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Boxing
Rematch Three-Peat: Tarver Beats Johnson Unanimously - written June 19th, 2005 by Aaron S. Bayley Antonio Tarver can add another rematch victory to his resume after winning a unanimous decision over Glencoffe Johnson and regaining the undisputed light heavyweight title last night at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. Tarver lost both to Eric Harding and Roy Jones Jr. and came back to knock both men out in rematches. While he didn't stop the iron-jawed "Road Warrior", he can add his name to the list of men he's avenged. Tarver turned the tables on Johnson by using the strategy that Johnson used in their first match last December - effective aggression. Tarver threw punches non-stop and frequently landed right hooks, while Johnson found it difficult to get into a groove and mount his own attack. This time the decision was clear-cut, with the judges scoring it 116-112 (twice) and 115-113. A rubber match looks more likely, since Roy Jones seems more interested in a rematch with another titlist - pound-for-pound middlweight champ Bernard Hopkins. Should Jones-Tarver III ever take place, the "Magic Man" would have to be considered just as dangerous as he was the night he threw the boxing world off its axis with the now infamous straight left. As for Johnson, most boxing enthusiasts seemed to know that his reign would be short-lived, but it couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy, and hey - he can always say he knocked the great Roy Jones Jr. unconscious. On the undercard, Ghanaian Ike Quartey squeaked by Verno Phillips with a unanimous decision victory despite being floored in the 9th round by a left hook. Quartey, who is attempting a comeback and hopes for a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya, better have a few more tune-ups before entertaining any ideas about big-money fights with top-tier opponents. © 2005 Aaron Bayley |