A year and a half have almost come and gone since Antonio Tarver last stepped foot into a boxing ring and that did not go well for the former world champion. His bout with Steve Cunningham was declared a split draw and he had failed a drug test for the second time in his career (positive test was not released until after the fight had taken place). Had that of been the end of the career for the “Magic Man” it would have come to close in a horrible fashion but for Tarver it appears that the end is far from near and he has his sights set on the WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder but any worthwhile name would actually be acceptable but according to Tarver, his requests for name fighters to fight him go unanswered.
“Why is it that every time I suggest a fight with someone prominent all I hear is crickets… I want to fight the champ Deontay Wilder,” stated Tarver via Twitter.
Tarver later took to Periscope to discuss how he goes ignored in the boxing world and should Wilder face him and force Tarver into retirement, it would not be a shameful end to his career.
“I’m just getting back from Birmingham, Alabama. [I] saw Deontay Wilder do his thing. They got rid of Gerald Washington. From the way I’m looking at it, everybody has gotten their shot at the title man and everybody knows that I’m gunning for my opportunity. Now if you look at the American landscape, there’s nobody else left that hasn’t already been defeated by the champion or had a shot at the title maybe once or twice and I think I am the lone wolf out here unless they are going to continue to ignore me, continue to sweep me under the rug and continue to act as if I’m not even around in the heavyweight picture then they’re going to recycle these guys again and again and again. I’m ready to get my opportunity at the title and see how I fare.”
“You know I’m giving these guys, spotting these guys twenty years, spotting these guys four or five inches and I’m spotting these guys four or five inches in reach. I don’t know what the concern should be other than they’re fighting a guy with real championship pedigree. I mean those guys should feel very confident that they can beat a 48 year old man so I just don’t know if I am being blocked to the point where they’re not trying to give me no opportunity to do anything in boxing anymore. I just can’t figure it out man. I’m just going to stay true to the game. I’m going to stay down and if Deontay Wilder if you get this message man, I’m putting out a challenge to you man. I want to fight you because right now you are the best. You are the king of the hill and I just want to challenge myself and if it’s my last fight and you knock out the Magic Man and retire me and continue your knockout streak then God bless you but if I’m gonna lose to somebody, it’s going to be to a champion. There’s no shame in that. I’ve lost before but I don’t want to get out the game without giving myself that opportunity.”
Tarver continued by pointing out the fact that other than Bermane Stiverne, Wilder has not faced any actual champions and if Wilder would like to have a credited opponent on his resume then he can consult with Al Haymon who advises both fighters to make something happen.
“Point blank period, you got a little bit of time on your hands I ain’t got nothing but time. Let’s do something great between me and you. These guys you’ve been fighting don’t have no resume. These guys don’t have no name in the game. They’ve never accomplished nothing other than fighting Stiverne man you’ve never fought a champion. My whole thing is this, I know fighting you would be an uphill…a tall order. It’ll be a tall order for anybody especially for me coming up from light heavyweight but that’s what I’m about. I’m willing to take those risks that fighters today are not willing to take. They hide behind their management, they hide behind their promoter and they don’t want to take no chance and I know you being the young buck you are you can’t see me as a threat. You and I both work with Al Haymon, damn tell Al you want to do something great man and fight a real champion. “
