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by David P. Greisman - The world is his. All of its riches. All of the glory. Confidence is everything, and Antonio Tarver is full of it.
He once ruled the light heavyweight division, this man so mighty he felled Roy Jones Jr. with a single left hand. Glencoffe Johnson claimed the throne for a brief period, but Tarver regained power and its requisite prominence and splendor.
Then came the revolution. And of course, “The Executioner.”
Bernard Hopkins’ arrival at 175 pounds was met with little resistance. Venit. Vidit. Vicit. One hour of fighting left Tarver in exile for a year.
Tarver came back as if nothing had ever changed. The world was his: all of its riches, all of the glory. Confidence might be everything, but Antonio Tarver is full of it.
“If anybody wants to dispute whose division this is,” Tarver said after stopping Danny Santiago on Saturday, “come see me.”
Really?
Tarver is as likeable as he is marketable, an accomplished fighter who has always been loquacious without being outrageous. His 10-fight run from 2001 through 2005 saw him rise to the top of the light heavyweight division, earning the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist respect and recognition as the best in his weight class.
Not anymore.
Since losing to Hopkins in 2006, Tarver has fought twice, wins over Elvir Muriqi and Santiago. It’s notable for a 39-year-old man to achieve in a sport that tends to favor youth over experience. It’s little else. [details]
He once ruled the light heavyweight division, this man so mighty he felled Roy Jones Jr. with a single left hand. Glencoffe Johnson claimed the throne for a brief period, but Tarver regained power and its requisite prominence and splendor.
Then came the revolution. And of course, “The Executioner.”
Bernard Hopkins’ arrival at 175 pounds was met with little resistance. Venit. Vidit. Vicit. One hour of fighting left Tarver in exile for a year.
Tarver came back as if nothing had ever changed. The world was his: all of its riches, all of the glory. Confidence might be everything, but Antonio Tarver is full of it.
“If anybody wants to dispute whose division this is,” Tarver said after stopping Danny Santiago on Saturday, “come see me.”
Really?
Tarver is as likeable as he is marketable, an accomplished fighter who has always been loquacious without being outrageous. His 10-fight run from 2001 through 2005 saw him rise to the top of the light heavyweight division, earning the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist respect and recognition as the best in his weight class.
Not anymore.
Since losing to Hopkins in 2006, Tarver has fought twice, wins over Elvir Muriqi and Santiago. It’s notable for a 39-year-old man to achieve in a sport that tends to favor youth over experience. It’s little else. [details]
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