Jones Knocked Out in 2nd Round
LAS VEGAS, NV -
Antonio Tarver reclaimed the WBC light heavyweight title Saturday in Las Vegas as he beat Roy Jones Jr. with a second-round knockout.
The 32-year-old Tarver knocked out Jones after one minute and 41 seconds of the second round of the scheduled 12-round bout and reclaiming his WBC 175-pound belt.
Tarver, 22-2 with 18 Knockouts, lost to Jones (49-2, 38 KOs) sixth months ago.
"We both threw at the same time and I beat him to the punch," Tarver said. "Right on the kisser."
Tarver looked tight and indecisive from the opening bell, circling Jones while his corner urged him to throw punches.
Jones began landing his right hand lead midway through the first round, and it looked as if Jones was going to be the faster and stronger fighter.
Jones won the round.
In the corner after the first round Tarver said to trainer James "Buddy" McGirt, "He doesn't respect me." "Go out and get yours," McGirt replied.
Tarver obliged, taking the fight to Jones and ending the contest shortly thereafter.
As the two met at the middle of the ring, Jones threw a right hand that glanced Tarver, causing him to crouch down. Tarver came out of the crouch with a roundhouse left hand counter that caught Jones flush on the side of his face.
Jones was knocked under the ropes in Tarver's corner, and was badly hurt even though he managed to get up at about the count of seven. But he stumbled across the ring as referee Jay Nady waved the fight to an end at 1:41 of the second round.
"I was hit with a good shot, a very good shot," Jones said.
Tarver (22-2, 18 KOs) reclaimed his WBC 175-pound belt he and picked up two million dollars for beating the fighter that many considered to the best pound-for-pound in the world.
After the bout, Tarver declared himself the new pound-for-pound king.
"It takes a great fighter to beat a great fighter. This fight will go down in history."
Other Fights
Victor Burgos retained his world junior flyweight title with a sixth round technical knockout of Fahlan Sakkreerin. Burgos (37-13-2, 22 KOs) knocked Fahlan down twice to keep his 108-pound IBF belt. He ended the fight at 1:43 of the sixth with three punishing left hooks, as Fahlan was unable to defend himself.
Zab Judah (31-2, 22 KOs) defended the lightly regarded WBO junior welterweight title with an unimpressive split decision victory over Colombian Rafael Pineda (38-6).
