By Frank Lotierzo
This Saturday night former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver will fight a rematch with former champ Glen Johnson. With back-to-back victories over Tarver and Roy Jones, Johnson holds uncontested bragging rights as the top fighter in the light heavyweight division. For Tarver, his legacy and career hinge on the outcome of his upcoming fight against Johnson. At age 36 and being 0-2 against his rival, Tarver's options are limited.
It was just 13 months ago (May 15, 2004) that Antonio Tarver was without a doubt the hottest and most talked about fighter in boxing. In his last bout he iced light heavyweight champ Roy Jones with the first significant punch he landed in their rematch at 1:41 of the second round. Along with the title, he took Jones' reputation and confidence. Like Buster Douglas 14 years earlier, Tarver became a celebrity over night. Unfortunately the similarities to Douglas don't end there.
Just as Douglas did after beating Tyson, Tarver got caught up in his knockout over Jones, thinking he was better than he really was. Staying in synch with Douglas, Tarver squandered his new found fame seven months later in his next fight against Glen Johnson. Prior to fighting Tarver, Johnson knocked out Jones in his last fight three months earlier. Tarver-Johnson had much more on the line than just the championship between the Roy Jones conquerors. Supremacy of the light heavyweight division was at stake, especially for Tarver, who was thought by many boxing observers to be the class of the light heavyweight division since beating Jones. A position Johnson probably never even thought about before he knocked out Jones.
Tarver, who had been chirping since the majority decision in his first meeting with Jones went against him, that he, not Roy Jones, was the best light heavyweight in the world. On December 18th last year, Tarver, an 8-5 favorite lost a 12-round split decision to Glen Johnson. Luckily for Tarver there was a rematch clause in his contract. Now with Johnson-Tarver II fast approaching, Johnson holds the distinction as the best fighter in the light heavyweight division. Something Tarver's been claiming since losing a disputed decision to Roy Jones back in November 2003.
Tarver, a former Olympic bronze medalist has been touted as being a potential superstar since turning pro at almost 29 after the 1996 Summer Olympics. On top of that, Tarver has been aided by his own self promotion, being that he is very articulate and media savvy. However, if he loses to Johnson in their rematch, it will take more than words and manipulation to salvage his boxing career. For Tarver, there really isn't anywhere to turn if he can't get by Johnson. Although in boxing it's never safe to assume a fighter cannot be resurrected. If Andrew Golota can quit in two fights in 11 months and only has to beat two journeymen to get three consecutive title shots, Tarver can survive being 0-2 versus Johnson.
A loss to Johnson on June 18, for all intense and purpose would leave him one option, move up to heavyweight. The state of today's heavyweight division is so bad that any fighter with name recognition would be a welcome addition. Here's the problem for Antonio Tarver. If he wasn't able to go .500 in two fights with Johnson, how does Tarver make an impact or become a factor among even today's top heavyweight's. I don't see Tarver effecting the heavyweight landscape from the fifth ranked contender up to the champion.
Is it even realistic to think a fight with Hopkins is out there for Tarver without him owning any title belts, not to mention being winless in his last two fights? It's believed by many insiders even if Tarver beats Johnson, a fight with Hopkins will not happen assuming Hopkins beats Jermain Taylor on July 16th. Take Hopkins out of the mix and Tarver has no other option but to increase his caloric intake.
Either he fights as a cruiserweight with a legitimate shot to win a title, but for what money. Or, being a poor man's Michael Moorer in the heavyweight division. When evaluating Tarver's options should he lose the rematch with Johnson, it's not pretty. Making his upcoming fight with the 2004 fighter of the year, which had Tarver's name on it until Johnson beat him and stole it with less than two weeks left in the year a career altering fight for him.
The good news for Tarver is, he's been brilliant in revenge bouts against opponents who beat him. After losing a clear cut unanimous decision to Eric Harding suffering his first defeat, Tarver stopped him in the rematch. He lost his light heavyweight title to Roy Jones in their first fight. Against Jones, Tarver was out-worked in the last two rounds costing him the decision. Six months later, Tarver devastated Jones with the only meaningful punch he landed in the fight, making him 2-0 in revenge bouts with number three on the horizon.
This time last year, Glen Johnson, the fighter responsible for the predicament Tarver's in today, was just 2-2-2 in his last six bouts. In his next two fights Johnson completely turned his career around. The by product of beating the top two fighters in the division (Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver) in a span of three months. Now it is Johnson who has a lot to lose. A position he hasn't been in since being 32-0 in July of 1997.
But at the end of the day, Tarver is the more versatile fighter and capable of fighting better than he showed last December. This is a fight that Tarver will fight with a sense of urgency and he has talked as if he understands his future hinges on the outcome. Unlike his opponent, Johnson doesn't have his back against a wall. If he loses, there is a good chance he'll see Tarver again in a rubber match. In a May 17th press-release, Tarver acknowledged that the first fight with Johnson was the beginning of what may end up being one of boxing's storied trilogies.
At the press conference announcing the June 18th rematch, Tarver said "I feel like I have to take it out of the judges’ hands next time, because even when I'm champion I cannot get a decision. I'm looking forward to it (fighting Johnson again). I eagerly anticipate my rematch so I can quiet the critics. I'm extremely motivated. That's when the best Antonio Tarver shows up. Now I have an opportunity to build myself higher," Tarver said. "The sky is the limit. People still view me as the champ and so do a lot of people in the game."
I've yet to speak to a single boxing insider who refers to or thinks of Tarver as the champ. I know I don't. Antonio Tarver, who is very likeable has never been able to accept a decision that went against him. Why would he accept the loss to Johnson? The fight ended similar to the way his first fight with Jones ended, he faded in the championship rounds and was outworked. That's why his career is on the line heading into Saturday nights rematch.
Shortly after Antonio Tarver knocked out Roy Jones, comparisons were being made between him and former light heavyweight great Michael Spinks. They both have long and lanky builds and used their jab to set up their power shots from outside. Since the Johnson fight, those comparisons have come to a screeching halt and should have never been made in the first place.
Tarver has quite a long way to go before his name even justifies being on the same page as Michael Spinks' in boxing history. However, Tarver concluded the May 17 press conference saying "I want to stamp my ticket to the Hall-of-Fame, and June 18 will be the beginning of that."
A loss to Johnson makes the Hall-of-Fame a pipe-dream.