Jones KO'd

[The_herd]

Anyone see this?

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...ory?id=1802517

LAS VEGAS -- The punch was shocking enough. The result was even more shocking.

Antonio Tarver's left hand out of nowhere stopped Roy Jones Jr. in the second round Saturday night, giving him the light heavyweight title and handing Jones the most crushing defeat of his illustrious career.

Tarver had landed only a handful of punches and seemed slow in starting when Jones threw a right hand that missed that caused him to crouch down. Tarver came out of the crouch with a roundhouse left hand that caught Jones flush on the side of his face.

Jones was knocked under the ropes in Tarver's corner, and was badly hurt even though he managed to get up at about the count of seven. But he stumbled across the ring as referee Jay Nady waved the fight to an end at 1:41 of the second round.

Tarver, who had vowed to settle a score from his loss to Jones in November, jumped around the ring in celebration as the crowd at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino went wild.

It was only the second loss of Jones' 15-year pro career, and only the second time he had ever been knocked down. His first loss was on disqualification in a fight he later avenged.

"I never gave up on my dream so here we are," Tarver said. Tarver was tight from the opening bell, warily circling Jones while his corner urged him to throw punches. Jones began landing his right hand lead midway through the first round, and it looked as if Jones was going to be the faster and stronger fighter.

In the corner after the first round Tarver said to trainer James "Buddy" McGirt: "He doesn't respect me."

"Go out and get yours," McGirt replied.

Tarver did just that, bringing the fight to a stunning end almost before it began.

Both fighters were the same age -- 35 -- but there was a wide difference in experience. Jones was in his 25th world title fight, while Tarver was fighting for a title for only the third time

[Chubby]

Chuck said something during the halftime show of the Lakers-Spours game on TNT. Wow, Jones got caught on one punch.

[bbor]

I saw the the fight.Jones got caught,his jaw looks weak,i dunno if anyone has ever caught him like that before.

[SegRat]

WOW, I am still in shock.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

It is a wow! First "real" pro loss; the other was a disqualification. I think he had only ever been knocked down once (maybe twice) before. This is Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson stuff.

[Neuqua]

A friend of mine always told me that Jones was in trouble should he ever face a left-handed fighter, and apparently he knew what he was talking about. Shocking.

[timmynausea]

I remember the first time I heard about Roy Jones it was 6 or 7 years ago and he was talking about how he'd retire young. Not sure if he waited too long or just got caught. His legacy is definitely completely altered now, though. His other loss was a pretty contreversial disqualification, because Montell Griffin (I believe that was his name) was getting dominated and went to take a knee to regroup, but the ref didn't step in quickly enough so Roy Jones hit him when he was on one knee and got DQ'd. Roy Jones knocked him out quick and pretty spectacularly in the rematch. He was pissed.

[Sharpieman]

Holy crap! I'm stunned as much as Jones must be. Funny, I saw a little thing one FSN where that guy from around the horn was doing an in-ring interview with Jones and Jones was talking about how difficult left handed boxers are in the ring, he was actaully demostrating how when he goes in with the right hand to the face, instead of moving to the left, he has to train himself to go to the right so that the south paw can't come back with a left hook.

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

I remember the first time I heard about Roy Jones it was 6 or 7 years ago and he was talking about how he'd retire young. Not sure if he waited too long or just got caught. His legacy is definitely completely altered now, though. His other loss was a pretty contreversial disqualification, because Montell Griffin (I believe that was his name) was getting dominated and went to take a knee to regroup, but the ref didn't step in quickly enough so Roy Jones hit him when he was on one knee and got DQ'd. Roy Jones knocked him out quick and pretty spectacularly in the rematch. He was pissed.

I don't see how his legacy is altered now. Time has a way of forgiving the sins of older fighters hanging on too long: Joe Louis, Ali, Duran, etc. All those guys are mentioned as being some of the best ever and they all stuck around too long. Jones fought in 25 title fights. Beat something like 17 current or future Champions. Beat the other best pound-for-pound fighters in our time in Tony and Hopkins. He remains on of the greatest of all time and the best I've ever seen.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

It is a wow! First "real" pro loss; the other was a disqualification. I think he had only ever been knocked down once (maybe twice) before. This is Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson stuff.

Ahh no. I'd say it's more along of Ali-Liston stuff. I'd say you made substantial overstatement.

And I agree with everything Blackadar said.

[Dutch]

Roy Jones Jr. is still the most impressive boxer in the history of the sport. He could dominate and sustain over a long period of time. Every dog has his day, but Jones Jr. had an entire decade.

[Hoya1]

Jones was ,and still is, the man. His career is unparalleled by anyone in the modern era. Moving up from middleweight all the way to heavyweight and being champ in each weight class is unbelieveable in today's world. Jones is easily the best boxer I've ever seen. I think he just got caught by 1 lucky shot. It happens

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

I remember the first time I heard about Roy Jones it was 6 or 7 years ago

You have me beat. The first time I heard about Roy Jones was this morning.

[Cringer]

People may not have liked Jones, mainly because he was so good for so long, but come on, did any of you see Tarver's HBO interview last week? A man who speaks in the 3rd person so much just drives me nuts...........

