Today in Boxing History: Glen Johnson KOs Roy Jones Jr.

On this day in 2004, Glen Johnson successfully defended his IBF Light Heavyweight title by knocking out Roy Jones, Jr., in the ninth round in Memphis, Tennessee.

Jones had marched through much of his career with the label of invincibility. But that all changed in May of 2004 when a perfect left hook by Antonio Tarver stopped him in the second round.

Blaming the knockout on a lack of focus, Jones chose to return to the ring only four months later against Johnson, who had won his title from Clinton Woods in April. Johnson’s record at the time was a deceiving 40-9-2. Many of those losses had been close decisions on opponents’ home turf.

When he entered Memphis’s FedEx Forum, Jones looked as if he had not missed a beat, rapping to his own entrance music all the way to the ring. However, that would be the most aggression he would show all evening. Jones seemed timid against his opponent, who battered him on the ropes throughout the fight. In the ninth round, Johnson threw an overhand right that sent Jones reeling. His head slammed against the canvas.

Jones was not only counted out, but he remained unconscious for several minutes.

Much of the attention on this bout is paid to the end of Jones’ mystique, but the more remarkable story was Johnson. Long unappreciated and unlucky, the appropriately dubbed “Road Warrior� maximized his potential in 2004. After defeating Woods and Jones, Johnson faced Tarver in December and won a split decision. That run earned him “Fighter of the Year� honors from The Ring and USA Today.