BOUT COULD BE A SHOOTOUT TARVER'S TRAINER EXPECTS JONES TO 'COME OUT AND GUN EARLY'.

Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS - If Antonio Tarver has motivated Roy Jones Jr. as much as Jones was motivated for his rematch against Montell Griffin nearly seven years ago, look out.

Ever since losing a disputed majority decision to Jones last Nov. 8, Tarver hasn't stopped complaining about the decision, nor has he stopped badmouthing Jones.

Tonight at Mandalay Bay, the two will square off in a rematch for Jones' World Boxing Council light heavyweight belt. It's the same title Jones took from Tarver six months ago, at the same place.

The pay-per-view card will begin at 6 p.m.

``One thing we know, he is going to come out and gun early,'' said Buddy McGirt, Tarver's trainer. ``It will be a bad mistake and I don't think it is going to make a whole lot of sense.

``He is going to come at us early to get that respect. He may come right at us, like he did to Montell Griffin, and try to gun Antonio out of there. What we have to do when Roy starts gunslinging is to start shooting bullets with him.''

On Aug. 7, 1997, Jones came out like a man possessed and knocked out Griffin in the first round. It happened nearly five months after Jones was disqualified in the ninth round for hitting Griffin while he was down on one knee. It is Jones' only loss.

Between fights, Jones (49-1, 38 knockouts) had to listen to experts talk about how he was losing early to a fighter who never was great and how much of a so-and-so he was for hitting Griffin while he was down. Jones had rallied and was leading on two scorecards when he was disqualified.

This scenario is similar in that Jones has had to listen to Tarver's insults during the promotion for this rematch. He's also heard plenty from the experts, who have scoffed at the decision of the first fight and Jones' many postfight excuses about his lethargic performance.

The biggest thing was the weight. Jones had to lose some 24 pounds of muscle to get down to the 175-pound limit to fight Tarver. By the middle of the fight, Jones was obviously exhausted.

``I took his best shot, and I was about a 6 (out of 10),'' Jones said of his fitness level for the first fight. ``I'm about a 9 now.''

Jones said he again struggled with his weight for this fight, but that he went about taking off the muscle a different way. It must have worked as Jones weighed in at 174 pounds Friday, one pound under the limit. He appeared fresh, fit and fired up.

``Last time I just ran the weight off,'' Jones, 35, said. ``I didn't care how I felt. I didn't make sure I ate right. I didn't care about training and I didn't care how I looked in training.

That said, will a rejuvenated Jones go after Tarver (21-2, 17 KOs) with mean intentions early?

Jones isn't saying.

``I want to see what he's going to do,'' Jones said. ``I want to see if he can back up all he's saying. But I don't hate the dude.''

Perhaps the biggest question is this: If Jones, who said he also suffered from a toothache and had a lack of focus last November, is nearly 100 percent, can Tarver again stay close?

Tarver, 35, has no doubt.

``Everybody has their nemesis,'' said Tarver, who weighed in at 175. ``Everybody has their match. I just happen to match Roy Jones. Speed for speed, skill for skill, talent for talent.

``Any way you want to measure up, I measure up. That's what people are going to realize. All those excuses are out the window.''

Robert Morales, [phone], Ext. 2213

robert.morales(at)sgvn.com

FIGHT NIGHT

Who: Roy Jones Jr. vs. Antonio Tarver

At stake: Jones' WBC light heavyweight championship

Where: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

TV: Pay-per-view; card begins at 6 p.m.

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FIGHT NIGHT (see text)