Had Jones/Tarver met 10 years ago...

Had they fought as pros 10 years ago, it would have made Roy Jones a better fighter than he turned out to be. He will go down in history as one of the most talented to ever fight... Tarver would have made him a better boxer by testing him. The biggest thing about this matchup is Tarver's ability to never be caught off-guard. He fights all 36 minutes with tremendous focus and readiness. He didn't have to be great to beat Jones, he just had to be himself and not let Roy see anything he could get to. Roy plays it safe until he sees something he can exploit and then the killer instinct takes over. Tarver is tough to exploit, ready to block/dodge/counter anything thrown and that is likely why Jones wasn't throwing nearly enough to win the fight. This matchup lends immense credibility to the idea that styles make fights. 10 years ago "might" have gone the other way and Jones may have taken the decision but he would have been hit along the way and it would have made him a better boxer... at this age, he can't learn anymore. Even if Roy had rematched Hopkins & Toney, had he fought Benn, McLelland and Michalszewski... he would have ended up with a very similar legacy. He found a man "his age" he could not beat and would always be doubted as being one of the greatest. On talent alone he stands easily as one of boxing's top 3 fighters in history. As an overall boxer he scarcely hits the top 10 light heavies of all-time based purely on Tarver, a fighter he could not figure out.

Comments (20)

m00ks

Is Tarver really your dad? :D doubt it, no offspring can be that objective

20y ago

Manny_P

you guys are failing to realize that despite Tarver's age at 36, he's ta best he can be right now. Shyt, who can beat him at his division? He's really good and you guys should jest realize tis!!!! In sayin that, Roy Jones was obviously best when he dint move to heavyweight yet. Ta time that people were callin him superman is ta time that I BELIEVE, Roy would beat Tarver. Power, speed, feet ALL INTACT. If they met 10 years ago, Jones Jr would beat Antiono Tarver!!! Tarver is at his best now! 10 yrs ago, Tarver might not have yet developed his skills he possesses today. OR Fact that Jones was at his prime then. Jones KO Tarver 10 years back!

20y ago

Truth8215

in the first fight, my dad won his rounds more convincingly than Roy won his rounds. That is why it could be seen that my dad could've won the fight. However, even though my dad won his rounds more convincingly, Roy won more rounds than my dad. Especially rounds 3, 4, 11 and 12, when my dad didn't do shit when Roy was all tired and let Roy steal those rounds. I scored the fight 115-113 for Roy even possibly 116-112. Is Tarver really your dad? :D

20y ago

Tarver_is_my_dad

20y ago

Run8964

you People can stick to your delusions. Roy won the first fight with Tarver. He landed the more effective punches, exhibited better ring generalship, and for the most part.....Tarver was inactive. If you consider taking round, after round, off...and merely looking for one big punch to land winning: We have a problem. I scored the fight highly in favor of Jones. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Just to let you know. He did lose the ESPN polls. Tarver won the poll. I don't remember that. The HBO polls had it spot on" Regardless, I don't see any way anyone could have had that fight scored for Tarver. Even a draw is being extremly generous. Tarver only fought in spurts, and did so in very few of the rounds. Having it even after 10 is about right, and Jones DIFINITIVLY took 11 and 12. All those who talk about Jones never having to dig deep or fighting through adversity need look no further than the 1st Jones Tarver fight.

20y ago

Truth8215

Just to let you know. He did lose the ESPN polls. Tarver won the poll. Thats because HBO and Tarver brainwashed the fans. I don't see anyway in hell Tarver won that fight. Maybe a draw...

20y ago

Truth8215

Roy clearly beat Tarver in a tough fight in their 1st meeting. I agree, like Merchant said after the fight "closley but clearly".

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Roy clearly beat Tarver in a tough fight in their 1st meeting. IMO, had they fought around the time Roy was at Lt heavy (beofre moving to Heavy), Roy's speed and reflex would have allowed him to beat Tarver by points about 9 rounds to 3. Roy was ripping durable top Lt Heavyweights to shreads, like his one sided beating of Clinton Woods, and beating Julio Gonzalez 120 -105. Tarver's height and stance would have made for a competitive fight, but Roy was untouchable a few years back. Not to mention, at that time you had a much greener Tarver losing a wide decesion to Eric Harding.

20y ago

Truth8215

Young Roy beats Tarver, Roy was different back then in so many ways...

20y ago

Run8964

one on one, man to man? Junior Jones is better than Marco Antonio Barrera. who has accomplished more? Barrera can Tarver accomplish more than Jones? certainly Now let me ask you this. Who is the better fighter? Jones or Tarver? Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

20y ago

DiegoFuego

one on one, man to man? Junior Jones is better than Marco Antonio Barrera. who has accomplished more? Barrera can Tarver accomplish more than Jones? certainly

20y ago

Run8964

10 years ago, today, tomorrow, yesterday, 5 years ago, 5 years from now, whatever Tarver over Jones No excuses You never answered my question. Who is the better fighter.....Junior Jones or Marco Antonio Barrera? Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

20y ago

DiegoFuego

Somebody who refuses to put Jones in the top 10 at 175 all time is somebody not worth wasting a breath on when it comes to boxing knowledge. Jones TKO Tarver prime for prime. Hell Jones already beat Tarver in their first encounter. He was weight-drained and past his prime then, so how in holy hell does Tarver beat Jones prime for prime? Please, no excuses :D

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

lol On talent alone he stands easily as one of boxing's top 3 fighters in history. As an overall boxer he scarcely hits the top 10 light heavies of all-time based purely on Tarver, a fighter he could not figure out. Somebody who refuses to put Jones in the top 10 at 175 all time is somebody not worth wasting a breath on when it comes to boxing knowledge. Jones TKO Tarver prime for prime. Hell Jones already beat Tarver in their first encounter. He was weight-drained and past his prime then, so how in holy hell does Tarver beat Jones prime for prime?

20y ago

DiegoFuego

10 years ago, today, tomorrow, yesterday, 5 years ago, 5 years from now, whatever Tarver over Jones No excuses

20y ago

JUYJUY

I think I have no doubts that Gerald McClellan walks right thru Jones speed/talent to punish and stop Jones. I totally agree with that, it was very difficult for me to see Jones Jr defeating McClellan if they traded (which they would of done) just by looking at the styles, then when I later found out McClellan had beaten Jones Jr convincingly in a highly rated amateur war in 1988 I became even more convinced, then when I later saw Jones Jr being KTFO a couple of times I became totally convinced! McClellan would of beaten Jones Jr, he would of stopped Jones Jr in two rounds.

20y ago

scap

10 years ago Jones would have kept the fight in the center of the ring and won an easy UD...Tarver is not the type of fighter that would have got to Roy when Roy was right. I think I have no doubts that Gerald McClellan walks right thru Jones speed/talent to punish and stop Jones, but Tarver is a lazy fighter who would have not beaten a prime Jones.

20y ago

guru

yeah, 10 years ago, roy wins a tough fight.. he'll still have problems with AT...

20y ago

hollister

I think you're right about Tarver making him a better fighter, although I think Tarver would have always given him problems. I think Roy just never had any adversity his whole career, and when he was subjected to some, he couldn't step his game up, maybe he got soft, who knows.

20y ago