Johnson Floors Jones Jr. in Ninth Round

[Walter Cronkite]

After several minutes on the canvas, Jones would later attempt to continue.

Glen Johnson knocked out Roy Jones Jr. in the ninth round Saturday night to retain his IBF light heavyweight title and cast more doubt on the future of one of boxing's most storied fighters.

Jones lay on his back moving only slightly for almost four minutes after he was felled by an overhand right, followed by a short left. Trainers filled a towel with ice and slid it under Jones' head as he lay on the canvas, but he had trouble opening his eyes.

Jones, 35, finally walked out of the ring with help from his trainers. Jones left the arena in an ambulance and was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis for a checkup. He walked to the ambulance without comment.

He got into the ambulance in a backstage hallway just a few yards from Johnson's victory news conference.

"Listen, I'm not claiming I'm the best this or the best that. I'm the guy who is willing to fight the self-claimed best," Johnson said.

The defeat left Jones' once-impressive career in tatters.

Jones turned pro after the 1988 Olympics, where it was widely perceived he was robbed of the gold medal. He has won titles at classes ranging from middleweight to heavyweight -- last March he won a piece of the heavyweight title by taking the WBA crown from John Ruiz.

Last November, he captured the light heavyweight crown from Antonio Tarver in the first of their two fights. But he was defeated by a crashing left from Tarver in their rematch in May.

Tarver joined Johnson at his news conference, saying he regarded Jones' career as over.

"I want to see the man go on and enjoy his life after boxing," Tarver said. "We don't need to see Roy Jones go through the things he went through tonight, the things he went through on May 15. Let the man ride off into the sunset."

Tarver said he was ready to fight Johnson for the IBF light heavyweight title, and Johnson was open to the idea.

Johnson, 41-9-2, with 28 knockouts, came out the aggressor from the opening bell Saturday night. He threw a total of 437 punches to 270 for Jones and kept the challenger against the ropes for most of the fight.

By the seventh round, the crowd was booing and calling for more action from Jones.

"I beat him at his own game," said Johnson, a native of Jamaica who makes his home in Miami. "A lot of guys try to fight Roy from the outside, but I wanted to stay in on him."

Source: AP

[AndySMC]

Roy Jones should retire!

After watching Roy Jones fight Tarver and get knocked out, I thought it was a good time for him to strongly consider retiring. His reflexes have deteriorated significantly since going up to the heavyweight division and dropping back down. In this most recent fight against Johnson, is reflexes deteriorated more, perhaps as a result of the damage inflicted by the knockout against Tarver. His legs looked shot as well. His current physical condition prevents him from fighting the way he has for so many years. He can no longer cheat and drop the left hand. He has limited head movement. Of greater concern is that he has no focus. His trainer had a hard time getting his attention in between rounds. He is at a point where any fighter who will pressure him can stop him (kind of like Sugar Ray Leonard when he fought Terry Norris and Hector Camacho). Just a shell!

Roy! Do not reduce yourself to a trial horse! Please retire and preserve whatever health you have left! Tarver was being sincere when he said go on and enjoy life! He will be there in a couple of more fights as he is no spring chicken either!