Roy Jones should've retired after the 1st Tarver fight...

Its easy for us to set back and say we would have done it this way or that way but the man has the desire to fight and thats very hard to supress even when the odds begin to stack against you. Lennox Lewis and Rocky Marciano are huge acceptions to the rule.

 

I don't think that his reflexes were taking a hit at that point. I just think that he was fighting a better fighter than he was used to. Tarver used to chase him everywhere begging Roy to fight him. I think that Roy knew that he was in for it when he finally decided to fight him. Tarver came to the post fight press conference for Jones vs Ruiz and really embarrassed him in front of th media.

Part of what he stood up and said...

“I want my shot at history, Roy. Stop running from me,” Tarver shouted while Jones addressed the media from the podium. “I was so glad that you won tonight, so when we do meet, your legacy will be in tact when I knock you out. I want my shot Roy Jones, Jr. Until you beat me, I won’t be impressed. If you want to convince me, then step up in the ring.”

 

Tarver proved that if you punch when Roy punches, he becomes MUCH MUCH less effective. Everyone used to get caught up in standing in the middle of the ring with Roy, playing the feint game and letting Roy pot shot the hell out of them. Those fights with Tarver and Johnson also proved that IF they just stood there and had a pose down with Roy, he would look just as great and flasy as he always has. However, when they punched as he punched, he really started to fall apart. Tarver exposed this fact, and Johnson executed it as well.

 

Yes he shoulda retired after the 1st tarver fight......I don't think he was exposed..he juss was past it obviously and didn't have the same reflexes as before...

 

Jones must have an ego bigger than a boxing ring to believe a) people still wanna see him fight, and b) he has anything left in the tank to fight at a decent level!

 

Tarver was soundly beaten by Roy. The only debate about the fight became the fact that it was close. Jones never had a close fight before then. Even after. Jones is writing his legacy. We do not know how the ending will detail, however, I am proud that he is willing to write it. More people sit at home and bash or whine about these fighters decisions. Then, the same people live uninteresting lives that no one would bother to write about. Jones is doing what many would enjoy, living a legacy.

 

The man has to much of an ego to reitre. He won't be happy till he dies in the ring

 

I agree however, If I was in his shoes, I would have done the same thing. Think about it. You beat a guy on your WORST day. Jones worked out, got in right shape and then got knocked out. In his mind, he had to think "it was a mistake, where did I go wrong? This guy had to be lucky". Boxing is a hard hustle. You never know what you truly have until it is TOTALLY gone. Jones last fight may have done more damage than construction. If he over estimates his ability, he may run into another punch.

 

Tarver somewhat showed in. But he got caught up standing in the middle of the ring for most of their first fight.

 

lordie my boy is getting some serious attention as of late...the opinions about when rjj shouldve hung'em up are all across the board. but i think we can all agree that we don't want to see him get hurt and i think we can all agree that he is gonna keep fighting no matter how badly he needs to quit. this is all he knows.

 

people say larry holmes should have retired after tyson
people say foreman should have retired after stewart and holyfield.
they ended doing pretty well after all that