I had a chance to catch up with former IBO champion, Antonio ‘Magic Man’ Tarver, following his recent KO victory over Johnathon Banks. A former champion in both the light heavyweight and cruiserweight division, Tarver now has his sights set on becoming the heavyweight champion of the world.
In this interview, Antonio shares his thoughts on his recent win over heavyweight, Johnathon Banks and what he feels he got from that win. Tarver also expresses his desire to fight David Haye soon. Lastly, Antonio Tarver speaks about the possibility of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and what it could do for the sport. Here is what Antonio Tarver had to say.
(Listen to the full 45 minute interview below)
Robert Brown: I want to congratulate you your win over Johnathon Banks, how do you feel after getting that win?
Antonio Tarver: We’re looking good man. It was one of those things where I really had a tough training camp, we had good work in sparring, a lot of rounds. We really got ourselves in great shape and normally when I’m in great shape like that, we usually get those types of results.
It was a compliment to my training camp and the fact that I stayed focused throughout even when I was facing some injuries. We had to overcome some things but overall we just worked hard and we really focused in on not only winning, but looking good doing it. I think my mission as accomplished.
Robert Brown: You had a very comprehensive victory over Banks, do you think you got enough out of that fight?
Antonio Tarver: Yeah I really did, I got some rounds in. I had to think my way through it, I wasn’t gonna take Johnathon Banks lightly, that’s why I went and got in great shape. The last time I saw Johnathon Banks in the ring, it looked like he could have done a lot more in that Seth Mitchell fight but the fight before that, he came in with one loss to Adamek and he came in and he upset one of the guys that everybody had pegged to be the next heavyweight guy from the US, Seth Mitchell.
Banks fought and undefeated Seth Mitchell and he derailed Seth Mitchell’s case for being the big US heavyweight, he knocked him out. I’m not gonna sit here and say, “Okay, he was timid.” If you’re in front of me in a fight, you better be timid too, everybody better be timid! There’s a reason to be timid because you’re in there with a dangerous, calculated assassin. If I was him, I would be timid too, that’s the bottom line.
These guys don’t understand, they can’t show you on paper where you’ve seen a fighter dominate me in a boxing ring, they haven’t seen it yet. I’m still here after all these years and I’m ready to win the heavyweight championship. I’m focused on that and I’m gonna do it. It’s gonna take a hell of a fighter to beat me right now because I’m too close right now, I’m locked in.
I’m getting ready to go back in training camp right after the first of the year. Whoever they say I’m fighting next, I’m gonna see them wherever I’m at and I’m gonna put on the type of show and I’m gonna fight the type of fight that these people are gonna understand that I’m a serious threat to the heavyweight division right now.
I’m forty six years old, that’s a story right there that’s worth everybody following and paying attention to because if I do what I say I’m gonna do against Wladimir Klitschko, you’re talking to one of the greatest that ever did it. That’s the type of legacy that I’m trying to leave.
Robert Brown: You have said you want to face David Haye next. Why do you want to fight a guy who’s hasn’t fought in two years?
Antonio Tarver: You all know that Tarver vs. Haye is a big fight. Come on man, you got two worldwide personalities with David Haye and myself, it’s synonymous with boxing. That’s a big fight man and I know if I win that fight, there’s no way that they can deny me, I’ll be the biggest fight for Wladimir Klitschko.
I’m always about doing something big in order to get to something big. Like I said, if I’m willing to take that risk against David Haye, then he should be willing enough to step up and fight me. He’s claiming to be a heavyweight, let’s do something big. He’s never fought in America, he’s never fought a legend, he’s never fought a star, so let’s do something big.
Let’s fight a real fight that everybody wants to see and when I do what I do against David Haye, then there’s no way that they can deny me a showdown against the man, the king of the heavyweights, Wladimir Klitschko. That’s gonna be my swan song right there. That’s it, I’m not trying to say, “Oh give me a title shot Klitschko,” I’m trying to say, “When I beat David Haye’s ass, you ain’t got nobody else to fight but me!”
