Tarver: Klitschko Knows I'm Biggest Name For Him

By Ben Jacobs

Looking back through his career, Antonio Tarver has rarely been the favourite in some of his big fights. When he knocked out Roy Jones Jr in their rematch, one of the most shocking knockouts in the history of the sport, many felt that his good performance in the first fight was merely due to an off night for Jones. Likewise when he travelled to Australia to defeat Danny Green, some were surprised at the outcome, particularly another stoppage. Now, once again, the Florida native is an underdog in his quest to become the heavyweight champion of the world, a journey that continues on August 14 against tough former cruiserweight world champion, Steve Cunningham.

"I've had trouble getting fights, period," explained Tarver to BoxingScene, discussing the difficulty in securing blockbuster opponents.

"I want to fight the big name guys but I think I'm all risk, no reward. There are no proud fighters out there anymore. They are just relying on their connections and their promotions and they hide behind that. They don't want to step out and take any risk. I don't understand these young fighters who are trying to make a name for themselves, why wouldn't they want to fight somebody with the credibility that I have, other than that they don't want to get beat. It's been frustrating but that's behind me now.

"I think Steve Cunningham is a valuable opponent," Antonio continued.

"He has been proven worthy of fighting anybody. I have to take this fight deadly serious. I'm working hard and I look forward to putting on a display of what this game has been missing, which is a true, boxer-puncher type of action, from the beginning to the end. People ask me why I'm still fighting. I'm still fighting because I can win. The game hasn't come close to retiring me. You've never seen me outclassed, knocked out or cut, or hurt in a fight. As long as I can continue at this level I will fight. My dream is to be the oldest man to win the heavyweight title, that's my focus right now."

While Deontay Wilder holds the WBC belt and is a viable target for anyone wishing to become the world heavyweight champion, Tarver is focussing on the consensus best fighter in the division.

"Wladimir Klitschko has been on top forever, he is calling the shots but he knows there's not a bigger name, face or resume than Antonio Tarver. If he wants two worlds to collide, history in the making - he should want that fight. He's fought all these nondescript fighters so what's his problem with recognising me. I'm coming for the crown. We come from the same Olympics, Klitschko, Mayweather and Tarver are the three names still going from that Olympics. On any given night I can beat anybody, and they know that."

Initially some observers were skeptical at Tarver's decision to move up in weight but his recent impressive stoppage of Johnathon Banks appears to have changed the tide of public opinion.

"I killed myself to make light heavyweight. Those Chad Dawson fights and the Bernard Hopkins fight, I was done, I should have moved up. I don't have to be 240lb, I can be 220lb, electric, fast with power and get these big guys out of there. I'm a dangerous fighter for anybody, I know my way around the ring, I know how to box and I have the best defence in the game. Bar none. Those guys need to knock me old cold - that's the only way they can win.

"I'm still here at 46, I've got my skills, timing and reflexes, I will put that on display on August 14. This is destiny to defy the odds and defeat a giant of a man in Wladimir Klitschko. I'm not looking past Cunningham but I am looking through him. Nobody is getting in my way."

Outside of the ring, Tarver also calls the action for Spike TV, something that the 'Magic Man' throughloughy enjoys.

"When I'm commentating on TV that's a job, it doesn’t have anything to do with my boxing career, that's just another side of me. I bring a lot to the table, I have an insight into what those fighters are going through, I've been in this game 20 years now. To be able to get that across to the fans and public I think is a gift. I love it, the travels and being in the meetings with these young fighters to get a feel of how they prepared and if they are focused or bullsh*tting, I can tell."