Tarver shocks Jones with second-round knockout

Jet, June 7, 2004

One devastating punch began a legacy for Antonio Tarver and ended the one for Roy Jones Jr.

Tarver's left hand came out of nowhere to knock out the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Roy Jones Jr. in the second round of their recent light heavyweight title fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. While Tarver went home with the belts, Jones left with the most crushing defeat of his illustrious, almost spotless career.

Their rematch was short-lived when when Jones threw a right hand that missed and undoubtedly left himself open when Tarver launched the punch of his life and caught Jones flush on the side of his face.

"Overhand left, right on the kisser," Tarver said. "It was a beautiful punch. I felt it to the bottom of my toes."

Jones was knocked under the ropes in Tarver's corner. He tried to get up, but after he stumbled across the ring, referee Jay Nady waved the fight to an end at 1:41 of the second round.

Going down in history as shattering the image of the unbeatable Jones, Tarver jumped around the ring in celebration as the crowd went wild.

This fight was highly anticipated because Tarver, of Orlando, vowed to settle a score from his decision loss to Jones in November--though he and many others thought Tarver won. Jones, of Pensacola, FL, seemed determined as well to show his fans that his disputed win in their first fight was largely due to being out of shape and having to lose 25 pounds after his historic climb to the heavy-weight division and winning the WBA title.

But Tarver was pressed to end Jones' legacy and relished the rematch, which brought in 60,000 more viewers than their fight six months earlier.

During the ceremonial meeting before the fight, the boxers stood in the center of the ring getting their final instructions. Asked by the referee if there were any questions, Tarver (22-2), who seemed to already know the result of the fight, asked Jones, "What excuse are you going to use tonight?"

This was only the first true loss of Jones' 15-year pro career, and only the second time he had ever been knocked down. Early in his career, Jones (49-2) lost by disqualification in a fight he later avenged with a first-round KO.

"I'm not making any excuses," Jones said in the ring after he was knocked out. "It's just the way it happens sometimes."

Though both fighters are the same age--35--there is a wide gap in experience. Jones was in his 25th world title fight while Tarver was fighting for a title for only the third time.

Jones earned $6 million for the pay-per-view fight. For Tarver, who recently filed bankruptcy, the $2 million purse was his biggest payday of a pro career that began after he won a bronze medal in the 1996 Olympics.

Tarver says his win is finally sinking in and he's looking forward to "big money" fights and possibly a third meeting with Jones.

"It takes a great fighter to beat a great fighter," Tarver said, "and I am a great fighter."