CSAC upholds Tarver 1-year suspension; Vazquez Jr. looks improved enough to beat Donaire now

By Boxing News - 10/08/2012 - Comments

Image: CSAC upholds Tarver 1-year suspension; Vazquez Jr. looks improved enough to beat Donaire nowBy Chris Williams: Earlier today the California State Athletic Commission reportedly upheld their earlier 1-year suspension for 43-year-old former IBF/WBA/WBC light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (29-6-1, 20 KO’s) for him having tested positive for an anabolic steroid drostanolone from his last fight against unbeaten cruiserweight contender Lateef Kayode on June 2nd in Carson, California. According to RingTV, the CSAC voted 4-1 to uphold Tarver’s earlier 1-year suspension.

According to RingTV, Tarver says that the positive drug test may have come about due to medication given to him by his doctor to treat an ankle injury that Tarver had at the time.

In addition to his suspension given to him by the CSAC, Tarver is also suspended “indefinitely” as part of his broadcasting job with Showtime. It’s unclear when if ever the suspension will be lifted.

Hopefully, Tarver’s suspension with Showtime is lifted soon because I thought he was great at his broadcasting job. It would be a pity if they never left him back because of the drug suspension.

As far as Tarver’s boxing career goes, it’s going to be difficult for him to be able to come back from a one year layoff and resume where he left off. He’ll be 44 by the time his suspension is over and that’s a bit old for him to be getting the big fights. Even if he could get a fight against WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck within months of coming back I don’t know how much money he’d get for a fight like that. I guess every bit helps but I can’t see Tarver getting a big fight like that within months of his suspension being lifted.

Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. looks improved enough to beat Donaire

If anyone had the chance to see former WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr’s impressive 7th round TKO win over Jonathan Oquendo last Saturday night they received a real treat. Vazquez Jr. showed a lot of heart, patience and talent in coming on in the 7th despite being down to get the stoppage win. Vazquez Jr. looked like he was going to be blown out by the heavy-handed Oquendo early in the fight. However, the fight turned around in the 5th round after Oquendo hurt Vazquez Jr. with a hard right hand that caused him to touch gloves on the canvas. The referee missed the knockdown, but it didn’t matter because it seemed to energize Vazquez Jr. He then attacked Oquendo, staggering him with a hard left hand in the last seconds of the 5th. From then on, Vazquez Jr. attacked Oquendo with hard shots and stinging jabs to take complete control over the fight. In the 7th, Vazquez Jr. cornered Oquendo and blasted him out with a series of right hands that led to Oquendo taking a knee. He was then counted out.

I was surprised at how much better Vazquez Jr. has gotten since his close loss to Nonito Donaire earlier this year in February. Vazquez Jr. looks like a completely different fighter now and I think he would beat Donaire at this point. With his superb jab, hard left hook and devastating right hand, I believe Vazquez Jr. would do a number on Donaire at this point. It’s too bad that Vazquez Jr. isn’t the one that’s facing Donaire this Saturday night instead of the aging 36-year-old Toshiaki Nishioka. I could see Vazquez Jr. pulling out a win this time around. He’s really improved as a fighter since losing to Donaire.



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