Tarver vs. Cunningham: It’s a Sleeper either way

08/15/201508/14/2015 Chris Carlson

(Photo credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment) At first glance “Sleepy Hallow” is a fitting title for the Heavyweight main event tonight for the PBC on Spike. There’s a good chance it could be a sleepy affair. The argument could be made that the bout is being slept on as well. At least the location is solid with a main event featuring somewhat known boxers and two fighters of polish decent on the televised portion of the broadcast which will air live at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Does anyone care about Antonio Tarver’s aspirations of topping George Foreman’s record? Not really. Even with a win the goal won’t be accomplished until he gets a likely shot at Deontay Wilder’s WBC strap. Cunningham isn’t the household name that sparks interest per-say either which is the main reason why this fight has been put out to pasture and thrown on the pile of meaningless fights made by the PBC.

continue

Antonio Tarver: Still Focused on Achieving History-Making Title Dreams

08/14/201508/13/2015 Olly Campbell

Tonight in Newark, New Jersey former 175 lb boss Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver squares off against fellow ageing veteran Steve Cunningham over 12 rounds on the Premier Boxing Champions bill on Spike TV (US) knowing defeat will surely spell the end of his title ambitions.

Now 46 years old, Tarver has made his ambition to become the oldest world heavyweight champion in history perfectly clear – hoping to overtake the record set by a 45 year old George Foreman when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 – and he knows fellow old-timer and former cruiserweight champion Cunningham, 39, is standing firmly in the way.

continue

Weights: Tarver 217 vs. Cunningham 204, Huck 199 vs. Glowacki 198

08/14/201508/13/2015 Premier Boxing

With just two days to go until their Premier Boxing Champions on Spike showdowns, fighters participating on the Friday, August 14 card at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey held a press conference Wednesday at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill in Manhattan.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is headlined by a 12-round heavyweight showdown between Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs) and Steve “U.S.S.” Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs). Also featured on Spike is cruiserweight world champion Marco “Captain” Huck (38-2-1, 26 KOs) defending his title against Polish contender Krzyzstof Glowacki (24-0, 15 KOs) and Polish heavyweight Artur Szpilka (19-1, 14 KOs) taking on Cuba’s Yasmany Consuegra (17-1, 14 KOs).

continue

Antonio Tarver weighs in on Klitschko vs. Fury: “Klitschko’s going to destroy him”

08/11/201508/10/2015 Vitali Shaposhnikov

When Wladimir Kliltschko and Tyson Fury signed up to face each other on October 24 in Dusseldorf, Germany, many boxing fans felt like this might be the fight that will truly put Klitschko to the test.

Fury is younger, bigger, and has a longer reach. His unblemished record elevates his stock even higher, making him seem like someone who could potentially overwhelm Wladimir with volume and size, ending the Klitschko reign. Over the years, Fury has accumulated a colossal number of followers, and has gained the respect of many boxing pugilists.

continue

Audio: Tarver vs Cunningham – Heated Word Exchange On Media Call

07/23/201507/23/2015 Premier Boxing

“You’re overlooking me…I wouldn’t break camp, but you’re breaking camp for me. Good luck August 14. You’re crazy. You’re out of your mind.” – Tarver to Cunningham

“A few years ago, you were calling me a ‘nobody.’ Let’s keep it real. You’re a professional mouth-runner. I’m a professional fighter…period.” – Cunningham to Tarver

New York (July 23, 2015) – Former world champions Antonio Tarver and Steve Cunningham exchanged heated words today on a routine media conference call that escalated into a back-and-forth dialogue about mutual respect and ring generalship.

Both Tarver and Cunningham joined the call at minute 20:51 (MP3 linked above) following a much friendlier media Q&A featuring the televised undercard fighters Marco Huck and Krzysztof Glowacki.

continue

Antonio Tarver Wants To Break Records / Eyes Wilder & Klitschko

07/10/201507/10/2015 Olly Campbell

He will turn 47 years old in November, yet Antonio ‘Magic Man’ Tarver, the former 175 lb boss many fans best remember for his trilogy of fights with Roy Jones Jr, is set to step between the ropes again at heavyweight in August, when he fights former cruiserweight boss Steve Cunningham on the PBC on Spike card from Newark, New Jersey.

If the Florida man comes through against Cunningham, he has insisted to ThaBoxingVoice that the only fights that make sense for the future would be against the likes of Deontay Wilder, or dominant lineal champion Wladimir Klitschko, who fights Tyson Fury in Germany in October.

continue

Antonio Tarver Aims for the Heavyweight World Title in 2015

01/08/201501/07/2015 James Stillerman

Five-time world title holder and former Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Champion, Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (31-6, 1 NC, 22 KOs) has achieved a great deal of success in his career; however, there`s still one thing he wants to accomplishment before he retires and that`s to be a heavyweight world title holder.

“This is going be my year,” said Tarver. “I`m ready to defeat the consensus best heavyweight in the world, Wladimir Klitschko or the winner of the Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder bout on January 17th, which is for the World Boxing Council’s title. I`m extremely confident that I`ll beat anyone of these three fighters and strengthen my legacy to be inducted into the boxing hall of fame.”

continue

“Night of Champions” card honors Dan Goossen in style

12/12/2014 Michael Montero

photos by Tiffany Lam: Thursday night ESPN Boxing put on a special three-hour telecast featuring four bouts. It was all part of a stacked Goossen Promotions card at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula California dedicated to the memory of the late Dan Goossen.

http://youtu.be/naCRgLDaZTk

In the main event, 46-year-old Antonio Tarver was coming in off a yearlong layoff against Detroit native Johnathon Banks, who was making his ring return after a year and half off himself. The heavyweight fight started very slowly, drawing boos from the crowd. But Tarver the former light-heavyweight champion of the world, appeared to be in control, occasionally timing his opponent and landing clean left hands that buzzed him. Banks did absolutely nothing but feint and tie up, hardly throwing a punch in the early rounds. Tarver’s game plan was obvious, to lure Banks in for a big counterpunch. But would he have the speed, and power, to pull it off?

continue

Antonio Tarver and Mike Sheppard on November 26th

10/15/201310/14/2013 Golden Boy Promotions

SUNRISE, FLORIDA (October 14) – Boxing’s popular new fight series Golden Boy Live! is back at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. on Tuesday, November 26 with a stacked card featuring the return of former World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver facing West Virginia veteran Mike Sheppard in the 10 round main event which will be televised on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Also, featured on the card will be the Golden Boy Promotions debut of undefeated Cuban heavyweight star Luis “El Mercedez” Ortiz against a fighter to be announced in the co-featured fight that will get Florida fight fans up and cheering from bell to bell.

continue