Robert Brown: I want to ask you about a popular topic in boxing today, Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. Do you think the fight will actually happen?
Antonio Tarver: When both of them get ready to fight, it’s gonna happen. You never really know what’s going on behind the scenes but it’s definitely a fight that boxing needs and those two guys need. Regardless of how much money Mayweather and Pacquiao have made, they should do that for the game, just for boxing alone. Boxing is gonna be healthy from it because everybody’s been anticipating that fight, not only fight fans but sports fans alike.
I think it’s a big feather in just boxing in general and I think everybody can benefit from that mega showdown and just put boxing on everybody’s mind and allow everybody to mark that day in their calendar and witness two of the best fighters in our time go toe to toe, finally. Hopefully it happens next year, hopefully in 2015 we’re able to see that fight.
Robert Brown: Do you think Amir Khan will get the fight with Mayweather first?
Antonio Tarver: I’m not sure. Mayweather came out and said some things that he feels Khan really doesn’t have the type of presence that the other guys have had over the years. Mayweather is about Pay-Per-View dollars man, that’s what he’s all about. He’s trying to make the big fights. I hear that the numbers aren’t as satisfactory as they’ve been over the years, so they’re looking to make the big fights to boost those numbers up.
Somewhere along the line you have to be justified and the only way to justify it is to give the people what they want. Him and Pacquiao understand that the time is right now to go and get that fight in the books.
On Point!
HELLO! WHAT ABOUT IF I SAY GAYWEATHER IS A Pusey? What ya say about it? Born in 5he land of the Brave? Now Yapping like Woman!!!! He can kiss ma ass if I was Manny!!!! Lololol
HELLO! WHAT ABOUT IF I SAY GAYWEATHER IS A Pusey? What ya say about it? Born in 5he land of the Brave? Now Yapping like Woman!!!! He can kiss ma ass if I was Manny!!!! Lololol
manny challenge already floyd to fight for charity, manny is not after money, the problem was floyd nonesense demand.
Bulls-eye Mr. Tarver. But for Mayweather, Come on man dont be coward. You were born and raised in the home and the land of the brave. Therefore, you must stand firm with that lines. Let the fight happens for the sake of boxing.
Tell it Floyd Mayweather Jr…..just to Floyd and everything will be happen.How to checkmate Floyd,how?
as long as mayweather is in control the mega fight wont happen….
True.
No amount of Money can buy Floyd a pair of balls !
He will keep on ducking until he retires !
its not mayweather who does not want the fight, its bob arum. if only bob wants it then it will happend.
mayweather said that he wants to fight pacman.of course he has a demand beacuse he is the A side. its up to bob arum to respond positively.i dont think the demands of mayweather is imposible. its the interests of bob arum that made the fight imposible.
and mayweather is correct. manny should be himself by taking in charge in deciding on this matter and not to rely so much on bob arum. he should convince bob arum to agree on most of the demands of mayweather just for the fight to happend. at least those demands that are fair and reasonable…
You are crazy.
Floyd is truly in the A side, and Pacquiao on the B side………… however as long as Mayweather keep treating Pacquiao with his neverending demand as if Pacquiao is in the “Z-side” …….. the fight won’t happen….
Floyd it’s not Arum you’re fighting but the “Pacman”!!!! get in the ring and show you’re not afraid, please be brave enough to take the fight! Don’t make ridiculous demands, grow some balls….
BS demands, those are excuses.
Never ending demands. Freak.
Expect more excuses coming down the pipe from the b*tch Floyd
It wouldn’t happen because the most greedy will be the hindrance of this mega fight.
the big ? mark is if Mayweather fought all the opponents Pacquiao fought, Do you think he is still undefeated? You’ll be the judge. peace!
