IN NOVEMBER 2003, IT WAS A VICTORY FOR JONES BY DECISION IN JONES-TARVER 1. IN THE REMATCH IN MAY 2004, THE WORLD WAS SHOCKED WHEN TARVER WON BY A SECOND ROUND KNOCKOUT. TARVER AND JONES AGREED TO MEET AGAIN ON OCTOBER 1, 2005, AND THIS TIME THERE WILL BE NO EXCUSES.

It's been approximately 23 years since Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones, Jr. crossed paths for the first time, and from their first fight as 13-year old amateurs, they have been indelibly linked in the minds of boxing fans and each other. On Saturday, October 1st, this journey comes to an end, as the two premier light heavyweights of this era meet for the third time to determine who the superior fighter truly is.

"I have to commend Roy Jones for coming back and saying 'I want Antonio Tarver, I want the best,' " said light heavyweight champion, Antonio Tarver. "He could have had the opportunity to come up and fight someone to pad his record or just to get fans excited, but he wants to come to the mountaintop to try to knock the king off."

In November 2003, Jones won a hard fought decision over Tarver in a stirring 12-rounder. It was a verdict which split many boxing fans and a verdict that enraged Tarver. In their rematch in May 2004, Tarver got revenge in a big way - with a second-round knockout that left the boxing world in shock. It was the first time Jones had been knocked out in his career, and Tarver won the WBC and IBO Light Heavyweight Titles.

On October 1st, there will be "No Excuses", and that's just the way Tarver wants it. "Roy has come up and said this is it, this is all or nothing. And that's what makes this fight interesting," said Tarver. "It's no excuses. After October 1st, it will be what it will be."

"HBO is proud to serve as the pay-per-view telecaster of the third meeting of Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones, Jr.," said Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports. "Both men are fierce competitors with plenty of personal history. Many questions will be answered on October 1st and we are looking forward to the fight."

"The Tarver-Jones rivalry has been brewing for 20 years," said Joe DeGuardia, President/CEO of Star Boxing. "Now they battle for the 3rd time in 3 years. This is a fight that the fighters and fans demanded. Boxing history will look back on this heated trilogy, and I, like the fans and fighters, can't wait until October 1st."

"Since May 15, 2004 Square Ring and Roy Jones have had one item on our agenda and that is to reclaim the Light Heavyweight crown from Antonio Tarver," said Square Ring's Brad Jacobs. Our eyes are set on October 1 and Antonio Tarver."

Roy Jones, Jr. (49-3, 38 KOs) won his first world title in May 1993, defeating Bernard Hopkins for the IBF Middleweight championship. In November 1994, Roy Jones moved up to super middleweight to challenge and defeat James Toney to win the IBF title. After defending that belt five times, Jones moved to the light heavyeight division. In August 1997, Jones destroyed Montell Griffin with a first-round KO to win the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship. He defeated Lou Del Valle in July 1998 to win the WBA Light Heavyweight belt and became the first Undisputed World Light Heavyweight Champion in fourteen years when he beat Reggie Johnson for the IBF title in June 1999.

In March 2003, Jones beat WBA Heavyweight Champion, John Ruiz to become the first former middleweight champion to become world heavyweight champion in over 100 years. Unimpressed Antonio Tarver crashed Jones' post-fight celebration, "I want my shot at history, Roy." Tarver shouted while Jones addressed the media. "I was so glad that you won tonight so when we do meet, your legacy will be in tact when I knock you out. Until you beat me, I won't be impressed. If you want to convince me, then step up in the ring."

"I'm getting mad," responded Jones, "Before I retire, if there is only one more person that I fight, it will be Tarver. I am tired of him. I will take him out. Understand? ..."

Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver (23-3, 18 KOs) turned professional in February 1997 and won the first sixteen fights of his career, all at light heavyweight. He became mandatory challenger for the World Light Heavyweight Championship in July 2002 when he beat Eric Harding by a 5th round TKO. In April 2003, he won a unanimous deicision over Montell Griffin and acquired the WBC and IBF Light Heavyweight titles.

Despite the decisive nature of the Jones-Tarver 2 result, Tarver is treating this fight and his opponent with the respect they deserve, "I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that I'm going in here and I can excpect a knockout," said Tarver. "When I caught Roy, it was just one of those perfect punches that would have knocked anyone out. He is one of the all-time greats in this sport, and I am training as such. On October 1st, I'm expecting to face a prime Roy Jones at his best; I will not let up mentally in training one bit."

"My motivation is that I feel respect hasn't been given to me, and that people have not seriously crowned me as a superstar in this game of boxing," said Tarver. "So I've got to stay motivated, and I got to stay hungry. On October 1st, it will e the end of one legend and the beginning of another."