Tarver-Hopkins: Bust of the Year? (My column)

[RAESAAD]

Good read......Bad fight.

[SquareCircle]

i can beat glass joe in 12 seconds

[jason100x]

Very good article. To me it is such a toss up who will win, but they are both cautious fighters and two cautious fighters can make some real slow fights.

[beezy 14]

I agree with you on the catch 22 thing Asian Sensation, I would even like to see those other fight's that you eluded to,but if I'm being truthful I would probably have to do the same thing. Other's on this site(not you) act as if that's so irrational when I here them so understanding when Calzaghe calls out Manfredo or Hatton possibly fightin'g Gatti. Both situations are strictly for money and to increase their marketability in the US(Calzaghe,Hatton)and I understand both sides the fans and fighter's perspective.I try to keep it fair if I criticize Tarver there are plenty of other's who need to read some of you'r articles about making the best fight's.LOL But in all seriousness the other reason is because ther are for real legends who have legacy,fame,HofFame credentials, yet still live the latter part of their lives broke.

[Mr. Ryan]

I agree with you on the catch 22 thing Asian Sensation, I would even like to see those other fight's that you eluded to,but if I'm being truthful I would probably have to do the same thing. Other's on this site(not you) act as if that's so irrational when I here them so understanding when Calzaghe calls out Manfredo or Hatton possibly fightin'g Gatti. Both situations are strictly for money and to increase their marketability in the US(Calzaghe,Hatton)and I understand both sides the fans and fighter's perspective.I try to keep it fair if I criticize Tarver there are plenty of other's who need to read some of you'r articles about making the best fight's.LOL But in all seriousness the other reason is because ther are for real legends who have legacy,fame,HofFame credentials, yet still live the latter part of their lives broke.

Thanks alot bro. I am the peoples writer, I am the average fan who loves the sport and wants to see the good fights. My agenda is not with my favorite fighters, but the good of the sport.

I agree, those fights won't happen in all actuality. Thats exactly why I selected that particular picture of Tarver. I wanted to show him as a man who is a champion and has alot of thinking to do because he is in the last chapter of his career. He cannot afford to act like a young champ, knocking the **** out of mandatories. He's 37 years old, just declared bankruptcy last year, and needs to secure his future. Its tough, because he never got to be the typical dominant champion who at the end of his career makes these kind of decisions. Because of his late bloom, he went from champion right to making sure he was financially secure, something that will haunt his legacy forever.

[jason100x]

Thanks alot bro. I am the peoples writer, I am the average fan who loves the sport and wants to see the good fights. My agenda is not with my favorite fighters, but the good of the sport.

I agree, those fights won't happen in all actuality. Thats exactly why I selected that particular picture of Tarver. I wanted to show him as a man who is a champion and has alot of thinking to do because he is in the last chapter of his career. He cannot afford to act like a young champ, knocking the **** out of mandatories. He's 37 years old, just declared bankruptcy last year, and needs to secure his future. Its tough, because he never got to be the typical dominant champion who at the end of his career makes these kind of decisions. Because of his late bloom, he went from champion right to making sure he was financially secure, something that will haunt his legacy forever.

That's well put. A lot of people don't think about that aspect when they hate on Tarver, especially about the bankrupcy part.

[Mr. Ryan]

That's well put. A lot of people don't think about that aspect when they hate on Tarver, especially about the bankrupcy part.

Thats the thing, most people don't look at both perspectives as Beez said before. Its unfortunate that he didn't get to be a champion in his 20's so he could get the opportunity to clear the division like a Roy Jones or like a Bernard Hopkins. He is doing exactly what he needs to do with his career at this stage of his life. This is where all those columnists hating on Tarver need to go:

http://www.fair.org/index.php

If you just don't like a guy and can't put it aside when you write, don't bother writing. What the media doesn't care about are the facts that these are guys who don't have pension plans, health care, and usually don't have the proper medical screening to ensure their healths before and after bouts. If Tarver wants to make a couple bucks, more power to him. But I'm going to make sure I give my perspective as a fan, and then his perspective as a fighter and a man.

[jason100x]

It's funny, I was just telling someone earlier today how Tarver gets no respect and he was asking why people hate him so much. I answered, well a lot of people don't like the fact that he has only fought like two opponents in his last five fights and they don't like that he's on top at LHW but is going to fight Hopkins, who is coming straight up from middleweight. They usually hate his choices, but I think that is put into perspective recently by thinking of his finances.
Some people hate his style. Some people just don't like him, but I don't think he's the worst thing to come along. I mean I liked his second fight with Harding, the KO of Jones in their second fight was one of those "holy ****" moments that stands out in my mind. He's brought some good moments to boxing and maybe he'll step up and produce a great matchup with Hopkins (I don't expect that will happen but we can hope).

[Mr. Ryan]

It's funny, I was just telling someone earlier today how Tarver gets no respect and he was asking why people hate him so much. I answered, well a lot of people don't like the fact that he has only fought like two opponents in his last five fights and they don't like that he's on top at LHW but is going to fight Hopkins, who is coming straight up from middleweight. They usually hate his choices, but I think that is put into perspective recently by thinking of his finances.
Some people hate his style. Some people just don't like him, but I don't think he's the worst thing to come along. I mean I liked his second fight with Harding, the KO of Jones in their second fight was one of those "holy ****" moments that stands out in my mind. He's brought some good moments to boxing and maybe he'll step up and produce a great matchup with Hopkins (I don't expect that will happen but we can hope).

I agree, Tarver does deserve respect as a man, its just unfortunate that he has to hold the title hostage in the mean time. About the second Harding fight, the KO was great but up until he landed that left hand, it was all Harding up to that point. If Gavin doesn't tell Harding to back Tarver up and be aggressive, Harding wins again and becomes champion. And the 2nd Jones fight was one of my favorite moments as a fight fan as well. I grew up knowing that Tito was the welterweight champ, Lennox was a great, and Jones was invincible. That left hand changed my whole perspective for good.

[neils7147933]

Nah, I don't think Tarver needs a big name to make the fight. His mouth and wins over big name opponents would make a fight with Woods, Adamek, or one of the other fighters in the division marketable. While racking my brain for a style and fighter that would make for excitement with Hopkins, I realized that Hopkins had never before been in a really exciting fight. Maybe the most exciting fight he was in were the 2 Echols bouts.

Ever seen a light heavyweight fight on pay-per-view, or as the main event to a Showtime or HBO championship boxing, that didn't involve Jones, Johnson, or Tarver...? How long has it been?