By Frank Lotierzo
On May 15, 2004, former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver knocked out undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones in the second round of their rematch. Prior to the Jones rematch, Tarver was best known for splitting two fights with Eric Harding, winning a solid decision over Montell Griffin, and losing a close majority decision to Jones in their first fight.
I wonder if I had polled those attending the fight that night at the Mandalay Bay, where the rematch took place, "who would have won if Tarver was fighting former undisputed light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks"? Which based on Tarver's showing in his last fight where he not only gave Roy Jones the toughest fight of his career, but half of those who saw the fight thought he won and should've been awarded the decision. Tarver's perception in the boxing community was soaring at the time.
That being said, I would've been more than willing to bet that an overwhelming majority of those surveyed, would've picked Spinks to come out on top versus the Tarver who would knock Jones out in a few hours. In the most anticipated title fight of Roy Jones' career, Tarver devastated him with the first meaningful punch he landed in the bout, coming at 1:41 of the second round.
By the following morning, not only was Tarver the talk of the entire boxing world, he was also being mentioned as a future opponent for fighters such as Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Vasilliy Jirov and Mike Tyson. If mentioning Tarver as a possible Tyson opponent wasn't ridiculous enough based on one punch, some boxing insiders who need to attach themselves to greatness, started to comparing him favorably to "The Spinks Jinx."
Obviously those suggesting something so foolish weren't aware that Michael Spinks happens to be the most accomplished light heavyweight champion in the 102 year history of the light heavyweight division. Spinks went 11-0 in light heavyweight title bouts, 27-0 for his career fighting at 175. Not to mention he was the first reigning light heavyweight champion to defeat the reigning heavyweight champion. Spinks didn't defeat an alphabet title holder like Roy Jones 18 years later. He defeated an all-time great heavyweight champion who was undefeated (48-0) and chasing history, Larry Holmes.
As unbelievable as it may seem, there were actually boxing fans suggesting that Tarver - based on his knockout of Roy Jones - may have been as good as Spinks. When I heard that I didn't even get the slightest bit mad or upset. It just confirmed for me that many fans and writers crave to see greatness so badly that they base far too much on one fight.
Less than a month after beating Jones, Antonio Tarver was being compared favorably with one of history's greatest light heavyweight champions and fighters based solely on one punch. When only the day before his victory over Jones, Tarver was viewed as one of the upper-tier light heavyweight contenders in a sub-par era. But he was never mentioned as a possible all-time great. And the thought of comparing him with Michael Spinks was beyond comprehension, at least as far as I was concerned. Again, based on what had to be considered a lottery punch landed on Jones.
Someday those who foolishly base everything on one great/outstanding fight will learn not to rush to judgment.
It would take Tarver's next bout to finally lay the Spinks-Tarver comparisons to rest, hopefully forever. Seven months later he fought Glen Johnson. Like Tarver, Johnson knocked out Jones in his last bout. Heading into his fight with Tarver, Johnson was 9-9-2 in his last 20 fights and 3-2-2 in his last seven. During the week of the Tarver-Johnson bout, many prediction polls were taken among boxing's finest and most astute observers and followers. In every poll taken, Tarver was picked to beat Johnson by at least 80% of those polled. I too picked Tarver to beat Johnson. Based on the totality of their careers, not their last fight.
In the best year (2004) of Johnson's professional boxing career, he closed it out by winning a 12 round split decision over Tarver. With upset wins in his last two fights over the two best fighters in the division, Johnson is now viewed as the top light heavyweight fighter in boxing.
It didn't take long!
In what is becoming more and more routine in sports, boxing certainly being no exception. I heard and read some writers and fans questioning how Johnson matched up with former beast and WBC light heavyweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the former Dwight Braxton, because of their short stature and work rate. But they're getting better, they waited for Johnson to win two big fights before making asinine statements and comparisons.
With Johnson-Tarver II approaching, I can only wonder what the nonsense will be the following morning? Based on a long track record, I guess a Tarver victory starts the comparison to Spinks and a Johnson victory continues the comparisons to Qawi.
I can't even fathom how great the winner will become if he wins by an impressive knockout.