On a Mission

By Rick Folstad

TAMPA (April 2, 2008) - The chip Antonio Tarver used to carry around on his shoulder was nowhere to be seen earlier this week at Calta’s Fitness Club on North Florida Avenue.

Maybe gone forever.

Tarver didn’t claim he was underrated, misunderstood or ignored. He didn’t chastise the press or curse the world because he thought he was being overlooked and unappreciated.

Instead, it was a confident Tarver who told the gathered press that he was “excited for Tampa and myself. Big things are going to happen on (April) 12. The city is going to be proud.”

Relax, Antonio. The city is already proud.

Maybe what we were hoping for at the press conference was a little insight into his fight plan, a quick peek at what he planned to do against IBF light-heavyweight champion Clinton Woods (41-3-1, 24 KOs) when they fight April 12 on SHOWTIME at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

But we didn’t get it. No secrets revealed.

Can’t blame him.

What we got was Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) at his best, an articulate, personable, sometimes defensive fighter who, earlier in his career, might have been unappreciated, misunderstood, overlooked and underrated.

But not now. Not after three world championships and a shared stage with Sly Stallone in a boxing movie.

Tarver’s goal his year is simple when you hear him tell it. He wants to fight three times, win three times and carry home three championship belts. But most of all, he wants to be the undisputed champion of the world.

Lofty title to win.

“I’m anticipating a tough, tough fight with Woods,” he said. “He is going to come to fight. He‘s also fighting for his country’s sake (England) and a chance to unify the division.”

Tarver’s trainer, Jimmy Walker, put it another way.

“Clinton Woods is an honest fighter,” he said. “No tricks. We like fighting guys like that.”

Along with the Woods - Tarver fight, WBC light-heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs) will be defending his title at the Forum against former IBF light-heavyweight champion Glen Johnson (47-11-2, 37 KOs).

That’s why it’s called TNT, or Title Night in Tampa. Like Tarver said, they are arguably the four best light-heavyweights in the world.

And it‘s not like they don‘t know each other. Johnson has fought Tarver twice (split) and Woods three times (1-1-1).

“(Woods) has fought the best and I’ve fought the best,” Tarver said. “And now we’re going to see who is the best.”

The two survivors from TNT make for a matchmaker’s dream.

“I’m eager to unify the title on my way to the undisputed championship,” Tarver said. “When the chips fall, I plan on being the last man standing.”
At 39, time is short for Tarver. But he says he still feels young and fresh because he hasn’t had that many wars in his career.

If he follows his proposed agenda for 2008, he might age right before our eyes.

“I’m going to do everything my talent allows me to do,” he said. “I rely on my defense to make them miss me. I feel my defense is under-rated.“
Ah, still a piece of the chip.

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