Woods vs. Tarver on April 12th

International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods (41-3-1, 24 KOs) will be dfending his title against two-time light heavyweight champion, and occasional actor, Antonio Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) on April 12th, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. For the most part, it will be a battle of aging light heavyweights, as the combined age of the two fighters comes out to 74. However, both fighters still appear to be fighting remarkably well and seem to have a lot left despite their advanced age. Tarver, 39, hasn’t done much in the boxing rang since losing a 12-round unanimous decision to Bernard Hopkins in June 2006.

Since that time, Tarver has fought against Elvir Muriqi and Danny Santiago, beating both of them. However, Tarver looked far from impressive against Muriqi, and won by a close majority decision. For the past year, World Boxing Council champion Chad Dawson has been calling out Tarver with no luck, trying to get him in the ring for a bout that would almost guarantee a good payday for both of them. However, Tarver, for whatever reason, hasn’t shown any interest what so ever. It seems rather odd, because in years past, Tarver would have never turned down a fight with a champion, especially one like Dawson, who is considered by many people to be the best fighter in the light heavyweight division by far.

But, I can see why Tarver wouldn’t want to fight Dawson, as it would almost definitely spell defeat for him, and he’d be better off avoid that happening for as long as he can. In choosing Woods, 35, a fighter with a lot of skills and a very good work rate, Tarver would at least seem to have a chance against him. However, for that to happen, Tarver is going to have to pick up his pace from what he’s shown in recent bouts with Muriqi and Santiago.

Woods, though not in the same class as Dawson, is a very accomplished fighter, with wins Julio Cesar Gonzalez and Glen Johnson on his record, he can take a good shot and slug with the best of them. This isn’t a fighter that Tarver is going to be able to knockout or stun, as he did against Roy Jones Jr. in the past.

This means that if Tarver wants to have any chance at winning, he’s going to have to plan on out-working Woods, and beating him at his own game. It’s unclear whether Tarver, at his advanced age, can fight at a fast enough pace to win a decision over a busy fighter like Woods. It will be interesting to see him try though.