LAS VEGAS, Nevada, 8 May 2004 — Adding more confusion to a jumbled heavyweight boxing picture, ex-champion Roy Jones says he wants to fight new champion Vitali Klitschko or former champion Mike Tyson.

Jones will fight fellow American Antonio Tarver here May 15 in a rematch of a majority decision Jones won last November to claim the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight crown.

Jones won the World Boxing Association heavyweight crown over John Ruiz 14 months ago but was stripped of the crown for refusing to defend it against Ruiz, saying there was no money or interest in such a fight.

What Jones wants after Tarver is a chance to face Tyson, who has fought less than a minute in almost two years, or much larger Ukranian Klitschko, who won the WBC heavyweight title last month by stopping South African Corrie Sanders.

“People would love to see me fight somebody as big as (Klitschko),” Jones said. “I know I can whip him. I’m not going to tell you why I know I can whip him but I know I can beat him.”

Since British heavyweight king Lennox Lewis retired, the heavyweight picture has been muddled and title bouts last month did little to solve matters.

Ruiz was lackluster in beating fellow Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo for the WBA title and American southpaw Chris Byrd kept the International Boxing Federation crown with a draw against Poland’s Andrew Golota. The IBF has granted Golota title rematch rights against Byrd and the two are expected to meet again July 10 at New York’s Madison Square Garden with the winner to face bypassed American contender Jameel McCline next.

Beaten Champ Mundine Would Win Rematch, Says Judge

In Sydney, dethroned super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine would comfortably beat Manny Siaca in a rematch in Australia, one of the judges of this week’s title fight said.

Swedish judge Mikael Hook said the Australian fighter lost the title bout because he did not do enough in the final round of the 12-round contest.

Mundine surrendered the World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight title to Puerto Rican Siaca on a points verdict — the first time in his career he has lost on points.

Despite being knocked down in the second round, Mundine would still have won the fight had all three judges given him the final round.

Mundine admitted his corner had probably miscalculated the state of the fight going into the last round when he boxed defensively and all three judges scored it in Siaca’s favor.

“He (Mundine) didn’t do anything, he lost the fight in the last round,” said Hook, who along with Korea’s Yangsup Shim scored the bout 115-113 to Siaca. Japanese judge Takeshi Shimikawa scored the fight 114-113 to Mundine.

“They (Siaca’s camp) knew if he won the last round, he would win the fight. I was so surprised. Mundine is the home boy and if Siaca’s corner knows that, he should know it too,” Hook said here yesterday.

Hook said it was not a high level fight and it had been difficult to score.

Mundine may have to wait for his re-match as Siaca could make a defense first against Denmark’s Mads Larsen, whom Hook described as a highly-skilled southpaw.