[Sonny Liston]

I became a HUGE fan of Antonio Tarver a couple of years ago... not because he was a latecomer... not just because he was such a good boxer... not just because he gave the Light Heavyweight Division a much needed boost... BUT ALSO... his attitude and everything he did when concerning his battles with Roy Jones Jr. I remember there was this huge row after the 1st fight in which a large majority of people thought that Tarver won... when Jones was given the decision. When the 2nd fight came around... and the ref asked the 2 men in the ring if they had anything to say to each other... Tarver said "I have a question! You got any excuses this time Roy? Any excuses at all? Anything?" He asked him this... that was incredible! HE THEN KNOCKED OUT ROY JONES JR. IN THE 2ND ROUND... THE FIRST MAN TO EVER KNOCK OUT ROY JONES JR. Incredible... a big **** you to that arrogant and egotistical and somewhat overrated Roy Jones Jr. GREAT STUFF... Roy Jones Jr. was then extra careful against Tarver in their 3rd match... he was too scared to get knocked out and just backed away from him the whole time... Tarver won by Unanimous Decision! Roy Jones Jr. had both more experience and youth over Antonio Tarver... but he lost... HE HAS NO EXCUSE!!! Not age... not past his prime... NOTHING... ANTONIO TARVER KICKED HIS ASS... IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!! However... all of a sudden... as many, many, many boxers go through when they suddenly become successful... Tarver became arrogant... lazy... up himself... it happened to Mike Tyson in the late 80s... it happened to Roy Jones Jr. and of course... it happened to Antonio Tarver.

Tarver's a great actor mind you... his Mason "The Line" Dixon role in Rocky Balboa was fantastic!!!

Anyways... Tarver vs. Hopkins. Big build up for a 10 Round Fight... only Hopkins 2nd ever Light Heavyweight Bout... supposedly his retirement match and seemingly a sad end to his career... his first and only other Light Heavyweight Match was his first ever Professional Bout in 1988... which he lost (WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT GUY)?

But yeah... Tarver said he'd knock Hopkins out before the 5th round... and didn't! He lost a lop-sided Unanimous Decision... and had to donate a bunch of money to Hopkins' chosen charity (which was nice)... and the 2 respect each other nowadays... but I just have to know!:

Did Tarver even train or prepare for his fight against Hopkins? I honestly don't think he did... am I right or am I wrong? What do you think? Your thoughts... PLEASE!

 

[TommyGunn]

tarver and buddy are great pro's of course they trained for the fight with hop. he was just outclassed and out fought in the fight.

tarver is simply a b-level fighter. dont read to much into his wins against rjj. roy was past his best in those fights and you could see it a mile.

tarver beat the best light heavyweight in history rjj only in name.

 

[Sonny Liston]

I hope like hell that Antonio Tarver gets his act together... gets back on the rebound and becomes a World Light Heavyweight Champion again!!!

 

[prettyboywho]

Did he really say that Tarver is a great boxer.:laugh:

 

[Sonny Liston]

Antonio Tarver is NOT a B-Level Fighter! Antonio Tarver IS a GREAT BOXER! However... I will admit... getting his ass completely and utterly kicked by a 41 Year Old Bernard Hopkins in a match that most people expected Hopkins to lose... was a real ****-up!

 

[TommyGunn]

he's on the same level as glen johnson and clinton woods which is b-level.

 

[Sonny Liston]

he's on the same level as glen johnson and clinton woods which is b-level.

Tarver and Johnson both KOd Roy Jones Jr. Let me guess... "ROY WAS PAST HIS PRIME... EVEN THOUGH HE WAS YOUNGER AND MORE EXPERIENCED THAN BOTH OF THEM!" No excuses if you ask me... and as for age... just look at Bernard Hopkins... his prime started in his 30s... age is just a number... and now I am getting lost!

 

[TommyGunn]

roy jones aged overnight due to the fact he played with his weight, you could see the roy who dismateled clinton woods wasn't the same fighter who lost to antonio tarver.

the fact is tarver was a very poor lightheavy weight champion he was younger the roy in years but roy had a lot more miles on the clock than him and twice as many fights, tarver also lost to eric harding who is verging on bum status enough said.

tarver is b-level and lived off a faded roy jones name and lost to a 41 year old middleweight.

 

[prettyboywho]

Tommygunn im with you 200% on this one. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[windowguy]

Roy Jones in my view always counted to much on his reflexes and as they slowed so did his wins and he wasted allot of years acting like the boxing world should be worshiping him instead of giving us a reason to.We never knew he didn't have a good chin because it never got tested. when it did he got KTFO. by two different guys and two different shots so you guys can't even say it was a lucky shot!! Tarver is a b-level guy at best he talks all the b-u-l-l shtuff but can't back it up.

 

[Sonny Liston]

I'd really like to know what Bill's overall opinion on all of this is!!!

 

[SugarShane]

I fully agree on Tarver's fight game being b-level. There was no suprise to me seeing B-Hop handle his ass. The wouldn't have happened had the judges seen the same Hopkins Taylor fight I saw. Hopkins clearly beat Jermain Taylor. Clearly. And then put on a clininc against Tarver.

 

[Sonny Liston]

Bernard Hopkins was the greatest boxer in the whole entire world from the last decade... and by that I mean 1995 - 2005!