Antonio Tarver stunned Roy Jones Jr. with a legendary one-punch knockout in 2004, delivering one of boxing’s greatest upsets ever.
May 15, 2004 - Few moments in boxing history have been as shocking or memorable as Antonio Tarver’s devastating knockout victory over Roy Jones Jr. in their 2004 rematch. Entering the bout as a heavy underdog, Tarver silenced doubters with one perfectly timed punch that permanently altered the sport’s landscape.
Jones entered the fight as a 4-1 favorite despite concerns surrounding his condition after dramatically cutting weight following his brief move to heavyweight. The former pound-for-pound king openly blamed his lackluster performance in the first fight against Tarver on the strain of making weight again for the light heavyweight division. Still, most observers believed Jones would make the necessary adjustments in the rematch.
The fight drew 10,318 fans, with millions more watching on pay-per-view. Financially, Jones remained boxing’s premier attraction, earning a reported $6 million purse while Tarver received $2 million. The event ultimately generated 384,000 pay-per-view buys, proving the rematch had captured significant public interest.
Before the opening bell, the tension inside the arena was unmistakable. During referee Jay Nady’s final instructions at center ring, Tarver delivered one of the most iconic lines in boxing history. Looking directly at Jones, Tarver asked, “I got a question. You got any excuses tonight, Roy?”
The fight itself was brief but unforgettable.
Jones appeared sharp early and won the opening round on all three official scorecards. His movement and speed looked improved compared to the first encounter, and many believed he was settling into a rhythm. However, everything changed in the second round during a heated exchange near center ring.
Tarver unleashed a crushing overhand left that landed flush on Jones’ chin. The punch instantly dropped the former champion to the canvas. Jones struggled to rise and barely beat the count, getting to his feet at nine. As he stumbled sideways into the ropes, referee Jay Nady immediately stopped the contest.
The official statistics reflected how sudden the ending was. Jones landed 12 of 42 punches, while Tarver connected on 7 of 54. Yet one punch was all Tarver needed.
The knockout became an instant classic and was later named Knockout of the Year by The Ring. More importantly, it marked the end of Jones’ long reign of invincibility and cemented Tarver’s legacy as the man who delivered one of boxing’s greatest upsets. The loss to Tarver was the first of a three match slide for Jones Jr. He would lose to Glenn Johnson on September 25th of that year and then again to Tarver in the rubber match October 1, 2005.