LAS VEGAS — The punch was shocking enough. The result was even more shocking.
Antonio Tarver's left hand out of nowhere stopped Roy Jones Jr. in the second round Saturday night, giving him the light heavyweight title and handing Jones the most crushing defeat of his illustrious career.
Tarver had landed only a handful of punches and seemed slow in starting when Jones threw a right hand that missed that caused him to crouch down. Tarver came out of the crouch with a roundhouse left hand that caught Jones flush on the side of his face.
Jones was knocked under the ropes in Tarver's corner, and was badly hurt even though he managed to get up at about the count of seven. But he stumbled across the ring as referee Jay Nady waved the fight to an end at 1:41 of the second round.
Tarver, who had vowed to settle a score from his loss to Jones in November, jumped around the ring in celebration as the crowd at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino went wild.
It was only the second loss of Jones' 15-year pro career, and only the second time he had ever been knocked down. His first loss was on disqualification in a fight he later avenged.
"I never gave up on my dream so here we are," Tarver said.
Tarver was tight from the opening bell, warily circling Jones while his corner urged him to throw punches. Jones began landing his right hand lead midway through the first round, and it looked as if Jones was going to be the faster and stronger fighter.
In the corner after the first round Tarver said to trainer James "Buddy" McGirt: "He doesn't respect me."
"Go out and get yours," McGirt replied.
Tarver did just that, bringing the fight to a stunning end almost before it began.
Both fighters were the same age — 35 — but there was a wide difference in experience. Jones was in his 25th world title fight, while Tarver was fighting for a title for only the third time.