The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche saw the idea of "the superman" as an extreme challenge to the human spirit, a condition which we have an obligation to strive towards. When one "overcomes" man, he has become "the superman", or "over-man".

So what are we to make of Roy Jones Jr, the self-proclaimed "Superman" who was hit with a handful of Kryptonite by Antonio Tarver? What is to be made of the legacy of this "Lord of the Ring", this four-division title-holder who like the great Greek warrior Achilles, was more intent on securing his own name and legacy in the history books than in serving anyone else's purpose?

Roy Jones Jr, at times, seemed super-human. Physically, his ripped, muscular body was the prototype for light heavyweight perfection: 175 pounds of muscle mass packed into a 5'11" frame that when in the ring, either strutted like a showboating peacock or attacked like a rabid pitbull, depending on his mood. Jones is boxing's enigma, a pugilistic paradox who complained of a lack of challenging opposition while doing everything in his power to seemingly prevent the making of megafights with more worthy fighters. One side of Jones doesn't do anything without calculating it to the decimal point, looking at it from every possible angle, and analyzing every possible outcome. Jones's alter-ego, whom he refers to as "RJ", is the more volatile, reckless side of his personality, the side that he doesn't want to unleash for fear of devestating consequences.

Anyone who knows anything about Roy Jones knows that his training regimen is strict, he never smokes, drinks, or puts anything harmful in his body, and on the night of a fight, he's always in the best shape of his life.

We know how he won world titles in four weight classes, how he defeated future hall-of-famers Bernard Hopkins and James Toney, how he knocked out Erik Lucas in the 11th round just hours after playing in a basketball game, how he knocked out Glen Kelly by backing up against the ropes with his hands behind his back and making Kelly miss, how he put on 30 pounds to outclass heavyweight John Ruiz and went back down to 175 pounds eight months later to narrowly outpoint Tarver, and how he's universally recognized as the best pound-for-pound boxer this generation has ever seen.

But was all the fame and accolades put in jeopardy last Saturday night? Did one punch threaten the man, the legend and the legacy that is Roy Jones? Or was it all just smoke and mirrors, as Antonio Tarver claims? Was Jones's career a carefully-constructed, safety-first screenplay veiled by Jones's confidence, arrogance, blinding hand speed and sheer athleticism?

There is no disputing Jones's past accomplishments. There will be, however (and inevitably) a renewed debate over whether or not Jones belongs in that elite class shared by Ezzard Charles, Henry Armstrong, and Sugar Ray Robinson. The quality of the opposition those fighters faced far surpassed that of many of Jones's opponents, but Jones's supporters will say that Jones was so talented that he made everyone look average. The man who'd won almost every round he ever fought didn't have anyone to test his mettle.

Until Antonio Tarver came along.

Clearly evident last Saturday night was the fact that Jones was just as shocked as all of us that he was knocked out. The blow to his ego was far more damaging than the one to his chin, and if it weren't for his heart, his ego, and his belief that he truly is a form of Nietzsche's existential superman, he would have stayed sprawled out on the canvas.

Jones has been saying for years that he's finding it increasingly difficult to get motivated for mandatory title defences and fights against no-name opponents, one of the reasons he moved up to heavyweight to challenge for a piece of the heavyweight crown. But if Jones is looking for a reason to get motivated, a defiant Antonio Tarver just gave him one in spades by knocking him off his throne.

Of course Jones belongs in the same elite class as the all-time greats. Not only is his legacy as one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers still intact, but he has a golden opportunity to enhance that legacy by seeking vindication and further glory.

Antonio Tarver has also given Jones a great reason not to retire just yet. And knowing that Roy Jones only does what's best for Roy Jones, let's hope his ego, arrogance and vanity keep him in the game a bit longer, if only to serve his own interests.

Now is not the time to concede defeat. Now is the time to let RJ bring the pain.