41-year-old Antonio Tarver could be making his heavyweight debut on October 15th
August 25th, 2010
By Eric Thomas: Former IBF/WBA/WBC light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (27-6, 19 KO’s) could be making his heavyweight debut on October 15th on Showtime, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. This isn’t the kind of boxing news that will make some fans happy, though, because Tarver is 41 now, and has lost three out of his last six fights, including his last two to Chad Dawson. At only 6’2″, Tarver doesn’t appear to have the kind of frame that would allow him to move up in weight and compete with the huge 240+ pound Klitschko brothers or even the faster WBA heavyweight champion David Haye.
However, if Tarver is carefully matched like Adamek is being done since he moved up in weight, Tarver could beat a handful of 2nd tier and fringe heavyweights like Adamek, and then get a big money shot against one of the Klitschkos and/or Haye. At 41, Tarver will likely only get one shot at it unless he wants to hang around into his upper 40s like Evander Holfyfield and try to get multiple shots at the title. Tarver might be better off forgetting about the heavyweight division and trying his hand at the much weaker cruiserweight division.
I doubt that Tarver would find any luck whatsoever at that weight, but at least he would have a pretty good idea how he would do against the heavyweights. Tarver would have to be ultra conservative in picking opponents at heavyweight, because even the B level fighters that Adamek has been facing while moving up the heavyweight ladder would likely give Tarver huge problems because of his slender frame, lack of power and limited movement.
21 Responses to “41-year-old Antonio Tarver could be making his heavyweight debut on October 15th”
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Their all a bunch of big dumb slow over rated lard bags.That is except for Haye. Avoid him and test the rest. Tarver can out box them and by the 10th round their all dead on their feet. Go get them Antonio.
Taver fight Danny Green for your mate Roy don’t let these white boys man come on.
Tarver verse David Haye could potentially be a very good matchup, both athletic boxers but at 41 how much could Tarver really have left in the tank?
interesting but he should join in the cruiserweight tournament.sure he could beat the likes of haye but the klitschkos are another story
Tarver at heavy=no chance.
Who Tarver punching in picture? It is a double of Enzo Maccarinelli getting hit.
Tarver was a very skilled and technical southpaw fighter with real LHW power at a time but that ship has sailed a long while ago. I’d say right around the time he lost the Rocky Balboa movie weight and returned to fight B-hop.
Maybe Haye will fight Tarver.
But I doubt that too.
Bad move for the 41-year old.
PA
Did anybody take interest in the Roy Jones vs Hopkins 2 fight ?
This article cannot be taken seriously can it? There’s no point competing if you cant win, and for Tarver to think that he could stand in front of either Klitshcko and get a win is not only ridiculous, it verges on being retarded. In fact, I cant think of Tarver having any luck against ANY of the top HW’s, let alone against the titleholders. He would be absolutely destroyed when they connected with his mug. Wake up Antonio, if its a joke your trying to pull off, go to the comedy channel mate.
Tarver was ok back in the day, but no way should he be thinking about this. RETIRE MAN!
Adding some effective wieght could help him in his new endeaver,but one has to doubt his effect on the division.
41 yrs old? Maybe Haye will chose him as his next opponent after the Harrison fight.
Tarver is done, I’m afraid. I would fear for his life if he managed to get a shot at a Klitschko at any tim…..honestly. But, you never know. I’ve seen stranger things than if he did somehow win a title. But it won’t be from a Klitschko, especially Vitali.
i think this would be the quickest heavyweight career in history
I’m not a David Haye fan.. but I honestly think Tarver would get destroyed by ‘the Hayemaker’.
Tarver’s last fights have been lacklusture, and he hasn’t before been at the receiving end of a full blown heavyweight punch (.. even the resillient Ruiz got floored unexpectedly in Round 1).
I think a ‘legends’ fight with Roy Jones might pull some desperate sales ..
this aint no rocky movie son, you gonna get hurt!!
Bring on Mason ‘the Line’ Dixon lol
who are we to say what a man cant and shouldnt do… if the man wants to fight at heavyweight then i thinks its totally up to him… america needs a new heavyweight star bad right now… more boxers should follow in his footsteps
Shades of Lou Savarese; Tarver looked absolutely spent with Dawson and Hopkins. I’ll tell you I would pay money to see him in the ring with Gabe Brown. Why do you give ink to a ridiculous run like that. The next thing your gonna leak is that Monte Meza Clay is going up to heavyweight.
Tarver thinks people regard him as a legend or something he was a good fighter ” there was never anything special about him if u need money promote or something I don’t know anyone who has a poster of you hanging don’t do it tony its really not necessary
DaVarryl Williamson (26-6) has been rumored as an opponent already. He is a “small” heavyweight with a suspect chin, but certainly has heavyweight power in his hands….