Antonio Tarver is living proof that the strength of the human will is an extraordinary thing.  Since turning pro in 1997, Tarver has chased after Roy Jones Jr... hell bent on proving to the sports world that he was the man who could defeat the long reigning pound for pound king and boxing's most invincible fighter.

 

After giving Jones the worst beating of his career last November (but losing a majority decision), an embittered Tarver hardened his resolve and vowed to avenge the loss.  And avenge it he did... with a picture perfect over hand left that knocked out Jones in the second round.

 

"I never gave up on my dream," said the 35 year old Tarver after his dynamic win.

 

Tarver (22-2; 18 KO's) began boxing at age 10 at a boys club in Orlando FL, but gave up the sport five years later (soon after fighting Jones as an amateur in the 1983 Sunshine State Games), when his family picked up and moved to a better neighborhood.  Unable to find a nearby boxing gym, Tarver centered his attention on football while in high school.

 

When a college scholarship for his gridiron talent failed to come to fruition, and he was forced to scrounge for part time jobs to support his newborn son, the teenaged Tarver became aimless and forlorn.  Eventually,  idle hands and stagnation led to his brief encounter with drugs.   Then in 1988, a twenty year old Tarver lay on his couch watching the Olympics from Seoul, Korea on TV.  There was the 'Roy Jones' from his amateur days... now an Olympic team member.  Instantly, Tarver's desire to return to the sport was re-ignited and his motivation to succeed at a fever pitch. "It touched me, not because he was there, but the fact that I was just as good as he was, if not better, at the time we fought," Tarver was quoted as saying.

 

Tarver's road to Jones led the 6'2" southpaw to his very first defeat (in 2000) against Eric Harding in an IBF title eliminator - with the winner going on to face Jones.   In that fight, Tarver fought with a broken jaw and lost by unanimous decision.  Two years and three fights later, Tarver hired Buddy McGirt as his coach.  Choosing to face Harding in a rematch, Tarver made the daring and risky move... knowing that it placed his IBF #1 ranking in jeopardy. This, all for the sake of tidying up a loose end and proving his worthiness to be a champ.  Incidently, Harding was knocked out in the 5th with the same left hand that befell Jones 2 weeks ago.  In his next fight nine months later against Montell Griffin, Tarver won the vacant (by Jones) WBC and IBF light heavyweight titles.  Then came Jones... and Tarver's unwavering tenacity paid off.

 

Fightnews spoke to Tarver:

 

Mike Tyson has said that you intimidated Roy when you boldly asked him if he had "any excuses."  Also, Buddy told me that he saw some "fear" in Roy in the first round.  What did YOU see in Roy, moments before the fight and during the first round?
When I looked into Roy's eyes, I really couldn't detect any fear or intimidation.  I was so focused on what I wanted to do that I didn't recognize anything like that.  My mind set was so concentrated on what I wanted to do in that fight, that I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.  But, I do know that Roy never expected me to say that.  AND, I meant every word of it too!  Maybe things happen for a reason.  Maybe our fight on November 8th went down the way it did for a reason... just so it could get me to this point. 

 

What did you assume Roy's plan of attack would be?
I thought Roy would come out in a fury... really, really aggressive.  Before the fight, Roy was talking about the Montell Griffin match.  So, I told him 'if you come out here looking to be aggressive, don't be surprised if YOU are the one looking like Montell at the end of the night!'  But, in the first round, I was really cautious and I just wanted to get my jab working.  I didn't want to get caught with anything unexpected because I thought it would take a few rounds before I was able to open Roy up.

Something clicked in you when Buddy said "you're giving him too much respect!"  What went through your mind at that moment?
The first round was just a feeling out round, so the LAST thing I was doing was giving Roy respect!  I'm glad Buddy lit that fire in me.  He told me 'go out and get yours!'  So that's what I did.  I was rattlesnake mad!

