Doug Fischer
Chief editor
|
 Tarver Stops Jones in Second Round, Shocks Everyone (But Himself)
By Doug Fischer (May 16, 2004) Photo © HoganPhotos.com
 Send this page to friend Give us your feedback
 ROUND BY ROUND Login
Round By Round TARVER KO'S JONES
Round By Round Judah W Split 12 Pineda
Max Members Don't miss how the fights went down punch for punch and ROUND BY ROUND.
LAS VEGAS, May 15 - It was so shocking, it was almost surreal. Roy Jones Jr. was flat on his back in Antonio Tarver's corner. A second earlier in the second round of thier WBC light heavyweight title fight, Tarver countered a missed right hand from Jones with a short overhand left that landed square on the four-division champion's jaw.
Jones went limp and fell backwards to the canvass, slamming his head where Taver's stool sat in-between rounds, causing the more than 10,000 in attendance at the Mandalay Bay's Event Center to let out a thunderous gasp in unison and jump to their feet.
Nine seconds later Jones stumbled to his feet and took a few steps on shaky legs, needing the ropes to keep him upright. Referee Jay Nady took one look in his eyes and wisely waved the contest off at the 1:41 mark of the second round. Some in the crowd shrieked in horror. Some cheered wildly. Many just stood in disbelief, their jaws wide open.
It as sudden as it was shocking.
But neither fighter sounded surprised about the outcome. Jones, now 49-2 (38), seemed to take the first knockout loss of his professional career in stride, telling HBO's Larry Merchant that it was a "good shot" that Tarver landed. Tarver, now 22-2 (18), took it one step further, telling Merchant "It was a perfect punch."
Even future hall-of-fame fighters with all-time great skills and talent will drop like the most mediocre of journeymen if they are caught just right.
"I was knocked out once in the amateurs," Jones told Merchant. "It happens to the best of us."
Especially when they begin to get old. Both Jones and Tarver are 35 years old. But while Tarver turned pro in 1997, Jones joined the paid ranks in 1989. And 15 years is a long time in boxing.
But the way Jones looked in the first round, one would think that he had at least another five good years of prize fighting in him. Even during the opening 30 seconds of the first round when neither fighter threw a punch, Jones seemed to control the tempo of the bout. Despite all of the bold talking Tarver did leading up to the fight, the rangy southpaw seemed nervous and unsure of himself. It was Jones who got off first and often in the remaining two minutes of round one, dictating the pace of the bout, stalking a retreating Tarver around the ring and establishing his will over his nemesis.
But in the second round, Tarver stood his ground in the center of the ring and began to establish his jab. It was a good move because it forced Jones to circle and backpedal, waiting for the opportune moment to unleash a lightening-bolt counter punch. Who would have thought that it would be Tarver who would land the KO strike?
Tarver, that's who.
"He missed and I turned (the left) over perfectly and caught him on the kisser," Tarver said after the fight. "I missed with my Jab but I beat him to the punch with a beautiful overhand left.
"Roy Jones came out strong, but I stayed confident and composed. I had a good defense. I saw everything coming. I knew it was my time."
It is indeed Tarver's time, but after knocking out the no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, his options are surprisingly limited. As far as making big money, Tarver can go two routes -- fight Jones in a rubbermatch or jump to heavyweight, something Jones himself hinted at doing.
"I can fight Tarver again or I can fight heavyweights," said Jones, who also hinted at retirement. "I am not sure what I am going to. If I don't have the same interest and enjoyment (in fighting) I always do, then I will stop."
In their first fight, Tarver fought Jones to a virtual standstill in the eyes of most ringside observers, though he lost a somewhat controversial majority decision. Tonight Tarver starched the ring legend with one punch. Many question if Jones really wants to face his nemesis a third time.
"It takes a great fighter to beat a great fighter," Tarver said. "I will fight anyone, including heavyweights, for the money."
Don King, who promoted the rematch and has three heavyweight title holders (Chris Byrd, John Ruiz and Lamon Brewster) under contract, said "Antonio is certainly a candidate for a heavyweight fight."
But for now, Tarver says he just wants to soak in his tremendous victory.
"It has been so long," said Tarver, who overcame drug addiction, promotional disputes, a set-back loss and scores of naysayers to earn his opportunities with Jones. "I never gave up. I never gave up on my dream. I knew the steps to take to get here. I knew I couldn't be denied."
King was certainly impressed.
"He beat Superman tonight," the promoter said. "It was shock and amazement. He made this fight. This young man shocked everyone."
Everyone but himself.
Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums
For Questions or Comments
E-Mail Doug Fischer at dougie@maxboxing.com
|
