LAS VEGAS, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Roy Jones Jr. scored a majority decision over WBC-IBF light heavweight champion Antonio Tarver Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Jones was fighting for the first time since March 1, when he became the first former middleweight in more than a century to win the heavyweight title, beating John Ruiz in a WBA title bout. He had vacated the WBC and IBF light heavyweight belts, which Tarver won with a unanimous decision over Montell Griffin on April 26.
In a fight that was closer than the scores indicated, Jones won by 117-111 and 116-112 on two judges' scorecards. The third judge had it 114-114.
Jones, 34, moved to 49-1 with 38 knockouts. The 6-2 Tarver, also 34, was unable to cash in on a three-inch height advantage and fell to 21-2.
