Columnist Dean Juipe: Underdog Tarver makes it a memorable night

Dean Juipe

Monday, May 17, 2004 | 8:49 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

Jay Nady reacted with a disapproving facial expression and a "Knock it off" or "Cut that out" remark to Antonio Tarver, just as one might lightly admonish a cat or a dog for acting up.

In a nervy display, Tarver had used the usually placid prefight instructions at the center of the ring to get the first jab of the fight in on Roy Jones Jr.

"What excuse have you got tonight, Roy?" Tarver not so politely said over Nady and to Jones as they awaited the opening of their light heavyweight title fight Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

His wrist figuratively slapped by Nady, Tarver, nonetheless, got in his shot.

Six or so minutes later he landed an even bigger one.

And the reaction it caused brought the house down.

In a perfect example of the value of sports as not only entertainment but as unpredictable drama, Tarver stopped Jones 101 seconds into the second round of a fight whose sudden ending will forever be remembered by those in attendance. Hitting Jones on the head for only the second time in the abbreviated bout, Tarver connected with a picture-perfect left cross from left field that knocked the supposedly invincible champion to the floor.

Struggling along the bottom strand of the ropes -- much as Mike Tyson in a futile search for his mouthpiece after being socked by Buster Douglas in their 1990 fight in Japan -- Jones lurched but couldn't regain his equilibrium. Nady didn't hesitate, waving his arms over his head in the familiar signal that the fight was done.

Rarely has a high-profile fight ended so suddenly and with so little advance warning. In a split second, Jones went from looking as if he was in control to looking as if he might never be in control again.

The crowd, a little less than the building's 11,500 capacity, reached delirium, roaring at the knockdown and continuing to roar as bedlam ensued in and about the ring.

The King Is Dead, Long Live The King.

"Right on the kisser," Tarver said later, gladly recreating a punch that will have a lasting, historical significance and become part of the sport's lore.

As the big crowd filed out, a sense of glee permeated. As much as the fans came to see Jones -- he was clearly the rooting as well as the betting favorite -- they were spellbound by Tarver's manipulation of fate and fortune.

Every person who saw it reacted in a similar manner: "Shocking," said half the crowd. "Beyond belief," said the other.

The response cannot be exaggerated. People were both speechless and driven to speak, breathlessly sharing the moment with other equally wowed witnesses.

Unlike the past two major fights in Las Vegas over the last five weeks, this one concluded without dispute or suspicion. There would be no second guessing of judges or hints of a fix.

Tarver had done as he had promised, knocking out a man who hadn't really been beaten since making the U.S. Olympic team in 1988. He jettisoned Jones -- and did it decisively -- despite landing only seven punches.

He clarified his position in the sport and announced his arrival as a major star, albeit one who was being booed for his tempestuousness and bravado during the introductions. Many in the arena had seen the first Jones vs. Tarver fight Nov. 8 and some were indignant with Tarver's indignation after he not only lost but belittled the highly decorated and well-respected Jones for making excuses.

The rematch gave Tarver a second opportunity to take matters into his own hands against his fellow Floridian.

"I stayed with my dream and it came true," he said of defeating a man who is something of a neighbor if not a nemesis. "It takes a great fighter to beat a great fighter."

Which is why the fans may accept Tarver now that he's proven himself to their satisfaction. The boos that were directed toward him prior to the fight -- his personal rapper probably didn't help -- and during the opening round -- he and Jones were cautious to an extreme -- are but a footnote now in the context of history.

More important to those who saw it, Tarver bookmarked the day. With a single great punch that connected with precision and authority, he provided everyone in attendance with topical conversation material for days, if not years, to come.

Ask anyone who was there: "shocking" and "beyond belief" never partnered so well. With a single great punch that connected with precision and authority, he provided everyone in attendance with topical conversation material for days, if not years, to come.