[bosshogg23]

Losing to Tarver obviously doesnt help Jones but his legacy is as secure as possible. Love him or hate him, you have to respect what he has done in his career.

[timmynausea]

I wasn't implying that Roy Jones isn't one of the best ever at all. I just think that he essentially went from undefeated and untouchable to a guy that got beat once. If he avenges this loss and retires he could probably come close to completely restoring his legacy.

[Deattribution]

hxxp://www.boxing-videos.us/fight1104.mpg

Vid starts about 15 seconds in for anyone who wants to see the knockout.

[sabotai]

Moving up from middleweight all the way to heavyweight and being champ in each weight class is unbelieveable in today's world.

I disagree with this 100%. Going from middleweight to heavyweight and winning a title in each weight class is probably a pretty easy thing to do. Let's not forget that the man Jones beat to win his heavyweight title was John Ruiz, who is one of the most unimpressive heavyweight "champions" I've ever seen.

These alphabet titles have made it extremely easy for someone to claim multiple world titles in multiple weight classes.

Not to take anything away from Jones since he's had a great career and has done some impressive things (winning a fight vs. John Ruiz not being one of them, though).

[The_herd]

I agree with Sab on his jump to the Heavyweight class. Ruiz was picked because he was a smaller heavyweight with no power and unimpressive skills across the board. The fact that he even held a title is more a testament to the current state of Heavyweight boxing than anything.

Jones definately goes down as one of the great modern boxers, but I hesitate to place him too high because he never had the career defining fight. While that may or may not be any fault of his own, the fact that he was knocked out in the 2nd round is a blemish to his career regardless. Jones is a great fighter, but if you look at this career it could be argued he was somewhat overhyped considering the competition he faced.

[bosshogg23]

Roy Jones certainly fought alot of bums and lived off of the mandatory challengers. But he also beat the 2nd best fighter of his generation(Hopkins) and in some peoples mind the 3rd best fighter of his generation(Toney).

Roy Jones beat the best other Middleweight, Bernard Hopkins and was the recognized champion. Jones moved up and beat the best Super Middleweight in James Toney. Toney was also considered the best pound for pound fighter by alot of people at the time. He then moved up to Light Heavyweight and fought everyone possible and held all the belts. He was again regarded as the best the weight class had to offer.

He DID pick Ruiz because Ruiz couldnt beat him, and Ruiz was holding an alphabet belt. However his other championships you cant make light of or claim as alphabet titles.

[Hoya1]

Give Jones credit. I get sick of hearing that he didn't fight any big names. Come on! When you're as good as Jones is, it's easy to make other guys look bad. Jones beat Ruiz, who beat Holyfield. Moving up from 150lbs to over 200lbs and becoming champ in each class along the way, is not "easy". Jones is a special fighter and I hope that we have the opportunity to see him fight again, a few more times.
What will be interesting is to see how he comes back after being KO'd. Some guys are just never the same.

[sabotai]

Roy Jones certainly fought alot of bums and lived off of the mandatory challengers. But he also beat the 2nd best fighter of his generation(Hopkins) and in some peoples mind the 3rd best fighter of his generation(Toney).

I would say that Hopkins (and Jones) didn't really reach their prime yet when they fought each other (it was 11 years ago, and if I'm not mistaken, which I might, Hopkins wasn't even the #1 contender yet). I would love to see what a fight between them would have been like a few years later.

As for Toney, Jones said that the main reason he didn't do all too well in the first fight with Tarver was because he had to make weight. For Toney's fight with Jones, he had to lose more to get lower. But a heavyweight fight between Toney and Jones now would be huge (at least from a boxing fan's persepctive, with this 2nd round KO to Tarver, not sure how huge a money maker it would be.) I know it's not an excuse for a poor performance, for I would think a 100% Toney at the time vs. a 100% Jones would have been a far different fight.

He DID pick Ruiz because Ruiz couldnt beat him, and Ruiz was holding an alphabet belt. However his other championships you cant make light of or claim as alphabet titles.

Not making light of his other titles. He was the middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight champion. No denying that. I just can't help but laugh when people refer to him as a world heavyweight champion. Technically he was, but I don't see how anyone can take that title and that fight seriously.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Hoya1

Give Jones credit. I get sick of hearing that he didn't fight any big names. Come on! When you're as good as Jones is, it's easy to make other guys look bad. Jones beat Ruiz, who beat Holyfield. Moving up from 150lbs to over 200lbs and becoming champ in each class along the way, is not "easy". Jones is a special fighter and I hope that we have the opportunity to see him fight again, a few more times.
What will be interesting is to see how he comes back after being KO'd. Some guys are just never the same.

First off, he went from 160 to 193 (what he weighed for his Ruiz fight). Several fight very early in his career, he weighed in the upper 150's, but the middleweight limit is 160.

Secondly, he did not become champ in each class, unless he won a Cruiserweight title somewhere along the line and forgot to tell everyone.

Thirdly, Ruiz beat a very old Holyfield. I hope you were not seriously suggesting that Ruiz is somehow a dangerous opponent because he beat an over the hill fighter or that Jones is somehow a better heavyweight than an in-his-prime Holyfield. Ruiz also LOST a very old, very slow Holyfield as well. Plus their third fight, which was a draw. This is the same Holyfield that Toney ripped apart.