BoxRec

I think people may be underestimating Tarver, he was a top class amateur don't forget and has been beaten once in his pro career by Eric Harding which he did avenge. Tarver has the skills to extend Jones Jnr in my opinion, if Jones goes gung-ho to try and KO Tarver then Tarver could use his southpaw skills and tame Jones. Hey i'm just trying to look for openings here!!

Roy (IMO) feels he has something to prove and I wouldn't want to be Tarver at all - he has wound him up and I fear that he'll get the Montell Griffin treatment as a result.

As far as being interested? I am (still) one of those people who wants to see Roy do anything in a ring - he is the best fighter on the planet - its that simple, and it always baffles me when I read all this stuff about ....say Williams V Sprott and people are clearly "up" for the fight, but then when asked about (IMO) one of the most extravagantly gifted ATHLETES on the PLANET - regardless of the sport - they get a bit ho-hum about it!!!!!!!!!

Go figure.

Don't get me wrong Lugh I've always loved Jones Jr's style but it's difficult to get excited about another exhibition. It makes no difference to me whether I watch a tape of Jones v Reggie Johnson or a live showing of Jones v Tarver. In both cases the opponent is hopelessly outclassed.

I'm not knocking Roy for he's had a truly outstanding career but Nov 8th is hardly a nail-biter (unless you happen to be in Team Tarver).

Barrera v Pacquiao the following week - THATS a fight to look forward to.

This may sound crazy!

Tarver W12 Jones

knockout artist wrote:This may sound crazy!

Tarver W12 Jones

That's crazy!

Notice how Knockout artist doesn't give an explanation for his prediction...

If you can't match Roy for speed you can't beat him. END OF ! !

knockout artist wrote:This may sound crazy!

Tarver W12 Jones

Pass that bong please.

"This time, it's personal"

Does that make any sense to anyone?

Wouldn't that be like hyping the upcomming Klitschko/Johnson fight:

"This time, it's personal"

Well not long to go now. Jones seems to be looking his usual self in training which is bad news for Tarver (not that there was ever any good news apart from the size of his purse).

Does anyone still give Tarver a chance even though he does nothing exceptionally well?

Kilburn wrote:Well not long to go now. Jones seems to be looking his usual self in training which is bad news for Tarver (not that there was ever any good news apart from the size of his purse).

Does anyone still give Tarver a chance even though he does nothing exceptionally well?

Erm, ok I'll have a go:

1. Maybe Jones will be complacent - unlikely considering that Tarver has continuously trashed talked him. Montell Griffin paid a heavy price for irritating Jones.

2. Tarver appears to seriously believe he can beat Jones and is in the form of his life thanks to "trainer of the moment" Buddy Mcgirt in his corner - Whilst Tarver surprised me with the ease of his win against Griffin it was a very faded Montell Griffin in there. Tarver's other impressive wins include gaining revenge over Eric Harding. This was a great finish but Harding, for me, was handling Tarver quite easily in the first four rounds and looked set for a repeat win until he got careless and was nailed by a left hook. Tarver also holds a win over Reggie Johnson, but if memory serves me had to pick himself off the floor in the later rounds. Additionally, Tarver's most significant win over Harding has been made to look less impressive since in the light of Harding's patchy form. Harding did put up a decent show against Jones but that was in 2001.

3. Might Jones struggle to make light-heavyweight? I did wonder about this but presumably Jones wouldnt have stepped back down if he didnt think he could make the weight without it affecting his performance.

4. Has Jones grown old overnight? Upsets do happen. Yeah, yeah but isn't Jones younger than Tarver?, and Jones has yet to display any signs of weakness and if he does is Antonio Tarver a good enough fighter to capitalise on them to win the fight? Doubtful.

I'm still looking forward to the fight however because of the mutual bad feeling between these two.

I've put my two pounds worth on this fight already, but Lightsoot has put up a good point about Jones's age.

Lads, look forward to all of Jones' fights from now on - its not going to last forever and lets appreciate this master in action.

"Jones seems to be looking his usual self in training"

How do you know this?

stujones wrote:I've put my two pounds worth on this fight already, but Lightsoot has put up a good point about Jones's age.

Lads, look forward to all of Jones' fights from now on - its not going to last forever and lets appreciate this master in action.

I agree Stu, I can see him retiring after a few more and getting back to what he really loves: fishing and breeding his fighting cocks and dogs.
He's not one of those guys who can't see life beyond boxing.

It'll just be good to see the world's best back in the ring, and let's face it Tarver is a very decent opponent, even if his chances looks very slim.

