THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR JONES OR JUST THE END?
www.InsideBoxing.com 

By Blackbull
Columnist/Writer

INSIDE BOXING (May 20, 2004) - “You can be on top of your game - sharp reflexes, reaction time fast as lightning with pin-point accuracy on your punches - then one morning you wake up and you’ve become old.” I remember my old trainer telling me this, and is it ever so true. For Roy Jones Jr. the “Take it away man” may have paid him a visit.

Jones was knocked out by Antonio Tarver in the second round of their May 15 rematch, but it was not as if Tarver dominated or out-classed Jones. In my ringside observation, I had Jones winning the first round easily. The second round was much the same until the devastating overhand left hand that left Jones incapacitated.

Tarver was patient and maybe that was his game plan. Maybe he was willing to give up the early rounds in order to land the hard power punches. Maybe he realized from the first encounter he would be able to hit the once elusive Jones. Whatever it was, it worked and Tarver now reigns as the man who beat “Superman”. Don King said it would take “Blacktonite” to defeat the black superman, Jones. For Tarver the “Blacktonte” was his left fist. “Fist-onite Tarver."

What happens to Jones now remains to be seen. Will he find an excuse for this loss? How about he was over-confident and looking ahead to a Klitschko contest?

Even though Jones was winning the fight before he got knocked out, his punches were not the same. They did not have the crispness and sharpness we’ve become accustomed to seeing in Jones' attack. Instead, he seemed to push his punches rather than deliver them with authority. The knock out punch delivered by Tarver hit a stationary man, not the elusive and mobile Jones we remember.

The first fight with Tarver should have given us a hint to the demise of Jones. He got hit more in that fight than he had ever been hit in any fight before. I guess we all wanted to believe the excuses put forth by Jones.

The second encounter should only confirm the “take it away man” has visited Jones.

Jones may decide to continue fighting and may win future bouts, but he will get hit a lot more now, and the brain damage will set in. What good are millions of dollars in the bank if he can’t enjoy them?

Today, when you mention Roy Jones Jr., you remember an all-time great fighter with skills second to none. Should Jones continue to fight, so may the way we will remember him.

SHORT JABS - Prior to the Jones vs. Tarver fight, in an interview with InsideBoxing.com's Ron Brashear, Don King said the fight he had in his sights was Roy Jones vs. Felix Trinidad. I wonder if King will pursue a Tarver vs. Trinidad fight? Food for thought.

Word has it Wes Ferguson was pulled from the May 22 Floyd Mayweather undercard after sustaining a cut during training. The cut being administered complements of Zab Judah. The two exchanged "heated words" followed by an altercation where Judah landed a bare-knuckle punch.

Wladimir Klitschko maintains he was drugged and is willing to bring in medical experts to attest drugs were a probability.

Upcoming prospect Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero dumps Joe Goossen as trainer as Shane Mosley parts with promoter Gary Shaw.

"2 Slick 2 Quick" Donald Camarena is back home after spending over a week sparring with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather broke camp and is headed to Atlantic City, New Jersey for his elimination bout against DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley.

"Rocky" vs. "The Golden Boy" - Sylvester Stallone and Oscar DeLaHoya have each started boxing reality shows and are inviting boxers from around the country to participate. Stallone's show will be on NBC while DeLaHoya's will air on FOX. Which reality show will produce the better champion? Maybe the winners of each show can fight each other.

Moncayo Blackbull can be reached at blackbull@insideboxing.com