In a battle of former champions who gave up their titles, Glen Johnson won a split decision over Antonio Tarver to claim the title of 'best light heavyweight on the planet' Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Johnson started aggressively, but by round three it was Tarver scoring with sharp, accurate shots. In round four, Johnson invested heavily in bodywork while Tarver connected with nice combinations. Johnson landed some heavy bombs to take round five. In round six, Johnson was cut over the left eye by a headbutt and that cut inspired Tarver, who landed punches in bunches. Johnson pressed hard in round seven, but Tarver landed the best punch, a flush uppercut that did not faze Johnson. Tarver outboxed Johnson in rounds eight and nine, sharpshooting from the outside. Tarver took much of roound ten off as Johnson pursued. Both fighters traded punches in a close round with Johnson connecting with good shots at the bell. Tarver was on the attack in round twelve. Scores were 116-112 Tarver, 115-113, 115-113 Johnson. After the fight, the classy Johnson said he won it with "heart, hard work and determination." A disappointed Tarver said he thought he won the fight and would like a rematch. The promoter of the event was Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing
Good. I'm delighted for him. I've got nothing against Tarver (other than the fact that I think he's not as great as he was made out to be), but I believe that Johnson deserves to be on the right end of the scoring in a close fight once in his life. IMO, there's been at least two bum decisions, plus another couple of really close ones that haven't gone in his favour. Maybe this is things just evening themselves out. Hopefully now he can pick up a few decent versions of the world title, although having read a few reports of the fight, there could well be a rematch, which, fingers crossed, we'll get to see.
Congratulations to Glen, looking at his career he seems to have done things the hard way so its always nice to see a fighter get some reward for a long tough career.
Reading I few reports on the fight it seemed to be very close, some even think Tarver won.
I can see a rematch happening.
Also both fighters need to be given a great deal of respect for dumping their belts to allow this fight to happen. That alone speaks volumes for both fighters.
What a stunning career turnaround though. In 4 fights against Woods x 2, Jones Jnr and now Tarver, he has gone from respected world class journeyman to the Undisputed Light-Heavyweight champ.
Knocking out Jones and then not leaving any doubt by beating the other guy to knock out Jones too, incredible really. And yes when I think of that interview after the first Woods fight when he was pleading to be given a break for once and that they stop 'jobbing' him.
Kinda funny that none of this would of happened if that fight with Calzaghe came off. He would of had no fight with Jones and possibly no fight with Tarver and people would still be classing him as a journeyman. Telling Sports Network to piss off does wonders for your career
When you think how close Calzaghe was to fighting Johnson before he cried off, he might have been just 2/3 fights away from Light-Heavyweight greatness. Alas he's still a pu55y beating up the creme of the WBO Super-Middleweight top 20 in an Aberyswyth Ice rink.
With hindsight he probably would have lost to Johnson but who knows? It was his chance to hijack the big time taking the eaiest possible route.
Despite his indian summer that he appears to be having, Johnson still cannot fight hard for 36 minutes and I still think that would be the factor i a Johnson vs Calzaghe fight.
Johnson is not a huge Light Heavyweight, so I don't think that would play a major factor.
However, we are talking about a peak Calzaghe (i.e. vs Brewer) that I think would beat Johnson, not the version in his last two outings.
stujones wrote:Despite his indian summer that he appears to be having, Johnson still cannot fight hard for 36 minutes and I still think that would be the factor i a Johnson vs Calzaghe fight.
Johnson is not a huge Light Heavyweight, so I don't think that would play a major factor.
However, we are talking about a peak Calzaghe (i.e. vs Brewer) that I think would beat Johnson, not the version in his last two outings.
Which makes it all the sadder that the Johnson fight fell through, When faced with the chance to gatecrash the big-time Joe ran away. I think it's what has become ingrained into the Sports Network fighters. I wonder if we'll see the same with Ricky Hatton in the future...
'Gentleman' Glen is fast becoming my favourite fighter. I am pig sick of dismissing the man. Didn't fancy him to beat Woods first time round. I KNEW he could not beat Jones. I also KNEW Tarver would have too much for him. This is why I love the sport. Credit where it's due chaps. Tarver is GENUINE world class. The Jamaican is like a vintage wine.
I gave Johnson a big shot in this one, I think Tarver is one over the more overated P4P claimants. I remember him getting bashed around by Harding before landing the KO. Also, he DIDN'T beat Jones in fight one on my card (and should have).
