CAN YOU SAY – IT’S OVER FOR RJJ! – GLEN JOHNSON KO’S ROY IN 9TH ROUND
By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist

(IB – September 25, 2004) – I am practically speechless and it is somewhat difficult for me to even type this story. The former great Pound-for Pound Champion Roy Jones Jr. (49-3, 38 KOs) was just starched with a devastating right hand delivered by Glen Johnson in the 9th round in Memphis, Tennessee in their IBF Light Heavyweight title bout. This fight was televised by HBO.

Memphis has become very famous for fallen heroes and legends. It was bad enough to know that Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis in April of 1968. Then we had Mike Tyson knocked out badly in Memphis by Lennox Lewis in June of 2002, and now Roy Jones Jr. KO’ed in Memphis in September of 2004! Who would have ever thought this would have happened to Roy since he was already coming off a one-punch KO to the hands of Antonio Tarver back in May of 2004.

What made this conclusion even more dramatic and devastating is that it was unlike the Tarver fight. We are not talking about an early one-punch knock out in a fight where it appeared that Jones was winning. Glen Johnson came out in the very first round and established the tempo of the fight and took the fight straight to Roy Jones Jr. He out worked Roy, out punched Roy, and merely just dominated the fight all the way through until the knock out of the 9th round.

All three judges had the fight scored in favor of Glen Johnson with scores of 77-75, 77-75, & 78-74. I had it scored 78-74 as well in favor of Glen Johnson.

Given this, the big Million dollar question becomes, is this the end of Roy Jones Jr.? I am a deep rooted Roy Jones Jr. fan, ahead of even being a professional journalist, and I say emphatically, YES! For the sake of Roy’s health, which I care a great deal more about than being delighted or entertained by any flashes of his brilliance in boxing, I surely hope he calls it quits and announces his retirement immediately!

While we know this is a hard thing for a fighter to do, especially a great champion, I personally will be praying that he makes the right decision and retires.

After the fight, Larry Merchant (HBO analyst) interviewed Alton Merkeson and he offered, “We believe Roy has a concussion. His head hit the mat pretty hard when he hit the canvas. He is getting hit now more than he is use to getting hit.” Now that is an under statement. According to Compubox stats, Glen Johnson landed 118 out of 437 (27%) to Jones’ 75 out of 270 (28%). While the percent was basically the same, you can see that Glen Johnson was the much busier fighter and controlled the pace of the fight.

Johnson improved his record to (41-9-2, 28 KOs) and has now thrown a major twist into the future battles of the Light Heavyweight division. While many were hoping that Roy would be sensational and set up a 3rd fight with Tarver (who was ringside), it is Johnson now that may be the man to take on Tarver and totally unify the Light Heavyweight Division. After all, they both now have KO victories over the great Roy Jones, Jr. After the fight, Johnson stated, “A lot of guys let Roy stay outside then jump in with a fast left hook. I wasn’t going to let him do that. I wanted to send a message that I am here to fight.” Johnson even went on to say, “I am not the best, but I’m willing to fight the best.” With that statement, I vote for a Tarver vs. Johnson bout to determine who is the best light heavyweight fighter in the sport today.

Stay Tuned as I’m sure you will be hearing plenty of news about tonight’s event.

You have just gone InsideBoxing.com

Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@brasheargear.com