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By Rick Reeno
Roy Jones Jr. spoke out for the first time since his KO loss to Antonio Tarver on May 15, 2004. In an interview with USA Today, Jones shed some light on his future, Antonio Tarver and how he feels about his first legit loss. Jones said that he will return as soon as HBO clears a date for him and it could be against Fabrice Tiozzo at light heavyweight.
"I'm doing good. I'm dealing with it (his loss)," Jones said.
"I accept the fact. They're supposed to lower me after a result like that (pound for pound rankings). But at 35, who stayed there as long as I did? This has been a wonderful life for me. One loss does not change that. Nothing can take away what I have accomplished just because of one punch."
"Roy ain't gonna pack it in. I want to continue to fight. I am a true warrior."
"I had a premonition that I would get caught with a bad lick. Nothing I could do about it. I knew it was coming. I was so much more ready for this fight than the first one. But I had a premonition something like this would happen. I felt (the fight) wouldn't be like I wanted it to be. I was ready for this situation. But (Tarver) talks so damn much, so I hate that my day came with him."
"I'm giving him credit. He threw the lucky punch with his eyes closed. But I have to give him credit because he threw the punch at the right time."
Regarding the issue of which weight class he will make his comeback in:
"I felt really good at light heavy and I feel I can do it again. If a big heavyweight fight comes, you take it. But if not I'll do my thing at light heavy."
On a third meeting with Tarver:
"I don't need Tarver. We're 1-1 but he's gonna talk crazy (about money). He knows he got lucky. He'll talk like he's the draw, but he's not. I am the draw. I'm still the man. They still want to see Roy Jones Jr. A 50-50 split ain't happening. But let me make it clear, Roy would love to go right back with Tarver again because I know I can whup him. But Roy is no one's slave. Roy is still the one people want to see, not Antonio Tarver."
In what he felt when he got hit with his first legit loss:
"You realize how the 49 people I beat felt. It's not a good feeling but God was going to make sure I went through that at least once. I just sat there for a minute and thought, I did all I could do. Do I want to be mad? What is there to be mad at? What do I have to be ashamed of? You good, just keep going. God put me through something like this in Korea"
"It's hard for most good fighters when they fall but since I always assumed you could die (in the ring), I always assumed this could happen. After all, I am a human being."
*Thanks to boxingscene.com
By Rick Reeno
Roy Jones Jr. spoke out for the first time since his KO loss to Antonio Tarver on May 15, 2004. In an interview with USA Today, Jones shed some light on his future, Antonio Tarver and how he feels about his first legit loss. Jones said that he will return as soon as HBO clears a date for him and it could be against Fabrice Tiozzo at light heavyweight.
"I'm doing good. I'm dealing with it (his loss)," Jones said.
"I accept the fact. They're supposed to lower me after a result like that (pound for pound rankings). But at 35, who stayed there as long as I did? This has been a wonderful life for me. One loss does not change that. Nothing can take away what I have accomplished just because of one punch."
"Roy ain't gonna pack it in. I want to continue to fight. I am a true warrior."
"I had a premonition that I would get caught with a bad lick. Nothing I could do about it. I knew it was coming. I was so much more ready for this fight than the first one. But I had a premonition something like this would happen. I felt (the fight) wouldn't be like I wanted it to be. I was ready for this situation. But (Tarver) talks so damn much, so I hate that my day came with him."
"I'm giving him credit. He threw the lucky punch with his eyes closed. But I have to give him credit because he threw the punch at the right time."
Regarding the issue of which weight class he will make his comeback in:
"I felt really good at light heavy and I feel I can do it again. If a big heavyweight fight comes, you take it. But if not I'll do my thing at light heavy."
On a third meeting with Tarver:
"I don't need Tarver. We're 1-1 but he's gonna talk crazy (about money). He knows he got lucky. He'll talk like he's the draw, but he's not. I am the draw. I'm still the man. They still want to see Roy Jones Jr. A 50-50 split ain't happening. But let me make it clear, Roy would love to go right back with Tarver again because I know I can whup him. But Roy is no one's slave. Roy is still the one people want to see, not Antonio Tarver."
In what he felt when he got hit with his first legit loss:
"You realize how the 49 people I beat felt. It's not a good feeling but God was going to make sure I went through that at least once. I just sat there for a minute and thought, I did all I could do. Do I want to be mad? What is there to be mad at? What do I have to be ashamed of? You good, just keep going. God put me through something like this in Korea"
"It's hard for most good fighters when they fall but since I always assumed you could die (in the ring), I always assumed this could happen. After all, I am a human being."
*Thanks to boxingscene.com
