[Antonio Tarver presented a formidable challenge. He was born in Orlando to a single-parent mother who raised him and three daughters on her own.] She and my father never lived together, ... He was a Vietnam vet. It's hard to say he was my father because he was never there. Biologically, he donated but that's about all. We never saw much of each other, just a phone call here and there, so I never had that male figure in my life. That was a void I had to live with. |
[Tarver and Jones met in the ring for the first time as 13-year-olds at the 1982 Sunshine State Games.] I won the first round, ... Roy won the second. The third round was close and he got the decision. Then, when I was fourteen, my mother moved us to a better section of Orlando that was thirty miles from the Boys Club. There was no way for me to get to the gym, so I gave up boxing and concentrated on other sports. I played quarterback and wide receiver in football and shooting guard on the high school basketball team. In my mind, I was good. But I wasn't as good as I thought. |
[Tarver, 36, said he is taking nothing for granted, including the rumors that Jones is not 100 percent.] People say that Roy is not himself, ... I'm not going to relax or allow this guy to even have a chance. |
A lot of people are thinking I'm one-punch happy, |
A lot of people are thinking I'm one-punch happy. I'm a better fighter today than you've ever seen. I'm more focused. I'm more convinced of my ability. Whatever Roy Jones brings, I'm here to tell you it won't be good enough. Not here. Not now. Not ever. |
A lot of people want to question his ability and skill now that I have arrived, but pre-Antonio Tarver, he was like a prima donna, |
At the same time, I should have been more responsible to my career and the game that has given me so much, boxing. It was a tough lessoned learned. They gave me 1 1/2 months to get prepared for the fight coming off hot dogs, Cokes and a lot of pasta. It was a tough transition. |
Basically, the fight was rushed on me at a time when I was really enjoying my celebrity. You never stop learning. I traveled the country and went on a few vacations. I was just living the life, |
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Do you have any excuses tonight Roy Jones? And seven punches later - seven is the number of completion - seven punches later is Roy Jones no more. So you have to look back, it's a powerful, powerful statement. I told Roy Jones when he was the heavyweight champion, You're not even the best fighter in Florida. And I got to prove it. So it's a spiritual thing when you think about it, man. And I'm just so thankful. Going through the transition from amateur to the pros - they can't deny me no more. I refuse to be denied. And I told the world that it will recognize, before it's all over, they will recognize. And now they do. |
But he'll be close enough to walk home. |
Give a man credit where credit is due, |
Good things happen when you believe, ... A long time ago, I had a vision. I don't just want to be a champion. I want to be a superstar. I have the ability to be spectacular every time out. I did without for a long time. I struggled; I came up on the dirt road of boxing. I'm a hard worker; I'm goal-oriented. When I set a goal, I'm totally consumed by it. Failure isn't an option. |
He came to reclaim his throne, but it wasn't happening tonight, |
He has big goals. He has big dreams. It's up to me to close the door. |
He is one of the all-time greats in this sport. I'm expecting to face a prime Roy Jones at his best. |