03.10.05 – By Scoop Malinowski / Boxinginsider.com – It may seem hard to believe for some, but the truth has been confirmed. Antonio Tarver is the superior pugilist to Roy Jones.
Antonio Tarver finally proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt he is the best Light Heavyweight in the world, and the first man to ever conquer the great Roy Jones Jr.
“It was hard to go out like I would have – being knocked out twice the last couple of times,” said future Hall of Famer Roy Jones. “I’m a true champion. I’ve been at the top. Being the champion that I am, it was good. I was satisfied with my performance, but I do realize that I lost the fight. I’m not the kind of fighter, like (Glen) Johnson that can brawl. And that’s the way you have to fight to beat Tarver.”
Jones was pure class in defeat, like most of the other greats of ring history.
“Tarver would have given me all I could handle in my best days as a light heavyweight. I’ll be back. I got hurt once and I think that was the turning point of the fight. He hit me with a good shot. But I kept coming. Can’t nobody else beat me but Tarver.”
Roy Jones astoundingly was able to turn back the clock after his double disasters – we saw that he still had some of that vintage magic on Saturday night. The blinding handspeed and the superhuman physique and power were back, so was that cocky arrogance and showboating. But Tarver is just too darn good, too smart and too confident and focused for Jones.
It was a great exciting fight. Larry Merchant, Emanuel Steward and Jim Lampley were fantastic throughout the HBO telecast and really conveyed the moment. Like the two fighters, they were in top form. But I thought Merchant was innacurate in the post-fight interview with Tarver, when he implied that Tarver had bested a faded Jones.
Tarver vehemently took offense to that viewpoint and sincerely lauded Jones for his intelligent strategies, which undoubtedly would have been spectacularly successful against the likes of Clinton Woods, Glenn Kelly or Virgil Hill. Tarver insisted that if he had made just one little mistake it would have been lights out. He emphatically believes Jones would have capitalized on any error and ended the fight in an instant. Jones waited and waited for that opening but Tarver was masterful. Merchant may not have appreciated the offensive effort Jones gave but Tarver, who was in the ring competing against it, certainly did.
Tarver has his number. Tarver has the upper hand. And Tarver has the style, weaponry, experience, intelligence and wit to defeat Roy Jones any time. Period. I really believe Jones looked as good as he ever has, as strong and speedy as ever, it’s just the dilemma is that he simply can’t shine against Tarver as he did in all those other fights. No matter what Roy tries, he just can’t solve the mystery, the complex puzzle that is Antonio Tarver.
“I had to do my homework. I had to go to school and I passed with flying colors. If I would have made a mistake, he would have punished me. GIVE ME CREDIT,” Tarver stated after his victory. “Roy had a lot of resistance and resilience. Roy was sharp tonight. Ya’ll thought I was gonna be one-punch happy – but I passed my test. I did my homework. You’re playin’ chess all-around. It’s a chess game. One mistake and I’m checkmate.”
“Give a man credit where credit is due. He was beat by a better fighter. Period. I am one of the best fighters in the world. GIVE ME MY CREDIT.”
Jones deserves so much credit too. To comeback from those devastations in his last two fights with the calibre of performance he put on in Tampa – against such a dangerous adversary – was amazing. Jones proved beyond any question he is one of the greats of the decade (just kidding – of all-time). And how he endured those wicked punches in round 11 – without crumbling – was almost miraculous. It’s like he willed himself to not be knocked out again – no matter what he got hit with. Mind over matter.
Both gladiators have to be commended for such a thrilling and fairly contested superfight. Despite the high stakes and egos involved, Jones and Tarver showed their high class. Formerly one of the most self-gloating superstars you’ll ever see, Jones displayed humility and character after losing such an important duel. Despite the failure, I believe his monumental career probably closed on a positive.
Just as well, Tarver showed his great rival plenty of respect. Despite all the harsh words and bad blood, the two clashed like an explosion, but after the violence was all over, the two warriors embraced and departed with mutual respect.
It was yet another very impressive high-point for the number one sport on earth.
The trilogy of Tarver and Jones is over now. And instead of one superstar, we now have two. Antonio Tarver shocked the world by achieving something no man ever did – he defeated the great Roy Jones not once, but twice.
Hail the Magic Man, the one and only Antonio Tarver.