It was an excellent night of boxing from Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Dec. 18, 2004 as Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver fought to decide who is the best light heavyweight in the world.  Both men had to forsake their alphabet belts to fight each other for the Ring Magazine Championship and the people's champ.  The fight could've gone either way.  Johnson walked away with a split decision win--the difference being Johnson fought every minute of every round while Tarver gave away 3 rounds while he regrouped.  Following is my commentary accompanying the photos.  All photos are for sale: contact me at thebighinla@earthlink.net or call at 661-724-9192.

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1. Tarver wore a crown going in
the ring, but not going out.
2.  Johnson kept up the pressure from
the get go and that won him the fight.
3.

4.
5.  Johnson's body attack made Tarver
a very tired camper by fight's end.
6.  Tarver seemed unprepared for Johnson's early attack.

7.
8.
9.

10.  Whichever end of the ring they were at, Johnson pressed forward.
11.  Tarver tries to regroup.
12. The middle of the ring belonged to Tarver.

13.
14.  Johnson kept his hands high and tight. You had to come down
the middle to get him.
15.

16.
17.
18.

19.
20.
21.

22.
23. Tarver hit him with sharp inside punches but couldn't put him down.
24.

25.
26.
27.

28. Trying to split those gloves.
29. Tarver looks happy with his work.
30. Now it's Tarver's turn to coverup.

31. Johnson was relentless on the ropes.
32.
33. They did bang heads/ the lefty-righty mix.

34.
35.
36.

37. Looking, looking, looking...
38. It's a puzzle--come around them or wait for the gloves to move.
39....or jab with him and wait for the opening.

40.
41. Johnson worked the body.
42.

43. Tarver has to cover up under the onslaught.
44.
45. Turning the tables. ÝTrying for the big shot.

46. Johnson kept a tight defense.
47.
48. Johnson closes the gap and nullifies that long reach.

49.
50.
51. Maybe Tarver should've worked Johnson's body more to slow
him down.

52.
53.
54. Johnson jabbed well in spots.

55.
56.
57.

58. Johnson makes Tarver go very low.
59. Shooting that right hand.
60.

61.


In another major light heavyweight battle, local fighter Julio Gonzalez showed heart and determination in overcoming David Telesco's power by scoring a hard fought 8th rd. Ko.  Gonzalez holds a win over Glen Johnson so...down the road the two may meet again.


1.  Pardon my name over Telesco's face.
Sometimes it just automatically falls that way.
2.
3.


5.  Gonzalez lands strong left.
6.

7.
8.  Gonzalez kept good pressure on Telesco.
9.  

10.
11.
12.  Telesco landed some heavy punches.  He
backed Gonzalez off but couldn't drop him.

13.  Effective body work paid dividends later.
14.
15.

16.
17.  Early on--Telesco showed good power.

18.

19.  Gonzalez landed some good rights.  They
began to wear Telesco down.
20....and some good jabs.
21.

22.
23.
24.  Gonzalez carried the rounds better.  Telesco spent more time on the ropes.

25.  Telesco ate too many straight rights.  His hands got lower and that causes problems.
26.
27.  Telesco is hurt and giving ground.

28.  Another right.
29.  Ref stops it.
30.

31.
32.  Alright, crowd!

Olympic Gold Medal Winner Andre Ward made his successful pro debut by KO' ing Christopher Molina at 40 seconds of rd. 2.  Ward was just too quick for Molina.


1.   Ward shows a left...

2....and a right.
3.

4.  Molina tried but Ward locked him up tight
on the inside.
5.
6.  Just like that it was over.

7.  Good sportsmanship.
8.  Now what is promoter Dan Goosen
saying to Mr. Ward?


In a competetive middleweight fight Tarvis Simms remained undefeated by split decisioning Carlos Bojorguez over 8 rds.  Simms was knocked down in the 2nd round (flash knockdown) and was also penalized a point for hitting after the bell.  But his sharp punching caught the eyes of the judges.


1.  Simms on right.
2.  Simms had the quicker hands.
3.

4.  Bojorquez kept the pressure on.
5.  Overhand rights against the lefty.
6.

7.
8.  Simms is laughing after knockdown.  But it
still costs 2 points.
9.

10.
11.
12.

13.  It was these punches right down the middle that won the fight.
14.
15.

16.  It's rough on the inside.
17.
18.

19.
20.
21.  Both men working hard.

22.
23.
24.

25.
26.  Target hard to find.


In women's boxing, Mia St. John KO'd Janae Romero Archuleta at 1min 46sec of rd. 1.  Archuleta was hurt and up against the ropes when the ref stepped in.


1.  Archuleta (on right) came out strong but
ran into punches.
2.  Speed was the difference.
3.  A long jab--a boxer's best friend.

4.  Long right hand landed.
5.  Cornered.
6.

7.  Yeah!


In the opening fight of the evening, heavyweight Vinny Madalone did a workman like job in shutting out Ronnie Smith of Hawaii.


1.  Madalone had to box carefully.
2.  Smith (who weighed) 298 tried to use his
bulk to pressure Madalone.
3.

4.
5.  Speed and balance were the differences.
6.

7.
8.
9.

10.  Over and under.
11.
12.

13.  Stopping him in his tracks.
14.
15.  Smith tries to find the range.

16.
17.
18.

19.
20.
21.  Madalone had to be careful--that is a big man he's up against.

22.
23.
24.