How good is Antonio Tarver?

scap21y ago

Ya know I for one am still not sold on Antonio Tarver. Here is a guy that is a great promoter for the sport, there is no doubt but I believe as I did before Glenn Johnson beat Roy that he is a good fighter yet overrated. His decision win against Reggie Johnson was not a very good performance against a very faded former champ. He got his ass beat against Eric Harding in the first fight and the second fight he had easily lost every round until he caught Harding. His fight with Montell Griffin was pretty good but I did not walk away from that fight thinking he was anything special(again he fought a faded champ). His first fight with Jones he showed somes signs no doubt, however he gave that fight away by having great success in some rounds taking Roy to the ropes and then in others he would go away from that and do nothing. After the first round and half of the second fight I thought Tarver was going to lose a ud, he was letting Roy dictate the fight and he showed he learned shit from the first fight. Well, he caught Roy, just like Harding and so we consider him...what do we consider him? Great...a pound for pounder, what? I don't know. I think he has great power, thats obvious but I don't believe he is half as good as he thinks he is or the rest of the boxing cult thinks he is. It is too bad there is no one at light heavy to try and prove my point. Tarver, yeah he's good, but he's not that good, what does everyone here think of the magic man?

Comments (20)

bandito

anyone who says tarver is not good is crazy. i think we will see him get better. i am not his biggest fan in fact i just like him as a fighter. he is not my favorite fighter. but he will show how good he is still. im not saying he won't lose though, cuz i think he can be beat!!

21y ago

phallus

The thing is Tarver KO'd Jones in the second round of their rematch with a big left hand, Johnson dominated Jones throughout their fight and KO'd him in the ninth. Whoever can impose their will early on will be at a distinct advantage in this fight, the difference may be that Tarver can win it with one big left hand unless Johnson's chin is good, while Johnson will need to wear Tarver down

21y ago

jpboxer3

Jones was definetly interested in winning.Why would he have such a flashy intro,talking about "Getting Back" and actually wear someone elses Gold Medal to the ring if he wasn't interested?I must admitt,Jones did show signs of uncertainty and wasn't as confident as he was before getting KTFO by Tarver.You gotta give Johnson credit though,regardless of R.J's mental state,Johnson came out in front of a R.J pro crowd and showed no fear as he pounded Jones until he finally knocked him out. BTW,just because I think Johnson will beat Tarver,it doesn't mean I necessarily hate Tarver.I just think Johnsons experience and ring smarts will carry him to an easy Decision victory.

21y ago

scap

I like the way Tarver uses his size...he seems to get no love simply because people don't like how he fights or how he talks. The difference that Johnson will see between Roy and Tarver is that Tarver is actually interested in winning. Johnson cannot come at Tarver the way he did Roy. Tarver will sit back on that big frame and counter punch Johnson all night until he drops. I hope Johnson comes through and beat Tarver but I don't think it'll happen very easily. I personally think the way he talks is the best part about Toney T. He is the type of guy that I think can get moderate fans involved in the sport because of the way he promotes/trash talks/articulate a fight. I agree with you the rest of the way.

21y ago

oldgringo

21y ago

WillieW

Destroyed Roy? C'mon, let's not play favorites, he landed one good punch. Right, he actually only landed 6 punches the whole 2 rounds. Tarver is a good fighter....and he should beat Johnson. But lets not get carried away. Previous to the Jones fight, Tarvers best win was against Harding....Previous to that, Harding broke Tarvers jaw. Johnson is a decent fighter also, but Tarver is a bit more complete. Niether of these guys are what I would call "Great" fighters....yet.

21y ago

scap

Wez Toney is flexible to a point, yes he has moved up and made it look easy but I think people forget about his weaknesses. Granted his chin maybe the best in the game, he has good power that he has carried with him, his defense is absolutely first rate and his counterpunching abilities are second to None, no not you Michael. Anyways his glaring weakness is fighters that decide to not too go after him, Jirov made a huge mistake thinking Toney would fold, Holyfield made a huge mistake by attacking, both men fought Toney's fight. When a man like Vitali decides to be patient and resourceful with his shots and throw them from the right distance Toney will loose a lopsided decision, just like he did against Jones, like he almost did against Nunn we all remember Dave Tiberi. Overall I love Toney, but I think Vitali will be smart about this fight if it materializes.

21y ago

Dark_Destroyer

James Toney was one of the more dominant super middles I have ever seen, if not the most dominant. Roy deserves all the credit in the world for completely outclassing a truly great opponent. It was the absolute perfect example of "styles make fights" Toney will never beat a guy that can out quick him and does not choose to come forward after him, that is just not in Toney's make-up as a fighter to overcome...it will happen again to him(not the outquicking part, but Vitali will be very resourceful, pound the jab in Toney's face and even backpedal while doing it, Toney will be behind on the cards and will be forced to attack, I just don't see Toney being able to change who he is as a fighter. Sorry for going off point. Don't be sorry for going off point. It's how underprivilaged boxing fans learn more. James Toney was awesome back then and he has proved how flexible he is by progressing up in the wieght divisions.

21y ago

scap

21y ago

Dark_Destroyer

i also felt that roy did enough to get that win he took control of the last couple rounds plus all those flurries of tarver they werent all solid connects i think people just got caught up in the fact that he was being hit more then he normally gets hit everyone was just really wanting to see roy finally loose plus roy was nailen him with clean shots to the body through out the fight I agree 100%, you said it perfectly. People did want to see a great fighter lose and got all over excited over every single punch that Tarver threw.

