TARVER-JOHNSON MATCH IN THE WORKS.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Boxing

Roy Jones Jr. fought terribly against Glen Johnson on Sept. 25 and was knocked out in the ninth round.

Jones appeared reluctant to commit to his punches, and it almost looked like he froze when the big right hand that put him on his back for good was on its way. He saw it coming, but didn't budge.

Antonio Tarver had unquestionably softened up Jones for Johnson last May 15 when he viciously knocked out Jones in the second round with a great left cross.

That said, Dan Goossen still must have felt like he had been handed an early Christmas present by Johnson (41-9-2, 28 KOs), whom he promotes. Thanks to his stunning victory, Goossen is in early negotiations with Tarver's promoter, Joe DeGuardi of New York, for a title unification bout between Tarver and Johnson.

Tarver is scheduled to defend his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association light-heavyweight belts Dec. 18 against somebody named Paul Briggs. Tarver shouldn't have much of a problem dispatching him.

Goossen said he knew Jones might be vulnerable, but he didn't see that as a sign of sure victory for Johnson, who made the first defense of his International Boxing Federation title that night in Memphis, Tenn. Johnson, of Miami via Jamaica, is 35.

``I'd be sitting here lying to you if I said I thought it was a 100 percent slam dunk,'' said Goossen, of Goossen Tutor Promotions in Sherman Oaks, on Sunday. ``I went into the fight knowing we had a fighter who always fought with his heart.

``When you have someone that does that fight in and fight out, you know everything is possible. At the same time, he was going in against one of the great fighters of all time in Roy Jones Jr., even though Roy was coming off a devastating loss to Antonio Tarver.''

Goossen said the difference, in his opinion, was that it was one hungry fighter that night, and another who had a belly full.

``We had a fighter who was very hungry,'' Goossen said. ``Roy had a lot to prove coming back from that loss to Tarver, but he was very wealthy, and he had so many other things going on in his life.

``It's hard to overcome that hunger.''

Now, Goossen is hopeful of landing the big one - Tarver.

``We have been working very hard in that regard,'' Goossen said. ``We have had some very, very, let's say good, negotiations in trying to make this a reality. This would be a promoter's dream.

``Tarver gives (heavyweight contender) James (Toney) a run for his money with the verbiage he doles out. And then there's Glen, who after beating Roy, said, 'I'm not the best, but I want to fight the best.' When is the last time you heard a fighter say that?''

Jones, meanwhile, is expected to take some time off before deciding his future as a fighter.

In a news release last week, Jones said he was going to concentrate on promoting fighters through his Square Ring Inc. company. He said his main objective will be to sign the game's top amateurs, including those fresh off the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

``I understand the boxing business and I'm proud of the fact that I've always been responsible for my own career and was able to make the right choices,'' Jones, 35, said.

``I know what it feels like to come out of the Olympics and not just want to fight, but to get the opportunity to fight the best. I know what it takes to become champion.''

--Local show: Pound-for-Pound Boxing Promotions will play host to Fight Night VI on Oct. 28 at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood.

Headlining the seven-bout show will be Orlando Salido of Mexico going against countryman Martin Fing Santiesteban (5-4, 5 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout. Salido, 23, is 23-9-2 with 15 knockouts.

His most recent fight was with Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 18 for Marquez's WBA and IBF belts. Marquez defeated Salido by unanimous decision on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins-Oscar De La Hoya middleweight championship fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Salido is ranked No. 4 by the IBF, No. 8 by the WBA and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization.

For ticket information, call [phone].

--Mitchell-Tszyu on horizon: The rematch between Kostya Tszyu and Sharmba Mitchell is scheduled for Nov. 6 in Phoenix, Ariz. They will be fighting for Tszyu's IBF junior welterweight belt.

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