Tarver moving up to heavyweight, wants Haye and the Klitschkos
June 21st, 2010
By William Mackay: Former IBF/WBA/WBC light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (27-6, 19 KO’s) announced last Saturday night that he plans on moving up from the light heavyweight division and skipping the cruiserweight division entirely in going after WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, WBC champion Vitali Klitschko and IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in the heavyweight division. For Tarver, now 41, this is a risky move that has little chance of success.
Tarver doesn’t have a lot of time, unlike the 33-year-old Tomasz Adamek, a former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, who moved up to heavyweight division recently and has found success. Tarver will be turning 42 in November and that is pretty old to be fighting at heavyweight without a lot of power to fall back on.
Tarver, to have any real chance at fighting for a title, will have to move quickly by fighting often against two or three top contenders in the next six months to have much of a chance at getting title shot. Last Saturday night, Tarver looked fat, like he’s carrying around a lot of extra pounds on his frame and it’s going to be tough for him to trim that blubber off and get in condition anytime soon to fight at heavyweight.
There is a chance that Tarver could get a title shot just by having a recognizable name, but you have to assume that Tarver would at least have to beat a couple of B level heavyweights before he’s given a title shot on a silver platter like Haye was given when WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev elected to fight Haye last year after Haye had only beaten Monte Barrett at heavyweight.
This is what Tarver had to say last Saturday night: “I definitely wanted to move up to cruiserweight. There was one guy [Danny Green] in particular that I wanted to fight. But unfortunately, he’s interested in unburying dead men. So I feel that if I’m going to stay in the game of boxing and give it my all, I’ve got to set big goals for myself. And as you can see, I’m looking a little full right now. So I’m going to put on some muscle and the champ is going heavyweight. So, the Klitschkos and David Haye, be on the lookout, because I’m coming.”
I could give Tarver a slight chance of getting a shot at Haye and knocking him out if he were five or six years younger, but it’s difficult to imagine that a 42-year-old Tarver will be able to beat Haye. As for the Klitschko brothers, I don’t think they’ll even bother fighting Tarver unless he actually faces and beats a top contender, and I don’t think that will even happen. As such, Tarver’s best and perhaps only chance of getting a title shot will be against Haye, if the British heavyweight can hold onto his title for much longer.
Tags: Tarver vs. Haye, Tarver-Haye ,Antonio Tarver, David Haye, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko37 Responses to “Tarver moving up to heavyweight, wants Haye and the Klitschkos”
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tarver is broke he needs the money lets just hope he keeps some of the money,because you cant fight now and u wont be able to fight when u r 50
Puff The Magic Dragon Your Fire Has gone out, come on Tarver you can’t seriously Think You Can Stand A Chance To Schedual A Fight With Haye, Or More Less Winning The Thing; And with The Klitschkos!! Thats One Magic Trick The Late great Hoodini Whould Care Too See.
Tarver ,Tarver ,Tarver you did it when you knock out jones that was then and this is now. Stick with being announcer you good in that and holding the mic but going back in boxing you don’t do nothing you are very boring to watch very boring you got more action in being announcer because you talking more then you moving.
This is just a bait and switch by Tarver for Haye to take the focus off Haye’s cowardness to fight the klitschko’s in a way.
This is (yet again) another ridiculous idea from Tarver. He is an OK announcer, nothing special, just OK. He needs to stop listening to all the Tarver fanboys coming up to him at the fights kissing his butt telling him he needs to do this and that. Or maybe it’s that goofy looking ole lady of his whining she needs more stainless steel mascara trowels. Wadda joke, this guy beats a few B-level heavyweights, and that’s it. Tops. Man, stay at the announcers desk and deal with that. It’s your only option, besides exercise equipment infomercials.
people are comparing haye to tarver … why !?
tarver was never the best in light heavyweight … haye is going down in history as the 2nd best ever cruserweight !!
plus there is like a 12 year age gap between them … never mind differences in power and speed (which haye wins hands down)
plus he has lost 6 times to good opponents (these guys were not even in there prime) … (RJJ and B-hop especially)
Tarver did do better in the Dawson rematch and I could see him win a contender spot on points or something in the hvywt division but he would get clobbered by a guy like Arreola or even Sosnowski. Imagine what a Klitschko or Haye would do to him. Overall though, I don’t mind tarver doing this. He’s got a name in boxing and anything to give some attention to the heavyweights is a good thing to me.
oh dear….
Someone must have told the dumb-arse to go back to boxing because hes an Uncle’s arse when it comes to announcing. However, they lied to him, cause he can’t box anymore either. Retire fool before you get embarrassed.
