Antonio Tarver has a long road to travel, in a short amount of time
 by Mike Casile, PBR (July 6, 2006)
After being thoroughly dismantled by Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver (24-4-18KO’s), was left standing in the middle ring, confused, and stripped, not just of his title, but the credibility he was so desperately seeking. He spoke in an unsure tone about the fight, and his future, and for the first time he seemed to lack any of the confidence he so brazenly offered up in the past. Antonio Tarver has always been his own worst enemy, Utilizing the “me and against the world” attitude throughout much of his career, but his toughest opponent right now, is age. He will be 38 years old in November, and his quest for credibility will become increasingly more difficult, without the luxury of youth. The question that has to be asked is, Will the Hopkins loss do to him, what he did to Roy Jones?
When a Champion enters a fight with as much confidence as Tarver had, and loses with just as much humiliation, the
consequences of that loss could be devastating, if not career ending. I do not believe Mike Tyson ever fully recovered from the tremendous beating he took at the hands of Evander Holyfield. At the time, Tyson’s people believed he would walk right through Holyfield and so did Las Vegas. They felt Evander had taken too much punishment, and been in far too many battles. That fight, even more than the Buster Douglas fight changed Mike Tyson forever.
Antonio Tarver had a dazed look after his battle with Hopkins, he looked like a magician, that reached into a hat, and came out empty handed in front of millions of people. I personally do not think Tarver needed credibility. He did what no one else did. He beat Roy Jones twice, easily. He should have been able to enjoy that, and feel good about it, but for some reason, his personality would not allow it, which leads him blindly to Hopkins. When you have history verses credibility, history usually triumphs. I do not know what he is searching for, but at 38 years old, he better find it quickly, because the MAGIC MAN is getting older, and “tricks” are for kids.
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