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By Dave Sholler - IBF light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver is tired of having his credentials questioned. Having amassed multiple titles during the course of his 11-year professional career, the 39-year-old believes he is one of the best 175-pounders of the decade.
After battling the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Glen Johnson, and Roy Jones Jr., Tarver (27-4, 19 KOs) feels as if he deserves a little respect. Unfortunately, the Floridian’s upcoming opponent doesn’t feel the same way.
Former WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, who relinquished his title in late summer in order to secure the Tarver bout, has made it abundantly clear that he has waning reverence for Tarver. Considering Dawson’s position, Tarver plans on teaching the 26-year-old a lesson when the two square off on Oct. 11 at The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
“He is going to come out fast,” Tarver said of Dawson’s fight night approach. “But you know what, his youth, his disrespect, this eagerness to knock me out; his eagerness to do something great is going to get him in trouble. He is going to fall right into the trap.”
Tarver’s trap includes capitalizing on Dawson’s inexperience. The former Olympian thinks that Dawson (26-0, 17 KOs) will abandon a tactical approach in favor of looking for a knockout. Instead of methodically breaking down an opponent, Tarver senses that Dawson will enter the bout searching for a homerun. Likewise, after watching Dawson’s narrow victory over Johnson in April, a fight many believed he lost, Tarver thinks that Dawson is ripe for picking. [details]
After battling the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Glen Johnson, and Roy Jones Jr., Tarver (27-4, 19 KOs) feels as if he deserves a little respect. Unfortunately, the Floridian’s upcoming opponent doesn’t feel the same way.
Former WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, who relinquished his title in late summer in order to secure the Tarver bout, has made it abundantly clear that he has waning reverence for Tarver. Considering Dawson’s position, Tarver plans on teaching the 26-year-old a lesson when the two square off on Oct. 11 at The Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
“He is going to come out fast,” Tarver said of Dawson’s fight night approach. “But you know what, his youth, his disrespect, this eagerness to knock me out; his eagerness to do something great is going to get him in trouble. He is going to fall right into the trap.”
Tarver’s trap includes capitalizing on Dawson’s inexperience. The former Olympian thinks that Dawson (26-0, 17 KOs) will abandon a tactical approach in favor of looking for a knockout. Instead of methodically breaking down an opponent, Tarver senses that Dawson will enter the bout searching for a homerun. Likewise, after watching Dawson’s narrow victory over Johnson in April, a fight many believed he lost, Tarver thinks that Dawson is ripe for picking. [details]
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