Tyson or Nothing for Jones After Win

Roy Jones threatened to retire from boxing unless his next fight is a heavyweight contest against Mike Tyson after he battled to a controversial majority points decision over Antonio Tarver to reclaim the World Boxing Council version of the world light-heavyweight title at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, where most of the crowd believed Tarver had done enough to win.

Chants of "Bullshit, bullshit" rang around the arena after Jones was awarded the fight by two judges, with scores of 117-111 and 116-112, while the third made it a 114-114 draw. Tarver said: "I gave better than a great effort. I won this fight and I showed where I measure up. Antonio Tarver beat the man and that makes me the man. His face can tell the story. I beat Roy Jones and he knows it."

Vivid red bruising around Jones's left eye showed only too clearly how the man normally hailed as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world had been picked off by the taller southpaw Tarver's right jab. More than that, Tarver had landed the bulk of the power shots as he repeatedly rendered the usually fleet-footed Jones a static target by raining punches in from all directions.

It was obvious from the outset that Tarver, 34, had done his homework under the tutelage of his trainer Buddy McGirt. Jones, who showed little of his normal snap or the eye-catching comibinations that have become the trademark of his decade as a champion at all weights from middleweight to heavyweight, was beaten to the punch and outworked for much of the fight.

Jones, 34, fought at 13st 11lb in his last fight, when he outpointed John Ruiz earlier this year to win the World Boxing Association version of the world heavyweight title, and blamed his lethargic display on the debilitating effects of having to lose 25lb before the fight to make the 12st 7lb light- heavyweight limit.

"I was very tired because of the weight. It was very tough," he admitted. "I got to take my hat off and say it was a wonderful fight by Antonio Tarver. He gave me a good fight. The guy gave it his all, and I gave what I had tonight. I thought I won most of the first six rounds, and that Antonio was coming at me trying to win the last 30 seconds of the round.

"You can't dominate every fighter. Tarver is a great light- heavyweight. But now I want one more mega-dollar fight. Me and Tyson. If I don't get Tyson, I'm done. Coming back to light-heavyweight is not really as big to me as somebody like Tyson would be, so that is what I'm in the mood for."