21y ago

Dark_Destroyer

Wez.... You're underrating Tarver. Sure, the Jones he beat is not prime Roy Jones.....but I still think Roy would have handled any other 175lber but Tarver. I believe Glen Johnson never beats Roy if Tarver doesn't. Maybe i am a little but it's how i feel. I don't like the guys style or talents to be honest and it's not just because he beat Roy. I just think he got lucky and needs to count his blessings that he fought a unmotivated Roy and that he did have slightly more skill to beat him. Johnson will beat Tarver, Tarver won't know how to cope with a raging heartful fighter.

21y ago

jabsRstiff

Roy won the first fight with tarver...but did get the worst of it in the punishment department. That fight means nothing now....within less than two rounds, Roy was knocked silly by tarver. The name of the game in boxing is knocking your opponent out. If you guys think stepping in & concussing someone with one shot isn't impressive...

21y ago

jabsRstiff

Big Pappy.... At the time Roy beat Toney, you didn't think much of him ? He was absolutely awesome at 168, at the time Roy beat him.

21y ago

abdiel2k3

Tarver is NOTHING good at all. I do give him credit for been the first man to beat Roy but apart from that i see a very dark future unless he build up some defenses fighting bums and avoiding the real men. How much credit does someone need? He beat an tired and not motivated Roy. Roy was a exceptional boxing in my opinion, he made mandatory challengers look like novices. You don't do that if your nothing exceptional. You don't outbox a prime James Toney if your not exceptional. You don't beat a prime Hopkins if your not a cut above the rest. Thats just my take on things. Just for the record i thought Roy did enough to beat Tarver the first fight. How anyone could think those stupid fucking flurries at the end of each round could win it for him need to read the boxing rules very carefully. i also felt that roy did enough to get that win he took control of the last couple rounds plus all those flurries of tarver they werent all solid connects i think people just got caught up in the fact that he was being hit more then he normally gets hit everyone was just really wanting to see roy finally loose plus roy was nailen him with clean shots to the body through out the fight

21y ago

jabsRstiff

21y ago

DR_FREECLOUD

Tarver is NOTHING good at all. I do give him credit for been the first man to beat Roy but apart from that i see a very dark future unless he build up some defenses fighting bums and avoiding the real men. How much credit does someone need? He beat an tired and not motivated Roy. Roy was a exceptional boxing in my opinion, he made mandatory challengers look like novices. You don't do that if your nothing exceptional. You don't outbox a prime James Toney if your not exceptional. You don't beat a prime Hopkins if your not a cut above the rest. Thats just my take on things. Just for the record i thought Roy did enough to beat Tarver the first fight. How anyone could think those stupid fucking flurries at the end of each round could win it for him need to read the boxing rules very carefully. good enough. i respect your opinion. i just don't think b-hop was even close to prime. toney on the otherhand may have been but i never thought much of him either. as far as the 1st fight goes it could have gone either way.

21y ago

Dark_Destroyer

wez, (long pause, sigh) i have always enjoyed reading your posts. sometimes disagreeing with them, but non the less they are always good posts. i am not a big tarver fan and hope you are right about johnson. but i still don't think tarver is given the credit he is due. it gets old listening to people give excuses as to why someone gets beat by the better man. jones in my eyes was never the exeptional boxer. i guess its all opinions. i think johnson takes tarver out. Tarver is NOTHING good at all. I do give him credit for been the first man to beat Roy but apart from that i see a very dark future unless he build up some defenses fighting bums and avoiding the real men. How much credit does someone need? He beat an tired and not motivated Roy. Roy was a exceptional boxing in my opinion, he made mandatory challengers look like novices. You don't do that if your nothing exceptional. You don't outbox a prime James Toney if your not exceptional. You don't beat a prime Hopkins if your not a cut above the rest. Thats just my take on things. Just for the record i thought Roy did enough to beat Tarver the first fight. How anyone could think those stupid fucking flurries at the end of each round could win it for him need to read the boxing rules very carefully.

21y ago

DR_FREECLOUD

Antonio Tarver is NOTHING exceptional at all and thats a fact. He beat a tired not interested Roy and he knows it himself. Glencoffe Johnson will beat Tarver down in my opinion. Johnson brings a different kind of fight to the ring and that is a fight for survival. Tarver hasn't even got a good style to be honest. His reign will be short lived but he'll always get credit for been the first man to stop a tired old Roy plain and simple. wez, (long pause, sigh) i have always enjoyed reading your posts. sometimes disagreeing with them, but non the less they are always good posts. i am not a big tarver fan and hope you are right about johnson. but i still don't think tarver is given the credit he is due. it gets old listening to people give excuses as to why someone gets beat by the better man. jones in my eyes was never the exeptional boxer. i guess its all opinions. i think johnson takes tarver out.

21y ago

Dark_Destroyer

21y ago

Knicksman20

I not sold on Tarver either. He needs to fight a solid fighter & I don't think it's Johnson. True Johnson is tough but in order to judge him, I would like to see him in there against someone who could push him to the limit. Maybe hopkins or Jeff Lacy when he's ready. Those would be some interesting matchups.

21y ago