Edel are you serious, who hasn’t floy d fought that pac didnt. . Margarito. Bradley . Barrera and Morales .He beat Mosely who beat Margarito for the title. Barrera and Morales weren’t in his league. Bradley hasn’t proved his self formidable to fight Floyd. Now on the other hand Manny never fought the likes of Diego Corrales, Saul Lvarez,Aturro Gotti or Madaina who’s been calling him out and I believe would rip Pac apart cause of rough house skills, since Manny likes mix it up .Floy d fights people coming off wins not losses like Pac do some research before you start lip service and he never beat Marquez in my eyes and in most true boxing fans eyes, look at the poll on that one. C,mon man , you Pacamainiacs talk ridiculous!!!
True statements great observation.
No excuses, just fight. Why Mayducker won’t fight? The world wonders.
I think Floyd’s vagina is bigger than his bank account.. Floyd gayweather will continue to duck pacman..ppl day khan isn’t good enough and Bradley isn’t u forget Floyd fought Vargas and danny Garcia who the hell are they u ain’t saying they are better than pacman and the last couple years gayweather said Manny wasn’t good enough lmao..cmon man
Floyd is truly in the A side, and Pacquiao on the B side………… however as long as Mayweather keep treating Pacquiao with his neverending demand as if Pacquiao is in the “Z-side” …….. the fight won’t happen….
The way I look at the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao, there would be a lot of pressure and anxiety on Mayweather as he is s concern with his record of being undefeated and never been knocked down or kayoed. As for Pacquiao, he would be figthing his best with ease As he had tasted defeat and knock outs (3 times: by a Filipino boxers for revamp, Thai boxer-Koakor Galaxy, and Marquez) and this for me shows what a true champion is. Pacquiao’s been down and out but he goes on to fight. Other’s just fade away. Perhaps Mayweather will fade away after a defeat from Pacquiao.
gay weather is only good in BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH, he made the American people in shame. They say America is the HOME OF THE BRAVE. Gay Weather, prove you are belong to the HOME OF THE BRAVE.
Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson had spoken already, both legend are a real fighter and win and lost they accepted all challenges.
But the selfproclaimed sosocalled THE BEST EVER has no heart like brave warrior and act like a stupid gay.
Muhammad Ali may rest in bed without Mayweather signing the fight with Pacman. nHope he will make Muhammad Ali proud of their roots.
hi! adams happy x’mas: you know, its not the demands of mayweather that make the fight impossible rather its the way bob arum does his business. as i said as long as the demands of mayewather is. reasonable with pacman then the fight is on but as i observed, its bob arum who is hard to convince for the fight to happend.
the latest news i read is that bob arum is in close contact with cbs big boss, cbs is the mother company of showtime, which is mayweather’s network. lets hope that cbs can convince mayweather to fight manny considering all his demands. for sure there is no problem with manny because he is a yes man to bob. the big ? is whether mayweather can be dictated by cbs.
mma and the ufc in particular is slowly grabbing bigger ratings which could ultimately spell the end of boxing. However it will take massive fights now to keep the attention of fans and sponsorships alike. It doesn’t get much bigger than Pacman vs Floyd Mayweather. Bring it on for the sake of boxing.
Floyd should not be forced into this fight because he might just too scared not of Manny but of a probability of an upset to his dear zero loss record. Even a third fight with Maidana will be hard for Floyd to take.
Rob Brown
This is a great interview
you carried with Mr Tarver
and he can carry a interview as experienced as he is in his career
as a boxer and a commentator !
I hope he gets what he wants ! Truly I do !
He needs a fight ! A special high end $ fight !
He has had his hits , his fame and knocks !
He took the win , I knew he would , he does it with a KO
So there’s no misunderstandings , I love the way he fights !
He’s a Good spirited guy , fans love him !
In NY ppl went wild in Barcley Center , he came to support
Zab, Trout and others !
Some issues I could crash him on, he knows them well
5 years now ,
But I won’t !!
Cause he’s 5 x Champ !
And of course Mason Dixon , and when I want to see a great heavyweight
Fight , I hit PLAY !!