Rumors that Roy Jones Jr. has suffered a hand injury during training for his upcoming title bout against Antonio Tarver appeared to be confirmed by his actions during a charity basketball game Saturday night at Woodham High School.

Jones had no trouble dribbling with either hand but did grab his right wrist and grimaced in obvious pain when he fouled an opponent late in the third quarter. After the game, Jones accepted hand shakes and posed for photographs with fans but declined to sign autographs, citing pain in the hand.

Jones (49-3, 38 KOs) is scheduled to meet Tarver (23-3, 18 KOs) on Oct. 1 in the rivals' rubber match, a 12-round bout for Tarver's IBO light heavyweight title at the St. Pete Times Forum, in the backyard of Tarver, a Tampa native.

Jones' actions Saturday add fodder for critics who wonder if the former four-time world champion adequately can challenge or defend himself against Tarver, who told reporters in a conference call last Tuesday he will "destroy" Jones.

The Washington High School product has remained noticeably mum about his bout with Tarver 12 days from now but said Saturday he'll try to continue to get mentally tough.

"I love the contact now," said Jones, who according to a news release has no plans to participate in a Wednesday teleconference with the media. Roy Jones Sr., who again is training his son, and adviser Alton Merckerson are scheduled to field questions from reporters.

"I want to try and focus on having fun, then killing my opponent," Jones Jr. said Saturday. "I'm going to take my time. The reason I started boxing was to have fun in the ring."

Jones won the first meeting against Tarver by decision in November 2003.

Jones has lost his last two fights, including a stunning second-round knockout to Tarver in May 2004. Tarver landed only seven punches in the bout, but a left hand rocked Jones at 1:41 of the second round.

Four months later in Memphis, shortly after Hurricane Ivan, Jones lost to Glen Johnson in a shocking ninth-round knockout.