LAS VEGAS -- Roy Jones pulled out a majority decision over Antonio Tarver Saturday night in what seemed the most vulnerable showing of his career.

	Jones lays it on thick after a fight in which he laid it on thin.

Despite early-round pressure by Tarver, where the champ found himself on the ropes and getting racked by flurries, Jones settled down in the middle rounds. He found his spots, springing in and out with right-hand leads and harder punches.

But the taxing effects of taking off 18 pounds from his career-high of 193 (for his heavyweight fight against John Ruiz) were clearly apparent -- he rarely threw combinations, seemed pensive at times when Tarver pressed his attack, and seemed to be keeping a reserve in place instead of taking over the exchanges.

Tarver, buoyed by Jones' tendency to camp on the ropes, unleashed good combinations, often up to a dozen at a time. Jones, though, covered up for the most part, and while blocking astutely, he lacked the counterpunching he usually displays for those brazen enough to attack him at length.

In the end, Jones had enough boxing skills to pull out a close decision.

All the great ones have fights like this in which a seemingly overmatched challenger brings the sufficient motivation and verve to push a bout to the wire with a great but aging fighter.

It remains to be seen what Jones will do from here. In his postfight interview, he told HBO's Larry Merchant that "it's Tyson or I'm done." Given the problems he had tonight, his apparent vulnerabilities, a bout with Tyson seems suddenly far more intriguing.

Jones was clearly drained by the weight loss. And with his 35th birthday staring at him next January, he may be experiencing the downside of a considerably impressive career. But the next time the champ runs into a game, dedicated and resourceful challenger, he'd do himself a favor to face him outside of the light heavyweight division.