This Time, the Judges Go Johnson’s Way

The best light heavyweight in the world has nine losses.

No, that’s not a typo, though Glen Johnson and those around him would be the first to say that, while it’s not a typographical error, the majority of those losses were the result of errors by the judges.

Saturday night at Staples Center, Johnson (42-9-2, 28 knockouts) was involved in another close fight, this one with Antonio Tarver, this one to determine the successor to Roy Jones, who ruled the division for years until he was knocked out by both Johnson and Tarver.

This time, the close decision went to Johnson in front of a crowd of 9,126. Judges Melvina Lathan and Chuck Giampa gave the fight to Johnson by the score of 115-113. Judge Marty Denkin had Tarver winning, 116-112.

“I thought Tarver won,” Jones said of the 3-1 favorite, “but the result doesn’t surprise me. Glen Johnson is a hustler. This is what he does.”

Even Johnson, modest in victory, said, “I’m not the best. I’m still looking for Mr. Best.”

In the semi-main event, Andre Ward, coming off his gold-medal winning victory in the 2004 Olympics, made a successful debut as a professional, winning on a second-round technical knockout over Christopher Molina (2-1, 1).

While some argue Tarver (22-3, 18) won the main event, none could argue that it wasn’t an entertaining, competitive match. They fought 12 bruising rounds in which each fighter attacked and retreated, soared on the crest of crisp, clean punches and sagged with the draining effects of fatigue. Neither man was down, but each was rocked with shots that seemed to turn the fight in his opponent’s favor. But just as soon as it seemed one of them had the advantage, the other would rally, drawing upon reserves of strength that temporarily overwhelmed the target of his renewed aggression.

The punch stats favored Tarver. He landed more punches (296-217) and a higher percentage (35%-27%) of those thrown.

“I don’t come out ahead too often,” Johnson said, “so I’m not going to dispute the result. I’m just very grateful.”

Tarver, a southpaw, said that he hurt his left hand in “the fourth or fifth round” when he hit Johnson on top of the head.

“That took away my best weapon,” said Tarver, “but that’s boxing. It’s a tough sport. I feel, in my heart of hearts, that I did more to win the fight.”

Nothing Tarver said could diminish the magnitude of this victory for Johnson, whose unlikely success story began at a construction site in Miami 15 years ago. It was there that Johnson, working as a carpenter, first put on boxing gloves to spar on his lunch break with a fellow Jamaican, who was preparing for an upcoming fight.

It was love at first punch for Johnson, who, since turning professional 11 years ago, has traveled the world in search of a night like Saturday night.

The logical question, after a match as close as Saturday’s, is will there be a rematch?

The loser, of course, always wants one. But, in this case, the winner was just as amenable. “Definitely I will give him a rematch,” Johnson said.

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Freed of the constraints of the Olympic scoring system, buoyed by the opportunity to fight someone of similar weight and exhilarated by fighting as a professional for the first time, Ward quickly disposed of Molina, knocking him down in each of the first two rounds of a scheduled four-rounder.

It was after the second knockdown, with Molina back on his feet but not responsive according to referee Jose Cobian, that the fight was stopped at the 40-second mark of the round.

“It was a beautiful thing,” said Ward, who weighed in at 165 pounds, half a pound less than Molina. At the Olympics, Ward fought in the 178-pound division, giving away six to nine pounds to opponents.

“It was nice to finally fight someone eye-to-eye,” Ward said. “He had me by half an inch, but I’ll take that over the extra weight. He looked at my physique and miscalculated, thinking I was weak, but he quickly learned that was not case.”

Exiting the ring unscathed, Ward will soon prepare for Chapter 2 of his pro career, expected to be on Feb. 10 against a still-undetermined opponent.

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In a women’s bout, Mia St. John (39-4-2 16) staggered Janae Romero Archuleta (4-10-1, 2) at 1:46 of the first round of a scheduled four-rounder with a right that caused Cobian to stop the bout. St. John had won their previous two meetings by decision.