Magic Man Antonio Tarver in the Boxing Twilight Zone
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Steve USS Cunningham vs Antonio Tarver, 12 Rounds, August 14, 2015, Heavyweights
Steve Cunningham Tale of the Tape Antonio Tarver
Turned Pro October 2000 Heavyweight Contenders Turned Pro February 1997
28 Wins 31
7 Lost 6
13 Kayos/TKOs 22
None Draws None
35 Total Bouts 37
37% KO% 59%
6’3” Height 6’2”
82” Reach 75”
Orthodox Stance Southpaw
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Nationality Tampa, Florida
July 15, 1976 Age 39 Birthdate November 21, 1968 Age 46
Newark, NJ (August 11th, 2015)– The ‘Twilight Zone’ of boxing is in another dimension. A dimension of ring and ringside sounds, referee sounds, and fan sounds, a dimension of mind over subconscious, a land of both shadow and substance, of ideas carried forth to win beyond the realm of the ordinary.
This reporter will be ringside on USA Spike TV on August 14, 2015, as DiBella Promotions and Huck Sports Promotions present a nine bout professional card of exciting boxing at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, featuring a 12 rounder between top heavyweight contenders Antonio ‘Magic Man’ Tarver and Steve USS Cunningham in the main event.
Southpaw heavyweight Antonio Tarver won the Light Heavyweight Bronze Medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996. A National Golden Gloves champion, a United States Amateur champion, a Pan American Games champion and a World Amateur champion at Light Heavyweight, Antonio Tarver has been a commentator, boxer, and consistent force in the sport of boxing today. A talker-but not quite as much as Ali was.
Antonio Tarver never stops talking, and will never go away. Like Sugar Ray Leonard did to Marvelous Marvin Hagler at middleweight, Antonio Tarver would like to claim another world title at heavyweight over the recognized world champion, Dr. Wladimir Klitschko.
At age 46, southpaw Tarver, 31-6, 22 knockouts, Tampa, Florida, is in the boxing ‘Twilight Zone’. In December of 2014, he knocked out Jonathon Banks, the trainer of Wladimir Klitschko and also a world ranked heavyweight in his own right. Tarver would like his shot at Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, or Ruslan Chagaev, the paper champions of record.
Considering Ruslan Chagaev, who holds the WBA title, stiffed number one ranked Francesco Pianeta at 2:57 of the first round, on July 11, 2015, any of the big three fighters, as well as Alexander Povetkin, Vyacheslav Glaskov, Tyson Fury, Bryan Jennings, Robert Helenius, Bryan Jennings or Erkan Tepper, would be a dangerous match for Tarver.
Tarver’s 12 round heavyweight main event match this weekend against Steve USS Cunningham, 39, 28-7, 13 knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a matchmaking work of magnificence in itself. Both championship fighters have fought their entire careers against the best of quality opposition. This is a do or die fight for both combatants in terms of career advancement-and receiving a shot at a share of the world heavyweight title.
Tarver is a bit stronger than Cunningham in terms of knockout power. However, Tarver is older. Wiser does not translate to faster hands. Tarver will have to establish dominance with his jab and ring generalship almost immediately. If not, Cunningham will try to get inside and break him down for a rough finish in the late rounds. In this bout, someone is going to get knocked out, and who goes will not go quietly. The key to victory will be a combination of technical ability and power shots which will wear down the other man faster. Whosoever lands them with consistent throughout the contest will get the victory.
Antonio Tarver is now in the ‘Twilight Zone’. Tarver has demonstrated lethal punching power at an age far beyond such famous names as Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Max Baer, John L. Sullivan, Bob Fitzsimmons, James Jeffries, Riddick Bowe and Gentleman Jim Corbett. Only Jack Johnson, ‘The Galveston Giant’, fought later on as Tarver did in later life, and peaked through age 50. The mountain awaits Antonio Tarver. Cunningham will take Tarver on a trip to hell. Eye of the tiger, we are the stronger, and only the strong survive. Tarver versus Cunningham is truly Rocky VII for both of these game competitors.
The Twilight Zone theme song will be playing in the minds of boxing experts when Antonio Tarver enters the ring in Newark. Tarver is attempting to cheat father time, and shatter the time barrier of age when it comes to pro boxers of accomplishment. It can and has been done, but Tarver is a rare successful bird-like Bernard Hopkins-in a sport where aging greats far too often fade off the map, broke, forgotten, and separated from their senses.
COMMENTS
English