BOXING: JONES KEEPING MUM ON TARVER.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Boxing

We'd all love to know what Roy Jones Jr. is thinking as he heads into a dangerous third fight with Antonio Tarver on Saturday in Tampa, Fla.

But Jones, who has been knocked out in his past two fights and has had severe damage done to what was going to be a strong legacy, isn't talking to the media, or anyone else for that matter.

Tarver, who knocked out Jones in the second round in May 2004, isn't happy about Jones' silence.

``I think it is a slap in the face to all of those people that have pumped him up and glorified him over the years,'' Tarver said of Jones, who has not attended any news conferences or participated in any conference calls during this promotion. ``This guy has given nothing to the game.

``All he is is a bunch of hot air. It just goes to show you the guy has no compassion for the sport that made him a wealthy man and pretty much an icon in many ways, and he has given nothing back.

``It's a shame. Shame on him.''

Jones was sailing along in fine fashion until he ran into Tarver the first time, in November 2003, in Las Vegas. Jones was 48-1 and had won world championships in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Although he had his detractors because he didn't take a lot of chances in the ring, many experts were putting Jones in the ``one of the best ever'' category.

Jones retained his World Boxing Council light heavyweight belt with a somewhat controversial majority decision over Tarver.

Six months later, Tarver shocked the world with a vicious, one-punch knockout of Jones in the second round, winning the WBC and World Boxing Association titles.

Jones tried to shake off that shellacking by coming back just four months and 10 days later to challenge Glen Johnson for his International Boxing Federation light heavyweight championship.

Johnson knocked out Jones in the ninth round, and Jones was out cold for several minutes.

Yet, here he is, back for more. A conference call was scheduled for Jones last Wednesday, but to no one's surprise, he was a no-show. He left his trainer, Alton Merkerson, holding the bag.

Merkerson reiterated all of the excuses Jones has used for his two knockout losses. The most laughable was that Jones was lackadaisical in his preparation for Tarver and Johnson because he had lost interest in the sport.

According to Merkerson, Jones has renewed vigor, and it will come out Saturday.

``I think he's back and more dedicated than he was the last two or three fights,'' said Merkerson, who will share trainer duties with Roy Jones Sr., who is back in his son's corner after the two were estranged for years. ``So, you'll see that in the fight.

``If he was that dedicated for the last three fights, things would not have happened the way they did.''

Merkerson was asked why Jones has refused to talk to the media.

``Constantly telling people what you are going to do, like Tarver is doing, and trying to explain to people why you didn't do what you were supposed to do the last time, that's not a positive thing,'' Merkerson said.

``Any negativity you will have will come about by answering questions like that because it is repetitious, as it keeps pounding into you.''

Tarver, 36, is 23-3 with 18 knockouts. Jones, 36, is 49-3 with 38 knockouts. No major title is on the line, but Tarver is generally considered the people's light heavyweight champion.

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Photo:

A dejected Roy Jones Jr. leaves the ring after a loss to Antonio Tarver in May 2004.

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

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