Preview – Antonio Tarver Vs. Chad Dawson

By Brotherman

There has always been something off putting about Antonio Tarver when he runs off at the mouth. Other fighters can play the villain with a wink and a nod to the public; subtle signifiers that say “Hey, this is only promotion. Business, not personal. Just trying to get that paper.” Tarver, when he puts on the black hat, has a habit of taking stuff far. From referencing Roy Jones’ kids in the buildup to their first fight, to giving little respect to the fighters who’ve beat him; to his Ali-esque levels of cruelty toward Chad Johnson, Tarver always been a tad too harsh, too tacky, too inappropriate for the room.

Tarver’s trash talking has obscured both his talent and his waste of it. His quality victories against Roy Jones almost make you forget him underachieving in all but a handful of fights; eating wrong, training poorly, and fighting as if to get by against opponents he should have destroyed. Against Chad Dawson, a solid, quality fighter who actually fights three minutes a round, his act and his reflexes seemed stale, and the result was a comprehensive beating that seemed to signal the end of his career. Unfortunately, for HBO and those willing to watch on Saturday, it has not: Tarver had a return clause on the contract for the first fight, and the network wants Dawson on their team. Therefore, we have a rematch.

So we have another Antonio Tarver show, although far less tasteless this go-round. Tarver hasn’t said anything too ear grating, but there’s still time. What there isn’t time for, however, is Tarver’s career. Somewhere in the middle of the fight, Tarver will slip into his intermittent fight-half-a-round style, and Dawson, a young fighter approaching his prime, will make him pay for it. Then Tarver will either take his hat off to his opponent, or tell/badger all with within earshot about how Chad wasn’t any good, offer some excuse about why he didn’t perform, and tell you how great he is in excruciating detail. Pick the latter.

Also, Pick Dawson by 11th round stoppage.

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