pookie23 Posted July 27 Report Share Posted July 27 Tarver, Jones to fight rubber match in October By Dan RafaelESPN.comAntonio Tarver and Roy Jones Jr., rivals since their days as standout amateurs in Florida and 1-1 in memorable fights against each other as pros, are going to settle their personal score with a rubber match.Tarver and Jones signed Wednesday to meet Oct. 1 on HBO PPV. Tarver, although without a major sanctioning organization belt, will defend his Ring magazine light heavyweight title, which recognizes him as the world's No. 1 fighter at 175 pounds."We have a fight. It's huge," Tarver promoter Joe DeGuardia said. "I think it's a tremendous fight, one of those rivalries that we don't get to see that often in boxing. They are few and far between: Ali-Frazier, Leonard-Hearns. Gatti-Ward. Some trilogies stand out for the ages and Roy will forever be linked with Tarver and vice versa."These are the biggest fights of both of their careers. They just have that link. They've had a rivalry since they were teenagers and it was simmering for all those years and when it finally came to head it produced a trilogy in the span of three years." Jones (on canvas) wants to avenge this loss to Tarver.The fight will probably be at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, which hosted their first two meetings. Other possible sites are Atlantic City, Portland, Ore., and Connecticut casinos Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods."There's always an excitement in a trilogy and a rubber match," said Brad Jacobs, Jones' adviser. "There's no question that since Roy left the ring on May 15, 2004 [after the second fight] he's been targeting Tarver for a rubber match. Roy has had sufficient time off to recuperate and relax. His goals are now squarely on Tarver's chin."Considering the magnitude of the fight, it came together quickly and relatively easily.Tarver and Jones each were in the running to fight Bernard Hopkins this fall but that was before Hopkins unexpectedly lost the undisputed middleweight title to Jermain Taylor on July 16. With Hopkins headed for a Dec. 3 rematch against Taylor, Tarver and Jones had nowhere else to turn but each other for a big payday.Another reason for the fast negotiation -- they only started talking after the Hopkins loss -- is because critical pay-per-view industry advertising deadlines for October events are this week.The sides negotiated through the weekend on issues big and small, but reached an accord on the central issue of money: They will split all revenue 50-50. Tarver had hoped for a higher percentage, figuring that as the recognized champion who won their rematch by knockout, he deserved more. Ultimately, he took parity."Antonio feels he should be getting the lion's share but he was willing to capitulate to certain terms," DeGuardia said. "Like Roy, Antonio has a lion's heart and sometimes things go beyond money. Although the fight will generate huge money, the reality is they still have this drive and desire to shut the other one up. I think that is fueling it."Following Jones' heavyweight title victory against John Ruiz in March 2003, he was negotiating a fight with Evander Holyfield. But when those talks fell apart, Jones agreed to return to light heavyweight to face Tarver, who had been calling him out for years.It was the toughest fight of Jones' career but he eked out a majority decision in November 2003 in a fight that many felt that Tarver won. Jones (49-3, 38 KOs) blamed his dramatic weight loss for the lethargic performance. So they met again in May 2004 and Tarver (23-3, 18 KOs) scored a shocking one-punch knockout in the second round. Jones went on to lose his next fight last September, this time another brutal knockout at the hands of Glen Johnson. Jones hasn't fought since but has quietly pined for another crack at Tarver.Tarver, meanwhile, lost to a split decision to Johnson last December before gaining revenge in their rematch last month."The reality is I have to compliment Roy for getting the fight done," DeGuardia said. "It shows a lot of his courage and desire and the true fight in him, which people have questioned over the years. Roy has found the guy who can test him in Tarver and he is still willing to go after him."Although Jones' skills have deteriorated over the past couple of years, his attempt to come back against a premier opponent in Tarver figures to make for a compelling promotion."Tarver-Jones III is not just for the light heavyweight championship," said HBO PPV boss Mark Taffet. "It's for the championship of Jones and Tarver, something that will resonate with boxing fans."Their first fight generated 302,000 pay-per-view buys while their rematch generated 380,000, which is 20,000 more than HBO initially reported. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stymie Posted July 27 Report Share Posted July 27 I dont kno weather to be excited or what about this.... more than anything I want to see Roy win and avenge his loss to douche Tarver but I dont wanna see Roy lose or go down again like he did in his last 2 fights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovefire Posted July 27 Report Share Posted July 27 I cant watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stymie Posted July 27 Report Share Posted July 27 I cant watch.I wont bring a giant bad luck charm with me to the fight party like I did last time tho.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfitz73 Posted July 27 Report Share Posted July 27 I don't know... Roy looked pretty cooked in the Glen Johnson fight... I kinda wish he retired after the Ruiz fight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stymie Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 I don't know... Roy looked pretty cooked in the Glen Johnson fight... I kinda wish he retired after the Ruiz fight...Yeah I wish he retired too but... Lennox Lewis looked cooked after he got KO'd by Rahman, Evander looked like we was done after getting KO'd by Bowe AND Moorer... Barreras comeback from a nasty KO loss and he comes back stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pookie23 Posted July 28 Author Report Share Posted July 28 Yeah I wish he retired too but... Lennox Lewis looked cooked after he got KO'd by Rahman, Evander looked like we was done after getting KO'd by Bowe AND Moorer... Barreras comeback from a nasty KO loss and he comes back stronger.yeah that's what I'm thinking too...a year for Roy to heal and reflect should make for an interesting fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stymie Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 yeah that's what I'm thinking too...a year for Roy to heal and reflect should make for an interesting fight.haha I wanst even thinking of it like that... was thinking more like this is an HBO PPV fight and whatever SHOULD happen... well its usually the opposite. Jones looks like hes done after those last 2 fights...but who knows... hes prob gonna come back and destroy people for all we kno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghhhhhost Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 i dont think i wana see roy get embarassed again....y cant superior atheletes just call it quits when its time? i had enough seeing Jordan abused by Kobe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannyboy31 Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 MJ is the fukin man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie6 Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 I wont bring a giant bad luck charm with me to the fight party like I did last time tho.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomembername Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 how did I know he was talking about you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stymie Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 I wasnt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie6 Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 I wasntoh thats right, i was the bad luck charm 3 fight parties ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomembername Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 does this kid ever have any good luck charms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stymie Posted July 28 Report Share Posted July 28 neither of u have any idea what m talking aboutRip it siiiiiiiiiiick Roy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majinbuu Posted July 29 Report Share Posted July 29 hope roy survives this one...last 2 fights looked like his head was gonna get knocked off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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