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Just watched the Antonio Tarver Elvir Miriqui Fight. Ive gotta say, Tarver still has the skills there, he was pure class on spots during the fight against a good tough opponent, the reality is if he can sort a few things out, he can become undisputed champ at 175.
First of all Tarver's big weakness is on the inside, he doesnt block to the body well, he backs himself up against the ropes and doesnt give himself enough time and distance to operate, so if a class fighter can get inside tarver, then he would be in real trouble.
The flipside to this is that when tarver is on his toes, and creating angles for himself he would handle pretty much any of the top guys at 175, seriously, i dont know how in the hell he lost to Hopkins, because tarver is real slick and was an absolute joy to watch at times.
To beat this guy you have to back him up against the ropes with a jab and fire to body and head, dont give him space to operate. Because when tarver fires that southpaw jab, if you lean in and try to land on him, he shoulder rolls to create angles for that awesome left hand. Any fighter at 175 that cannot get inside tarver is in serious serious trouble.
Dawson talks alot, but i saw him against adamek, he had the fight under control but then allowed himself to get knocked down with a silly shot, he is 'clearly isnt the finished article. Right now i would pick dawson over Tarver because of dawsons jab, high output and speed, but i can really see tarver beating him if tarver can stop dawson coming though him with the jab and fire combos off it when in close. Anyhow dawson gets hung up on the outside with tarver i think tarver can hurt him with the lead.
For me Tarver should take another tune up, ideally against Clinton Woods who he would kill in either the USA ir the UK and then either hopkins or Calzaghe or Dawson.
Dont sleep on tarver guys, the guy clearly has something left in the tank and he can potentially beat any of the big names at 175, he is boxing clever, nice jab, has nice defense when picking off straight shots, creates angles ala James toney and has nasty power in that left hand.
And by the way Showtime's coverage is far superior to HBO'S. Al bernstein is way more boxing clever then Larry Merchant, Lampley and Lederman put together, he actually knows how to score a fight and know how to analyse weaknessess and strengths in a fighter.
First of all Tarver's big weakness is on the inside, he doesnt block to the body well, he backs himself up against the ropes and doesnt give himself enough time and distance to operate, so if a class fighter can get inside tarver, then he would be in real trouble.
The flipside to this is that when tarver is on his toes, and creating angles for himself he would handle pretty much any of the top guys at 175, seriously, i dont know how in the hell he lost to Hopkins, because tarver is real slick and was an absolute joy to watch at times.
To beat this guy you have to back him up against the ropes with a jab and fire to body and head, dont give him space to operate. Because when tarver fires that southpaw jab, if you lean in and try to land on him, he shoulder rolls to create angles for that awesome left hand. Any fighter at 175 that cannot get inside tarver is in serious serious trouble.
Dawson talks alot, but i saw him against adamek, he had the fight under control but then allowed himself to get knocked down with a silly shot, he is 'clearly isnt the finished article. Right now i would pick dawson over Tarver because of dawsons jab, high output and speed, but i can really see tarver beating him if tarver can stop dawson coming though him with the jab and fire combos off it when in close. Anyhow dawson gets hung up on the outside with tarver i think tarver can hurt him with the lead.
For me Tarver should take another tune up, ideally against Clinton Woods who he would kill in either the USA ir the UK and then either hopkins or Calzaghe or Dawson.
Dont sleep on tarver guys, the guy clearly has something left in the tank and he can potentially beat any of the big names at 175, he is boxing clever, nice jab, has nice defense when picking off straight shots, creates angles ala James toney and has nasty power in that left hand.
And by the way Showtime's coverage is far superior to HBO'S. Al bernstein is way more boxing clever then Larry Merchant, Lampley and Lederman put together, he actually knows how to score a fight and know how to analyse weaknessess and strengths in a fighter.
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