 14 KOs) on the canvas in the 11th round. Throughout the fight, Jones often fought with his back to the ropes, throwing counters as Hanshaw tried to get through his defense.

Jones often escaped danger by leaning back on the loose ring ropes. When Jones chose to fight, a left hand often found its intended target against Hanshaw's head.

In the 11th, Jones found an opening and jumped on Hanshaw and landed a furious combination to the head that caught Hanshaw, who stumbled to the other side of the ring where he went down as the partisan crowd roared its approval.

In the early part of the fight, Jones waited until the end of a round to get on the offensive. He was so at ease that he did a boogy-woogy with his legs at the end of the second round to the approval of the crowd, who roared each and every time Jones landed with what looked like a punishing shot.

By the eighth round, Jones began landing his right hand more often. And he kept his left hand low, but Hanshaw could not take advantage. Jones landed at least three solid right hands and scored with some effective combinations.

"I landed some good combinations," Jones said. "He's a great counter-puncher, so in the 11th, I just said let me put three punches on him. He took some good licks tonight. I haven't fought in a whole year. I hurt him in the eighth with a body shot."

Jones spent most of the 12th and final round on the ropes. But he took the offensive late and landed three crisp right hands.

Judge Gary Ritter saw a closer fight than everyone else as he scored it 114-113. Judges Bill Clancy and David Taranto had Jones up 117-110 and 118-109, respectively. Florida Boxing News saw Jones winning 117-111.

Jones iced his left eye during the press conference. He said he received four stitches the Monday before the fight after catching an elbow playing basketball. He said he also injured his right thumb in the second round.

"Life has its up and downs," Jones said. "I've never gone into a fight 100 percent.

Before meeting Hanshaw was last in the ring in July, 2006 when he won a 12-round unanimous decision over Prince Badi Ajamu at Boise, ID.

Jones said there are all kinds of options out there that interest him, from fights at super middleweight to heavyweight.

Without being too specific, Jones said simply: "I'm just going to go home and stay in shape."