EXPECT JONES TO DOMINATE TARVER IN THE REMATCH

By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist

Photo: Rod Long/InsideBoxing.com (Click image for larger view)

LAS VEGAS, NV (IB – May 6, 2004,) – In what is being dubbed as a highly-anticipated rematch on MAY 15th between 3-Time World Champion Roy Jones Jr. (49-1, 38 KOs) and #1 contender & former WBC champion Antonio Tarver (21-2, 17KOs) for the undisputed light heavyweight title, may turn out to be a one-sided affair.

Let's face it! Roy Jones is, without a doubt, one of the most dominant boxing stars to ever lace up the gloves. He thrives off a challenge.

Every time we think we have an opportunity to see someone compete with Roy, he steps up and proves that it will not happen unless he wants it to happen.

If you replay the first bout between Jones and Tarver, you will see that while Tarver had his moments, those moments only surfaced when an exhausted Roy Jones Jr. laid on the ropes and ALLOWED Tarver to generate his offense.

It’s only natural that an athlete shedding approximately 20 pounds of muscle, not fat, would find himself dehydrated and exhausted, especially when that amount of muscle was shed in a nine-month time span.

This time it will be totally different. Roy Jones will come into this fight in supreme shape and will dominate Tarver. This rematch is not just a physical confrontation; it’s a mental confrontation as well. I have to give the edge to Jones in both categories.

Physical advantage - Roy Jones is obviously the stronger and faster fighter of the two. In the first bout, anytime the two of them were in the middle of the ring, Jones was superior. It was Jones who was landing the body shots that hurt Tarver and sent him into a conservative retreat mode. He merely just wanted to survive. Tarver failed to exhibit the will to win, the will to put it all on the table and go in for the close. Therefore, Roy took control of the fight when it counted and pulled out the victory.

Mental Advantage - I have to give the edge to Jones here as well. Roy knows that he can beat Tarver now. Even when Jones knew he wasn't at his best physically, he mentally had the toughness to take the fight away from Tarver.

Then we have Antonio Tarver now stating, "If I can't get it done, it can't be done." What Tarver is really trying to say is; it’s no big deal if I can't beat Roy Jones because no one else can beat him either.

On this note, I would say Tarver is a smart man. I agree whole-heartedly. There is no one else that can defeat Roy Jones Jr. at this current time, regardless of weight class.

Nevertheless, this rematch must take place. Roy Jones is very similar to Michael Jordan. He doesn't want a competitor to even be able to put up a close challenge. Jones really doesn't have anything to prove by fighting Tarver again. As a result of the press stating that this was a close decision and a competitive fight, with Tarver even feeling like he did enough to win, Roy just wants to set the record straight.

So expect Roy Jones Jr. to show us, once again, there is no one who can compete at his level. I envision a very lopsided unanimous decision. I can even see Jones stopping Tarver in this rematch just to drive the point home that he is the king of the ring.

This will then leave us begging Roy to come back to the heavyweight division to give it a needed rescue. While I like what I see in Vitali Klitschko's offense, he was exposed by Corrie Sanders (who was throwing telegraphed left hooks) that still managed to land at an alarming rate.

Roy Jones would be very elusive and has enough hand-speed and foot speed to even beat Klitschko and recapture the heavyweight crown.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! So if you want to witness pure dominance, tune into Pay-Per-View on May 15th and watch this masterpiece of boxing unfold before your very eyes.

You have just gone InsideBoxing.com

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