 

Many of Roy's critics have felt that he has long concealed a weak chin.    While that left hand of yours would have knocked anyone out, what is your opinion of Roy's chin?
I think he has a solid chin.  Roy got caught with a beautiful shot by Lou Del Valle and he was able to handle that.  But, Roy has always been a safety first fighter for many, many years.  And, he's gotten away with just letting his hands go, whether he's hitting anything or not... or by being dominate with those little flurries that don't do any damage.  Roy has been allowed to get away with hitting on the arm, just as long as he lets his hands go.  They count those as pure punches.  And, THAT had a lot to do with the way our first fight was scored.           

 

Because of your dramatic win over Roy, you will no doubt be highly scrutinized in your next fight.  Do you feel the need (or pressure) to be just as spectacular in your future bouts?
I not only want to be a champion, I want to be a superstar in boxing!  I want to be spectacular and I think I have the ability to be spectacular every time out.  But, boxing has a lot of facets to it.  It's not all about knockouts.  It's the sweet science!  There are a lot of intangibles that go along with being a great boxer.  There is the defense aspect, the boxing ability, the punching power and the ring generalship.  So, if everyone is looking for me to be a brutal knockout puncher, then that's not going to happen.  I won't put that type of pressure on myself.  People should look at me to see what the real sweet science is all about.  But if a knockout comes, I'll take it.  I want to be known as a boxer-puncher-counter puncher.  Also, I think my defense goes TOTALLY unnoticed.  I have a very well rounded game.  In fact, I think the biggest compliment anyone can give me is 'you don't look like a fighter!'  Many times you can tell a fighter from a mile away by the wear and tear on his face.  That's not me.          

 

Since you have been with Buddy McGirt, he seems to have brought out the best in you.  What have you learned under his guidance?
Buddy has given me a better understanding of the game.  When I made the transition from amateur to pro, I had a great trainer who had a great mind for the sport of boxing.  His name is Jimmy Williams.  He trained me as an amateur and we reunited after my amateur career.  He was an older gentleman and had a kidney ailment.  So, it was kind of hard for he and I.  Also, we didn't have the money to hire people, like conditioners and dieticians to help me.  We just didn't have that luxury.  Now I do have that luxury.  I have three strength and conditioning coaches... along with Buddy!  Being with the team I have now, has added years to my fighting career. 

 

Conditioner Teddy Cruz has worked with Gatti and McCline.  They say he's big on building leg strength.  Was conditioning your legs a factor in your preparation for both fights against Jones?
No.  We worked from head to toe!  They even strengthened my eyelashes!  They left no stone unturned.  Before I even went to the gym to hit a heavy bag, they were conditioning me three months before the fight.  I've always been a talented fighter, but I've never been in the CONDITION to allow those talents to surface.  Now I am.  Now I can show people that I haven't even scratched the surface on the things I can do in that ring.             

 

During your training for the first fight, I was told that you were asked to do a taping of Cold Pizza... at 3 in the morning!  Did the publicity work hamper your training schedule at all?
No.  It was all up to me and I was in complete control.  I did the taping and I went above and beyond the call of duty. I worked my butt off and made every appearance, and did every interview to try to promote that fight.   So if anyone had a valid excuse, it was me!  But the second time around, we denied the invitation.  We had a great promoter in Don King and I didn't have to work as hard.  So, I was able to completely focus on the job at hand.           

 

Since your win over Roy, has the 'money talk' (on prospective fights) been to your liking?  Do you feel you are finally being respected?
My whole thing is this: I'm here... they know I'm here and we're looking for some big things to happen - again.  I've wasted enough time trying to get to the top and I've fought many times for a pittance.  Now, those days are over.  I am the breath of fresh air in boxing.  If Roy was the pound for pound champion three months ago, where does that leave me?  I beat Roy the first time and I knocked him out the second time.  So, let the chips fall as they may.   

