by James Slater: Clinton Woods, 41-3-1(24) and Antonio Tarver, 26-4(19) meet on April 12th, in a light-heavyweight world title match up, as most fans are aware. Both men have been in with the great Roy Jones Jnr, and according to the man himself, Jones wants very much to face the winner of the April showdown. Jones,52-4(38) beat Clinton Woods, by 6th round TKO, back in 2002. Roy has also been in with Tarver, of course – three times. Jones won the first encounter via a close decision, was then shockingly KO’d in two rounds in the return and then out pointed in the rubber match..
Now the 39-year-old Jones says he is willing to face either fighter again. Speaking to The Telegraph newspaper, the former pound-for-pound king said he feels it will be Woods who emerges on top on April 12th. Referring to Tarver as “very inconsistent,” Jones said he believes the IBF champion will beat the 39-year-old former Rocky Balboa star. However, Jones also said that if he and Woods did meet again he would beat the 35-year-old in a quicker fashion than when the two men met almost six years ago.
Roy seems to respect Woods’ recent accomplishments, saying how Clinton did not become a world champion for nothing, while also adding that Woods’ wins over fighters such as Julio Gonzalez and Glen Johnson were indicative of how much the British fighter has improved since the TKO loss he suffered. For his part, Sheffield’s Woods has been aching for a second fight with Jones for years now, so desperate is he for revenge.
To this writer’s way of thinking, if Jones does indeed challenge the April 12th winner, he will find himself back in a ring with the current IBF belt holder. Woods is reportedly training extremely hard for his big fight with Tarver, and if Antonio’s recent form is anything to go by, the Brit will push him to the limit – even beat him. For a hometown decision aside (the bout takes place in Florida, of course, which is Tarver’s home state) I see Clinton Woods proving too hungry, too determined and too tough for the past-his-best Antonio Tarver.
If this is indeed the case, and the details can be ironed out suitably for all concerned, a Jones Jnr-Woods II could happen some time later this year. Who would have thought Woods would be in such a potentially lucrative and rewarding position right now? Certainly no-one would have back when he was being pulled out at the midway point of the 6th round in his losing fight with Jones back in September of 2002!?