I too thought Woods would have too much for Johnson, but freely admit I didn't know to much about Glen back then, I thought Jones was too intelligent to fight on to long (or in the wrong weight again), so I did tip him to beat Glen.
I still actually think Woods vs Johnson III would be a good fight, Woods at times in both contest looked better than Johnson (not as many times as Johnson looked better than him) and I still wouldn't be over shocked if the Sheffield man could beat him. I don't think Johnson is any better than the guy he faced in the first meeting, its just Woods hasn't had the exposure his talent deserves. The man is world class for sure.
Goz, let make it clear - it was JOE would f'd up his fight chances with Johnson, no one else. FW delievered the goods, just Joe pick the goods up.
" I still wouldn't be over shocked if the Sheffield man could beat him. I don't think Johnson is any better than the guy he faced in the first meeting, its just Woods hasn't had the exposure his talent deserves. The man is world class for sure."
Maybe.
I'm just sat here like a dog with two cocks thanks to Tarvis Simms delivering the goods on the undercard. He was better than 1/2 with bet365 and essentially has paid for my Xmas. Hope you all have a good un chaps.
New Years Wish - Michael Hunter to show his true colours in 2005...
stujones wrote:Goz, let make it clear - it was JOE would f'd up his fight chances with Johnson, no one else. FW delievered the goods, just Joe pick the goods up.
True, true....
But... After living in the comfort zone for so long perhaps Joe's hunger has gone?
I'm glad Johnson got the decision but he got the benefit of some very close rounds to do it. I scored it 115-113 Tarver, but the 2nd, 10th and 12th were toss ups really (Scoring those even, I would still have had a 116-115 Tarver win).
In the 2nd Tarver was much busier than the first, where he seemed to just be calibrating his hardware (just like in Jones 2), but Johnson's body work was superb in rd 2. Style takes the round, and I guess the judges preferred the relentless forward attack. The 12th was Tarver early but Johnson closed superbly - probably enough to steal it on most cards. Again, Tarver didn't do enough to cement a win in the 12th, like Jones 1.
I think the judges rewarded a quiet, likable guy with a solid workmanlike reputation for a great game plan and the skills to execute it. His commitment to the body attack was old school beauty. The punches only came up after he threw to Tarver's exposed midsection. Watching the fight again, I see how well Johnson was able to take the fight into Tarver's ribs consistently, where T was looking to score from the outside.
Ultimately I think Tarver took off too many rounds and parts of rounds. Not enough in my eyes to tip the scales in all cases but probably in the judges' eyes, which was also why he lost in Jones 1. And his power seems to be in one punch; his combinations are more of the Ray Leonard variety - pitter patter scoring blows but not damaging. That's a bit of an enigma and it will not do him any good at HW.
Great fight, though. Who knew Tarver could be humble too. Rematch please.
I liked Tarver but after the Jones fights his biggest weapon became his mouth, he was telling us all what he going to do to all the other guys out there but it never happened. Full respect to Johnson, without a doubt Fighter Of The Year
E wrote:to think he once came in as the opponent for Toks Owoh!
What is Toks Owoh up to now?
My wife and I sat with his army of fans when he fought Omar Sheika in Cardiff.
They were absolutely brilliant, fantastic company, and Toks even though he’d had his fight stopped prematurely sat and chatted with us for quite awhile after, real gent.
My instincts were right on this one, though it sounds like it could have gone either way, I thought Johnson's pressure would be the difference for the judges.
Well I went for Tarver as I've never viewed Johnson as a crisp enough puncher at the very top level. Good on the bloke though he's obviously fitter now than he's ever been.
Trouble is can he land another big pay day now? It's hardly mega-fight city in the light-heavy division. Only because of the sudden demise of the great Roy Jones Jr was saturdays fight in the least bit attractive. A year or so ago nobody would have cared.
Two good fighters that just do not generate any real interest.
They are the two most dominant fighters in a once again unpopular division.
There have been some truly great light-heavies over the years but they have made their names when they have fought outside of their weight division.
What is it with the lightheavyweight division, it has never generated the glamour of the middleweights, welterweights or even the feathers, yet if you look who they have had I`d say they have had fighters P4P as good as any in the other divisions.
I too forgot Johnson and Tarver were fighting.
Seems like a re-match is the only big fight out there for them though, how sad is that.
not any more
