LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Jamaica's Glen Johnson and American southpaw Antonio Tarver, who both knocked out Roy Jones, have given up their world titles in order to fight each other in a light heavyweight showdown.
Promoters for the December 18 fight here at Staples Center said Tuesday that Tarver would relinquish his World Boxing Council crown and Johnson would surrender his International Boxing Federation title.
Tarver, 22-2 with 18 knockouts, and Johnson, 41-9 with two draws and 28 knockouts, were expected to be unifying their crowns when they agreed last "The big boxing public recognizes Antonio Tarver for his win over Roy Jones. They definitely recognize me, too, for my win over Roy Jones," Johnson said.
"People have an opinion as to who is the best fighter between us two. So that's why he and I wanted to get it settled."
Promoters said both fighters asked their sanctioning bodies to allow them to fight each other rather than mandatory top challengers but were denied and in turn handed back their crowns, what they hope will be a more profitable option.
"It is with great regret that I must inform you that I have concluded that the best route for me and my family is to fight Glen Johnson on December 18," Tarver wrote to the WBC, according to his promoters, Star Boxing.
The fight was a natural after Tarver battered Jones in May and Johnson stunned Jones in September. And Tarver has been stung in past years by champions who ignored him in favor of better paydays.
"After my first eight, nine or 10 fights, I would beg anybody in the top 10 to just face me," he said. "When I was the number one contender across the board, the champion refused to fight me."
A WBC light heavyweight title fight between Tarver and Australian Paul Briggs or an IBF title bout between Johnson and American Rico Hoye would pale in comparison to the interest in a showdown between the men who floored Jones.
"We all had to look to the future of (Johnson's) family and kids, which is the one aspect of this ordeal I'm very proud to deliver to our fighter - future financial stability," Johnson promoter Dan Goossen said.
The decision likely opens the door for Briggs, who signed a promotional deal with Don King earlier this month, and Hoye to fight for the vacated titles.
France's Fabrice Tiozzo, the World Boxing Association light heavyweight champion, is a potential title unification foe for one or both men next year.
Tarver, a 1996 Olympic bronze medallist, lost a controversial decision to Jones last November but avenged that defeat with a second-round knock-out six months ago.
Johnson took the IBF crown by a unanimous decision over England's Clinton Woods last February.
11/10/2004 - 17:22 GMT - AFP