Tarver is full of sht. Danny Green was happy to fight Tarver either in Australia or the US, except Tarver wanted a huge amount of silly money and control of the fights revenue etc. What a minute ! Who’s the champion here? Its Green. Green was happy to fight Tarver , but Tarver was demanding too much money. So now we have a great fight here next month. Danny Green fighting the always tough ex WBC light heavyweight challenger Paul Briggs. Should be a war.
thats smart business. he can win fights against b-level oposition and get people talking possibly leading him to a world title shot and a big pay day. he will have little success at 168, and 200-. There are no names at cruiserweight. there’s no-one big at 175. so the only option of winning, getting fans, money and oppourtunity is heavyweight. he has skills so should go for it in a weak heavyweight division.
Tarver vs. Wlad Klitschko. Wlads mom will tell him off after she sees what he did to Tarver.
Tarver and David Haye? I don’t think so, David Haye will take him out inside 3 rounds and as for any of the Klitschko’s, retire before you get in the ring with any of them.
Tarvar is going to make it big in the heavies alright, like in a big thud as his body hits the ring floor. At his age he should know better but then again he did take more than his share of raps to the head.
TARVER- ANDRE WARD IS AFTER YOUR TV JOB.BETTER GET IN- GET BIG PAY DAY -GET OUT-GET BACK IN TV- BEFOR WARD RETIRES.YOUR BETTER IN THE RING AND ON TV THEN WARD.THAT IS EVERYWHERE EXCEPT OAKLAND .LET WARD BE THE OAKLAND WEATHER MAN AFTER HE RETIRES.
Well, if Adamek also lost to Dawson then I see no problem with Magic Man moving up to heavyweight as Adamek’s doing pretty good so far.
Tarver has the skills, which lets be honest, most heavies do not have, plus he has experience and will be faster.
I think maybe someone like Mormec or Monte Barrett first, then someone like Sosnowski or Areola 2nd, THEN we can take Tarver seriously, but the 2 fights would have to take place no more than 6 months apart.
Gotta be worth watching either way.
he should go to cruiserweight and get in the tournament that Sauerland wants to put together.he’d be better off in that and hed give it some name recognition
How come?
I dont believe he Tarver wants to fight Klitschco.Let him fight the likes of a Albert sanowski first,then lets talk big.Or maybe Fast Eddie, or Kevin Johnson.Or maybe a much older hollyfield.Tarver is a real good anouncer.He will beat the lower level heavy,s But not a prayer fo klitschco.But hey! we thought it was crazy for Adamek also.Oh well we shall see,I dont see it though.
Is this the same Tarver that lost to Hopkins and Dawson? Tarver you look good in a suit and tie, you still have your wits, and at the age of 41 you are not all broke down like a lot of fighters I’ve seen after their careers have ended, stay at the commentators table.
tarver babbling to stay relevant it seems, but if he serious then a fight with the ancient holyfield would tell him and everyone else how realistic his h/weight credentials are!
milk dud head lmfao
this guy is going to get his milk dud head KTFO.
this aint rocky 6 lmfao , but yeah i think the kid should give it a shot haye done it
I dont think he can do it but everyone thought Haye wouldn’t and every man deserves a go at stuff so fair play to him.
WRONG MOVE, WONT SEE HIM FIGHT AT HEAVYW
you will get killed against Haye,wladamir and vitali.dude is chewing more than he can bite!
is it me or do anybody else smell just a pay day fron tarver.any of the those fighters will beat shi- down his legs.but never know, if the money is right he will fight the klitschos or haye for a big pay day knowing he will not win, he will get in shape just too servive and collect that fat check.right nown he can fight just good anough too not take a bad beating and make a few more millions while doing so.
dreame yank u got no chance
tarver you are a joke
@ Jamie
who said anything about Amere Kon?
Just stick to announcing buddy!
I totally agree Amir Khan has a glass jaw and has only fought feather fisters. Khan is only looking now for boxers in a lower weight class instaed of fighting Maidana. Brilliant article.
Taver is just talking he has no plans to do this unless he is crazy.
Oh good lord no. Tarver just retire bro.
This aint no rocky movie son! Get real..
antonio tarver’s best fight was against rocky balboa lmao !!!!
he has no chance against Haye , Wladamir or vitali … he is just gona get hurt
im sorry but it doesnt matter how bad the heavyweight division is he just has no chance … infact audley harrison has more chance … actually he should fight A – Force and shannon briggs hopefully when these fossils lose to each other they will retire !!!!!