And just think, the BBC ignored Roy his whole career then the first fight they decided to show was his first loss..at last they're on the bandwagon - better late than never.

The one I'm really looking forward to in Nov is Barrera v Manny Pac though.

MightyWarrior wrote:

stujones wrote:I've put my two pounds worth on this fight already, but Lightsoot has put up a good point about Jones's age.

Lads, look forward to all of Jones' fights from now on - its not going to last forever and lets appreciate this master in action.

I agree Stu, I can see him retiring after a few more and getting back to what he really loves: fishing and breeding his fighting cocks and dogs.
He's not one of those guys who can't see life beyond boxing.

It'll just be good to see the world's best back in the ring, and let's face it Tarver is a very decent opponent, even if his chances looks very slim.

And just think, the BBC ignored Roy his whole career then the first fight they decided to show was his first loss..at last they're on the bandwagon - better late than never.

The one I'm really looking forward to in Nov is Barrera v Manny Pac though.

Yes, will the curse of the BBC strike again - remember Lewis vs McCall; Lewis vs Rahman; Forrest vs Mayorga I and II.

MW - just to correct you the Beeb did show Jones vs Woods though.

stujones wrote: MW - just to correct you the Beeb did show Jones vs Woods though.

What I meant to say Stu was the first time the BBC showed Roy was his loss to Montell Griffin - If I remember rightly that is..

I'm not sure they even showed the rematch...

MightyWarrior wrote:

stujones wrote: MW - just to correct you the Beeb did show Jones vs Woods though.

What I meant to say Stu was the first time the BBC showed Roy was his loss to Montell Griffin - If I remember rightly that is..

I'm not sure they even showed the rematch...

Sorry, I read it as if you thought Jones vs Tarver is the first fight the BBC are showing of Roy.

Sorry, my mistake you are correct although the Beeb took out more rounds than played of that fight.

Southpaw Stylist wrote:"Jones seems to be looking his usual self in training"

How do you know this?

Check out Fightnews and decide for yourself. Hey maybe they're wrong. Maybe Jones really is overweight and slow.

Kilburn wrote:

Southpaw Stylist wrote:"Jones seems to be looking his usual self in training"

How do you know this?

Check out Fightnews and decide for yourself. Hey maybe they're wrong. Maybe Jones really is overweight and slow.

Just ask yourself this: when have you EVER seen Jones come into a fight out of shape? The man has as rigorous and consistent a training regimen as anyone in boxing, and has some of the best nutrition and fitness consultants there are on his team. Plus, if you believe (as most do) that there really is a personal grudge between these two, then jones has even more motivation than usual to come in in great shape and deprive his opponent of any chance he might have to win based on an edge in fitness.

That having been said, it is also the first time in Jones' career that he'll have had to come down a weight class (you might say two weight classes - but he was only 3 lbs. over the cruiser limit at the Jones/Ruiz weighin, so was basically a cruiserweight fighting at heavy) for a fight.

I've believed for the past couple of years that DM was slipping noticeably - the two wars with Hall showed DM getting hit by nearly everything Hall threw, but his great fitness, chin and a helpful referee allowed him to eke out wins. Now that Gonzalez, who was completely outclassed by Jones, has shown that even DM's stamina (pretty much all he had left) is not what it used to be, Tarver is clearly the most dangerous LHW opponent for Jones.

And it certainly doesn't rule out a move back up in weight - Jones walks around (or at least did, in his LHW heyday) near the cruiser limit, so a rematch with Toney at cruiser is certainly a possibility. That would give Jones a legitimate world title in a 5th divisison, surpassing De La Hoya, whose first title was the lightly-regarded WBO, in a "division" separated from its neighbors by all of what - 5 lbs? There's also talk (which Jones has confirmed) of ongoing negotiations with Mike Tyson - that would give Jones far and away the biggest payday of his career, a chance for true ring immortality (even if Tyson isn't the best HW out there, he's arguably the best sub-monster-sized one, and with as good of one-punch KO power in either hand as anyone). And let's face it - Tyson needs some big money, fast. He's not going to make that by fighting the Joe Mesis or David Tuas of this world.

Anyway, what I'm saying is that Jones/Tarver is the best LHW fight to be made currently, and that what happens afterward could become quite intriguing. Let's enjoy the last year or two of this great champion's career because once he's gone, the void left in his wake will be huge. Even the haters will miss him, because it's hard to really hate the mediocrities of this world.

ROY JONES JR!!!!!!

I'd just like to point out that I was being a little sarcastic earlier. I'd say there was more chance of Holyfield winning a rematch with Toney than there is of Roy Jones coming into the ring out of shape.