How good was Tarver really?

To be fair that was basically a well past it version of Griffin, one could say shot. Yea he destroyed Harding in the rematch, for sure -- that was a good win because Harding was winning before the KO.

 

he always had a style that was better suited for the ametures were he excelled

 

He was a good fighter but not really HOF. Someone in another thread said he is similar to Iran Barkley in rating. Barkley knocked out Hearns and Tarver knocked out Jones, but neither Barkley or Tarver was great after that.

 

I think he's a solid fighter, he turned pro when he was quite old if I remember? I always seem to think he's younger than he is.

 

Right place - Right time.

Nothing special.

 

NO way he beats RJJ in his prime

 

Real good fighter who got a very late start. Problematic because he was tall with length, southpaw, and had fair to pretty decent athleticism. Way past his sell date now.

In his prime, better in talent than such ESB nuthugger favs like Calzaghe/Kessler/etc. In looking at 160-175 as a whole, Antonio would pose problems for many of the historical elites due to being at the upper end in size (6'2"). Head to head he would be competitive with most. Not an ATG. As just about any clown with a glossy record of primarily regional/national achievement can get in the HOF he should find his way there inevitably. The late start surely diminished the extent of his boxing record though. Did twice face a tough version of GJ that some more lauded fighters sure didn't want to know and found ways to avoid.

 

Good points.

Tall, southpaw, power straight left, solid athleticism and chin made him tough to beat. Heck, any decent south paw is tough to beat.

Good ole Milk Dud.

 

good, at the least, to above average, at the best. he mostly gets hate here, for knocking out rjj.

 

Well, I think his whole career is based on the fact he sparked Roy out. Roy was past it though and his legs were gone. I'm one of the people who doesn't buy into this 'glass jaw' ****. honestly, Ruiz landed jabs on him, if had a bad chin then a HW jab would've hurt him, no doubt.

Tarver is inconsistent. He will be known as Jones' boogeyman, but in 20 years time people will finally accept Roy was over-the-hill. Or, Tarver will be known as someone who has power against people will glass jaws hahaha

 

He was pretty good. Nice power, southpaw, tall and worked the left cross well. His problem was he seemed to rely heavily on his natural gifts, didn't always show up in tip top shape.

 

people should account for Tarver being 40 years old now. He was not the greatest technican, but relied on his ability to overpower opponents. Dawson and Hopkins are the only fighter he has faced in the pros and hasn't beat and that says something. After he beat Roy he was without a doubt the best LHW in the world and in my eyes was until B-Hop beat him. Ironically he suffered in the B-Hop fight the same fate that Roy suffered in their figh: The weight loss badly affected his performance. He probably would have lost to B-Hop anyway, but would have given him a much better fight. I think he is borderline HOF, since we should also account for his great amateur career and the fact that got into the pros so late.

 

pretty much sums it up.

 

Tarver was a very good fighter with solid skills and a legit champion. He is not an ATG fighter who belongs next to Roy and Bernard.

 

I like Tarver, he was a good, solid, all round fighter.

Was he great? No, but in his prime he was very much at the elite level of the game.