 

How have the negotiations been in securing a third fight with Roy?
Right now, it seems like Roy is continuing to tap dance around reality.  Hopefully, reality will set in and he'll understand that he no longer calls the shots anymore.  If he truly wants the trilogy, then he has to play by MY rules.  Roy is in denial if he thinks it's gonna go down his way.  When I was the mandatory challenger across the board, he ran off an fought Ruiz.  He couldn't dictate to me then, because I took the (2nd) Harding fight just to show people that I am the best light heavyweight in the world.  I took all the risk and he thought I was going to sit around and wait for him to control my career - and throw me a bone in the process.  It didn't work then and it's not going to work now.  Roy needs to recognize that there has been a changing of the guard.  HIS legacy is on the line.  Not mine.  I'm continuing to build mine.          
 
Your mother is often by your side at all of your fights.  Is she your inspiration?
All of my family is a tremendous inspiration.  I'm the only male in my family and have always been the man of the house.  So, my family is an intricate part of the reasons why I feel the need to do big things and to make a way for my family and to make them comfortable.  We are a close knit family and are enjoying this victory together with my two kids.  They're all I have.   

 

There was a period in your life where you succumbed to drug abuse. Very few people have the inner strength to be able to pull themselves away from something like that.  How were you able to turn your life around? 

I was able to get by with the help of the Lord and the support of my family.  There was a period in my life where I lost track and went along that meandering road - to nowhere.  It was a long time ago, but I guess it was one of those things I had to go through.  That's life.  If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.  Because it was during those times, during my recovery, that I was able to build character.  I KNEW there was nothing in this world that I could not achieve or anything that I could not overcome.  When you look at it, Roy Jones was minute when you consider the obstacles that I had to overcome in my life.  It has made me a better person.  I can be a role model and speak on things if need be and my advice is to believe in yourself and follow your dreams because they will come true.  Life is hard.  We all just have to endure.  Right now, I feel that I am complete.  I have everything together and I'm ready to move forward to the next step.  

 

Now that you are undisputed champ, younger fighters will look towards you as an example.  How do you plan to 'give back' to boxing?
To be an ambassador.  I think our sport has taken unnecessary abuse.  Back in the day when Leonard and Hagler were fighting, boxing was thriving.  Fighters were able to make money.  Nowadays, you only have one or two fighters making serious cash.  When you look at all these other sports and the astronomical figures they get for one contract... times need to change when it comes to boxing.  We need to elevate it to another level.  We need a National Commission or Federal Law to govern the sport.  There is more risk in our sport than any other in the world.  A fighters life should be worth a whole lot more.  Boxing needs to go commercial and be seriously promoted.  The world needs to know who our champions are.  Hopefully, I will be able to lead boxing in the right direction.

 

What is next for you? 
If Roy Jones does not want the trilogy and feels that it's not worth his time, then my work at light heavyweight is done.  There is only one thing for me to do and that is to throw my name into that melting pot within the heavyweight division.  Heavyweight is where I see my future and I would love to fight Tyson or (James) Toney!  I'm big enough to carry the weight and it's not a problem to be in shape and in condition at 210 or 215.  I will be able to maintain my arsenal and solidify myself as 'the man' in boxing.  I see myself as being heavyweight champion of the world and if I make that goal, then that is what I am going to achieve. 

 

Tyson has said that he would gladly fight you.  That would be interesting, especially since he's never fought a southpaw.  Your thoughts?            
That fight would be interesting.  More so than Tyson-Jones.  I guess they just wanted to give Roy a serious retirement check, as he was on his way out of the game.  What kind of fight could Tyson get out of Roy?  He's 5'10 at best and 190 pounds soaking wet.  But with ME, you're looking at a tall rangy guy who can fill out to about 210 or 215.  And, it would be Holyfield all over again for Tyson!  When I put my punches together, throw lightening fast combinations and use lateral movement... how is Tyson gonna hit what he can't see?  I have the height and reach advantage, and a fight against Tyson is one that I can truly win.  I shocked the world one time and I don't mind doing it again.