I can't agree with that mate. Bowe had two wins over Holy before he was past his best, before he beat Tyson etc. Roy was never the same after dropping back from heavy. He wasn't shot, but he was a long way past his peak, and he was nowhere near 100%, both physically and mentally. I think Bowe's wins were definitely better.
Ha! I love Clay Davis! I miss the Wire so much! I hope and pray that they make some more episodes. :good
:deal The above is so true as to be axiomatic. That is to say, self-evident. Roy's work was done when he outclassed Ruiz. Retirement was indicated. He drained back down and outpointed the 'good' Tarver, but it was closer than it should have been, a warning of sorts. After that, Retirement was the only prudent path. ATG status assured and a top 20 position locked, with a fair number labelling him a top 10. Sadly, Roy did not heed the warning, and he fought on. An on. And on.... He'l now be lucky to escape nappies (diapers) in his late sixties. :-(
I respect your opinion, but what about Bowe's first fight with Holy? Bowe's first win over Holy surely eclipses any win Tarver had? Like I keep saying, if Tarver was that great, he'd have beaten Roy the first time, when Roy had nothing left for the last 3 rounds. He was running on fumes, and Tarver couldn't capitalize. Buddy McGirt knew he'd lost the fight. Tarver shouldn't have needed a rematch.
I just rewatched the Jones/Tarver rematch. Jones was very motivated (which the HBO crew was also talking about). His downfall was his own agression. He responded to every punch Tarver landed with two or three counters. He looked great doing it in the first round. When he got knocked out, he was countering Tarver's jab and with a right and a hook. He landed the hook, but Tarver walked through it and teed off on him. There's nothing in that performance to suggest that he was almost done.
Roy wasn't motivated for Tarver the way he used to be motivated for fights. After the first fight with Tarver, he was still looking to fight Tyson. Everyone wanted to see the Tarver rematch, so he tried to get himself in the right mindset by rehiring Mackie Shilstone, who among other things, is a great sports psychologist. He did look good in the first round, and again I give credit to Tarver for the win. But when you look at things on a whole, Roy had fought 50 times, he was 35, and he was way past his absolute best. Also, as I keep mentioning, Tarver shouldn't have needed the rematch. The whole purpose of this thread, is to establish whether or not Tarver was great or not. I have to say he wasn't, for the reasons I've discussed. I'll give him a certain degree of credit, but Roy was there for the taking in 2003, and Tarver didn't have enough to capitalize. I think the Woods version of Roy was much better, and I don't think Tarver could have knocked Roy out if they'd have fought in 2000.
I think he is like Jersey Joe Walcott, in that his standing will go up after his career. I think that he will ultimately end up in the great bracket, even if he is at the lower end of it.