First of all, is Tarver serious about wanting to be a top HW? He recently beat Danny Green at CW for the IBO CW world title, KO9. I wouldn't really call Green a top CW though. Tarver did win a decision over Nagy Aguilera at HW, W10... 98-92 on all cards. Tarver was 221 Lbs. and far from ripped. Aguilera lasted 2 round with Sam Peter and 3 with Arreola. He was decisioned by Mo Harris. Vs. Dawson at LHW, Tarver won about 3 rounds in their first fight and about 4 rounds in their second. I like Tarver but wonder what he really thinks he can accomplish at this point... and at what weight. Tarver went 1-1 (1) vs. Eric Harding, 2-1 (1) vs. Roy Jones Jr., and 1-1 vs. Glen Johnson. He has never been stopped. He lost to Hopkins but they only fought once. the rematch magic didn't work on Dawson, would it have worked on Hopkins? He also beat Mohamed Benguesmia KO9, Reggie Johnson W12, Montell Griffin W12, Elvir Muriqi W12, Danny Santiago KO4, and Clinton Woods W12 among others. 29-6 (20) overall and 8-5 (3) in World Title Fights... yes I counted the IBO belts. He was the True LHW Champ.
Tarver will do better against slower, less mobile, predictable HWs imo and I wouldn't rule him out beating Adamek but he's only going there for the big Klitschko payday anyway No he'd never beat Hopkins, but he wasn't at his best for that after taking all that time off to star in Rocky and he gained muscle for the role that was hard to shed Harding looked to be the future of the LHW division after beating Tarver and winning a few rounds against Jones. He had shoulder injuries and Tarver really wrecked him in the rematch BTW he deserved to be against 2-0 against Glen Johnson
The win against Danny Green is good, but a little overrated. If a guy can get around Green's power, then they can outbox him and stop him the way Tarver did. It takes a skilled guy to do it and perhaps a southpaw, but Tarver did it. This does not mean he will do well at heavyweight. I doubt it.
