Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver: Boxing’s Odd Couple.

Roy Jones Jr. is a name that will always have its discussion time in any debate on or about the great sport of boxing. He is a flashy, loud supporter of his own bragging rights. You can like him or dislike him; regardless of your personal opinion on the richly talented boxer, you know his name. It may be the business of boxing or the calling of boxing

fans but Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver are planning a third and hopefully the final chapter to their competitive rivalry. I would not bet on seeing Jones and Tarver eating lunch together, sharing laughter and discussing past great fighters in the sport they coincide. Yet, the respect level is there, even if the two tend to ignore that idea. The last memories we share of Jones are not pleasant and acceptable. Tarver eagerly grasped the crown of being the top light heavyweight, but the shadow of Jones has always been in the background.

The ambitious Tarver has not captivated the public interest in the form of the master boxing student Jones. The wins Tarver has earned since beating Jones were favorable but also an injustice to his talent. Tarver was punished for beating Jones in the second fight; he is looked at as a mouthy boxer with no excitement. Keeping the contrast fair between the two, I don’t think many boxers can pick up where Jones left off and take it to the next level, except for Jones. Some may think Jones’ willingness to enter the ring is a plus for the sport, while at the same time, the thought of “why is he entering against a dangerous Tarver,” is even more proof of why this match will have an everlasting effect on the light heavyweight division.

The importance of a star in a weight class is a necessity many overlook. Just look at the farewells of Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and the confused Evander Holyfield and you have more than enough bait to understand that the current talent is the guiding line for the future talent. Jones had more than enough time to lose his weight in the proper fashion, along with the ability to study Tarver, even to the point of being ringside to watch Tarver. Jones’ rise to the top story is one of applause and respect, but his fall from that same mountaintop is sad and profound. Jones has a lot to prove, and this is life or death for him.

Tarver has always dogged Jones in the media, and it was a key factor in him knocking out Jones in the second fight. Excuses are nothing new for boxers, so Jones should not take the weight for offering one. I truly think Jones was not the same after the sudden weight jump and drop, which he did to please the boxing world and his own ego. Even though I grant Tarver the benefit of being a top prospect in the boxing game, he is still an unproven talent. Could it be the ghost of proving people wrong that ultimately proves to be the key in defeating his own talent? Tarver needs to place some logic into that approach.

Jones did not let the Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver defeats push away his hopes of returning to the ring with efficiency and justice on reclaiming his pound-for-pound status. I am confident and convinced that this third match between Tarver and Jones is going to be a defining statement for both Jones and Tarver. If Jones wins, he has the sports world in the palm of his hand; if Jones loses, the retirement papers will be in the locker room, waiting for his signature. Let’s comprehend a Tarver win. It would place him in the palm of the boxing world; if he loses, he can still survive and maintain in boxing, perhaps in the heavyweight division, a division in which he can peak. Notice the difference I stated in the possibilities of a Jones win and a Tarver win? Jones will be the centerpiece of representation for the sports world, due largely to his entertaining appeal and Tarver will be the top story in the boxing world, due to his lack of appeal in the sports world. Boxing fans respect Tarver, even if they label him a loudmouth, and at times, louder than Jones and Floyd Mayweather Jr. combined.

I cannot toss away the notion on why Jones is returning. It has to be a path that Jones sees, which desists his walking away from the sport. Maybe it was Bernard Hopkins’ age-defying performances that inspired Jones to give the boxing world his all and hopefully on October 1, he will give Tarver his all. No excuses this time Jones.

Contact Shaun Rico LaWhorn at filmmaking_mentality@msn.com