By Edward Chaykovsky

IBO cruiserweight champion Antonio Tarver (29-6, 20KOs), and WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32KOs) engaged in a verbal war on Twitter, as thousands of their followers watched the drama play out. Tarver launched the attack, stating that he's tired of Hopkins attacking him in the press. The two boxers have been at odds since their bout in June 2006, which Hopkins won by way of a dominating twelve round decision. Tarver has always blamed his performance on losing a large amount of weight in a short span of time. To prepare for his role in the Rocky Balboa movie, Tarver had bulked up to heavyweight. Tarver brought up the old theory that someone poisoned him before the fight.

"I've given and shown Bernard all the credit and respect from a fighter's stand point but as a person I question why he continues to bring my name up in conversation. He says I'm [envious] and jealous of him and anyone who's ever met or know me knows thats impossible because there's never been a jealous bone in my body. I'm too busy loving me. About our fight, he shouldn't get the credit he gets. I took a long layoff, lost 53lbs in 2 months and I still believe it's a good chance I was poisoned and I may never get the chance to prove it so I'll charge that to the game," Tarver wrote.

"I knew he would never fight me again, but unlike Roy Jones Jr. after our fight, he never became champion again I have twice. I lost to one person since Hopkins, the same man that would have surely beat his ass. Why would I want to fight a man that can't draw flies to a picnic? The worst pay-per-view in boxing is his. Do your little interviews, leave my name out your mouth. I'm the cruiserweight champ. Until you get your weight up, shut the f**k up. You claim you're the champ, fight [Chad] Dawson [to] regain your credibility."

Hopkins shot back, and made it a short and sweet.

"Here we go again, stop making excuses. You are a pro, you signed [the] contract. I whooped your ass. You are full of sh*t, you got poisoned from me beating you up. You fought Chad in Vegas, at the Hard Rock, a 1200 [seat] arena and y'all sold 100 tickets. You are nothing to me."

Tags: Bernard Hopkins , Antonio Tarver