Co-main event of the Paul vs. Askren card. 10 rounds @ heavyweight. ...yes, a real, sanctioned pro bout. 52 year old Tarver makes his return to action for the first time since a 2015 draw with Steve Cunningham, and 41 year old Mir (ere of the Octagon) makes his pro boxing debut.
Hmm...okay, how's this? (feels wrong to present it with his name first as though he were the a-side, though )
Finally, Tarver steps back into the ring after this epic video in 2016. This content is protected "King Kong, you wanna see me beat that big mother****er? Put it on HBO and give me the correct license fee. I'll beat King Kong. Anybody step in that mother****ing ring right now getting knocked out 'cause somebody gonna pay for all my mother****ing struggles."
I got through the first minute or so. He might have some legit gripes. However 2 things occurred to me. 1) He made a bunch of money and spent it. 2) If he can't find a way to make some decent money with the connections he made since the Olympics (including get some fights and especially right now), it makes me wonder how much of a ***** he might have been while he was riding high? Personally, I thought he was a pretty good fighter although boring at times and liked him alot as a commentator and would be ecstatic to see him replace somebody (or a couple of somebodies) at DAZN.
Very odd match making , its like a kid got two action figures from different franchises and made them fight
Can you imagine what might happen if Tarver's old ass, say, breaks a hip in there and Mir, off a fluke injury stoppage over a former champ, ends up getting ranked (and going on to fight a ranked fighter)?
I'm glad it's at least a legit boxing match. Tarver should have too many tricks up his sleeve even at his age for Mir, whose boxing is only really suited for the octagon.
You know what I kinda hate? Is that in this narrative Tarver is the co-captain of "Team Boxing" (versus Frank Mir and Ben Askren of "Team MMA Invasion") playing second fiddle to Jake goddamn Paul. Implying that he is legitimately part of la cosa nostra.