Atlas: Tarver matches up with Deontay Wilder

By Boxing News - 12/12/2014 - Comments

deontay533By Scott Gilfoid: ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas skewered unbeaten #1 WBC heavyweight contender Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) last night on the Austin Trout vs. Luis Grajeda card from Temecula, California. Atlas said that 46-year-old #10 WBA Antonio Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs) would match up with the 6’7” Deontay, and feels that it would be a competitive fight that he’d like to see.

Tarver defeated Johnathon Banks by a 7th round knockout last night in a very boring fight with little action until the final round. Tarver showed an incredibly low work rate in the fight, and it’s hard to understand where Atlas was coming from in comparing him with a splendid puncher like Deontay.

“This would be interesting. I think he [Tarver] fits in with the leading contender in the U.S,” Atlas said about Tarver matching up with Deontay Wilder. “An undefeated fighter in the U.S. People say maybe he [Deontay] has a shot to win a heavyweight world title. Who knows? But I’d like to see Tarver fit right in there with Deontay Wilder. Wilder’s undefeated, all knockouts, a Bronze bomber, a former Olympian. He won the Bronze medal. He’s got one thing – he can bang like hell with the right hand, but I don’t believe in him in other ways yet. He’s fought nobody, and I mean nobody. Even a 46-year-old Tarver would be a step up for him. I’d find that interesting. I’d like to see Tarver with Deontay Wilder.”

I’m not sure if Atlas is aware of the fact that Deontay will be fighting for a world title next month against WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne. Why Deontay would want to waste time fighting the 46-year-old fringe contender Tarver is beyond me. When/if Deontay beats Stiverne for the WBC title, he’s not likely going to want to waste his time fighting guys like Tarver just because Atlas thinks it’ll be a good fight. Deontay will have biggest fish to fry against the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury and David Haye.

“Bottom line, I’m a star number one,” Tarver said. “I got the resume. I got the credentials. I have the experience. I don’t know why these guys who are supposed to be putting it on the line against somebody with my credibility, they want to turn their nose up. David Haye, Wladimir Klitschko. Don’t nobody have the experience I have to go up against whatever? He’s [Wladimir] fighting these tomato cans. He’s not facing nobody. But guess what? I have 12 rounds to do my work. All I need is an inch and it’s goodnight Irene, because I’m punching now. I’m a knockout artist. You might boo and boo, but when I drop that hammer, it’s good night Irene, baby. That’s what we’re bring to the heavyweight division. I want to become the oldest fighter to ever win a heavyweight championship. Anybody that has a heavyweight title, they have a mark on their chest. They’re a marked man. That’s it. That’s my mission and my destiny. I will become the heavyweight champion of the world. When they feel my power, they’re going to shake, and when they shake, I’m closing the show. I’m a closer. You can check my resume. I’m a closer, baby,” Tarver said.

Here’s what Deontay had to say about Atlas:



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