madjack
10-11-2003, 05:48 AM
Briggs moves on Jones' crown
By Grantlee Kieza
November 10, 2003
AUSTRALIA'S Paul Briggs should know within two weeks who he will fight for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title after new champ Roy Jones relinquishes it.
Jones looked slow and lethargic regaining his 79.5kg title from long-time rival Antonio Tarver with a majority decision in Las Vegas yesterday and said he would almost certainly give up the crown for a farewell bout against Mike Tyson.
He vacated the title earlier this year to win the WBA heavyweight championship against John Ruiz. Jones had to shed 11kg of muscle to make the weight limit for yesterday's title fight against Tarver, who claimed the light-heavyweight throne in Jones' absence.
Tarver complained bitterly about the decision which went to Jones 114-114, 117-111 and 116-112.
Briggs, the top contender for the WBC title, has been waiting more than a year for his chance at a world title since brutally knocking out Jones' Australian victim Glen Kelly at the Hordern Pavilion.
The Gold Coast fighter's trainer Rod Waterhouse said Briggs would face either Croatian Stipe Drews, German Thomas Ullrich or even Tarver for the vacant crown.
"We're very confident no matter which of the three Paul faces," Waterhouse said.
"On what I saw yesterday Paul would knock Tarver out. Roy Jones was exhausted after six rounds and Tarver still let him control the fight.
"It was probably the worst performance Roy has ever put in and he still won."
Jones improved his record to 49-1 (38 KOs). His only loss came on a disqualification when he was ahead on points against Montell Griffin. He knocked Griffin out in one round in a rematch.
Looking gaunt and weary even before the fight started, Jones still managed to finish the fight strongly and make sure of the decision against the lanky southpaw who suffered his second loss in 23 fights.
"It was tough having to lose 25 pounds," Jones said, "it was the hardest time of my career.
Tarver had the fans cheering but he was only winning the last 30 seconds of the rounds with flurries to impress the judges.
"I controlled the fight."
But Jones, who has won so many fights with apparent ease, was rocked several times by Tarver's long left hand and finished the fight with a swollen left eye.
By Grantlee Kieza
November 10, 2003
AUSTRALIA'S Paul Briggs should know within two weeks who he will fight for the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title after new champ Roy Jones relinquishes it.
Jones looked slow and lethargic regaining his 79.5kg title from long-time rival Antonio Tarver with a majority decision in Las Vegas yesterday and said he would almost certainly give up the crown for a farewell bout against Mike Tyson.
He vacated the title earlier this year to win the WBA heavyweight championship against John Ruiz. Jones had to shed 11kg of muscle to make the weight limit for yesterday's title fight against Tarver, who claimed the light-heavyweight throne in Jones' absence.
Tarver complained bitterly about the decision which went to Jones 114-114, 117-111 and 116-112.
Briggs, the top contender for the WBC title, has been waiting more than a year for his chance at a world title since brutally knocking out Jones' Australian victim Glen Kelly at the Hordern Pavilion.
The Gold Coast fighter's trainer Rod Waterhouse said Briggs would face either Croatian Stipe Drews, German Thomas Ullrich or even Tarver for the vacant crown.
"We're very confident no matter which of the three Paul faces," Waterhouse said.
"On what I saw yesterday Paul would knock Tarver out. Roy Jones was exhausted after six rounds and Tarver still let him control the fight.
"It was probably the worst performance Roy has ever put in and he still won."
Jones improved his record to 49-1 (38 KOs). His only loss came on a disqualification when he was ahead on points against Montell Griffin. He knocked Griffin out in one round in a rematch.
Looking gaunt and weary even before the fight started, Jones still managed to finish the fight strongly and make sure of the decision against the lanky southpaw who suffered his second loss in 23 fights.
"It was tough having to lose 25 pounds," Jones said, "it was the hardest time of my career.
Tarver had the fans cheering but he was only winning the last 30 seconds of the rounds with flurries to impress the judges.
"I controlled the fight."
But Jones, who has won so many fights with apparent ease, was rocked several times by Tarver's long left hand and finished the fight with a swollen left eye.