NEW YORK - American boxing stars Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins each want to fight the winner of next month's light-heavyweight showdown between Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver.
Tarver, 22-3 with 18 knockouts, and Johnson, 42-9 with two drawn and 28 knockouts, will meet June 18 in Memphis, Tennessee, in a rematch of their earlier bout, won by Johnson in a split decision last December.
Jones has not fought since losing to both Tarver and Johnson last year but the former world champion in four weight classes said Monday he is pondering a return to the ring and hopes to see the Tarver-Johnson winner against him.
"Their first fight was very close, so the two of them need to do it again," Jones said. "If I decide to return to fight again, to right the wrongs, this box-off may decide who my first opponent will be. So I'll be watching June 18."
Jones, 49-3 with 38 knockouts, was stopped by Tarver just 1:41 into the second round last May and by Jamaican-born Johnson after 48 seconds of the ninth round last September.
But also in the mix is 40-year-old undisputed world middleweight champion Hopkins, who will face unbeaten Jermain Taylor in an all-American showdown on July 16 in Las Vegas.
Hopkins plans only three more fights before retiring next January when he turns 41. That's where Tarver and Johnson enter the picture.
"I promised the world three major fights before I retire," Hopkins told the Philadelphia Daily News. "The others are going to be the winner of the Glen Johnson-Antonio Tarver rematch and Felix Trinidad if he beats Winky Wright. That's the lineup I want."
Puerto Rican legend Trinidad faces Wright on May 14 and would probably want the chance to avenge his only defeat, one that sent him into an extended retirement from the sport.
Hopkins, 46-2 with one drawn and 32 knockouts, is 14 years older than Taylor, 23-0 with 17 knockouts. But Hopkins said with the heavyweight division in a weak era, his farewell tour kickoff against Taylor will be important.
"The fans need something they can grab onto. This fight is it," Hopkins said. "Jermain Taylor is a threat. He's the heir apparent. Everybody's pumping him up. He's gambling on me getting old in a hurry and having a bad night."
05/02/2005 16:30 GMT