“Gentleman” Glen Johnson vs. Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver II.

Antonio Tarver is in a division with very few shining stars and come this Saturday night, he has a chance to increase his fan base, future match-ups and bragging rights to the sports world with a win over Glen Johnson. Do not judge Johnson’s record, he has

nine losses; however his only convincing loss was to Bernard Hopkins in 1997. Tarver’s first fight with Johnson was a complete representation of an unprepared Tarver. Pull out the chairs and watch the reputation of Tarver, the man who enjoys rematches. I don’t know if it is Tarver’s way of securing lucrative bouts in a two-fight package deal, by giving lackluster performances in the first fight and campaigning arduously for a second fight, thereby winning the public interest and inspiration. Let’s accept the heat in the kitchen and admit that Tarver is a loudmouth, but with the leverage of challenging Roy Jones in one fight and knocking him out in a second one, he has the ammunition to fire. If you observed the first Johnson fight, Tarver was just in the ring for the sake of being in the ring; maybe it was the lack of training, the public appearances, or him receiving Johnson as a light challenge. Regardless of the subjective reasons, a second fight is going down and Tarver has his war paint on his face.

Read on as Shaun Rico LaWhorn and Jonny Townsend go head to head in this week’s big debate over the Johnson-Tarver rematch.

Tarver is six-feet-two, and a southpaw, Johnson is five-feet-eleven and fights with the traditional stance. They both share the same reach, but in this fight, Tarver will use his height and speed which is unappreciated by the boxing public. Tarver has sufficient speed for a southpaw and a light heavyweight. Johnson has average power and tends to depend on a heavy workload, compared to aiming for a knockout. Tarver, along with Buddy McGirt will apply boxing and movement to induce Johnson into being fatigued and hopeless. Hopkins’ handling of Johnson will be the blueprint Tarver will start with, but he will redesign his own model of beating Johnson.

This fight is not going to be the same from the last fight, hell, Tarver is not one to commit to repeating styles; he favors rematches and new styles. Tarver will snap the left jab, step to his left and when Johnson moves to the left to land a counter, which I am sure he will, as he is a work-load fighter and predictable, and you have to remember, Johnson won the first fight and has no need to change, his camp believes he has Tarver figured out. Tarver will pop that right hook right on Johnson’s left temple. After this pattern, Tarver will work the body of Johnson, just to make him realize the pressure of body punching, incase Johnson has intentions of dancing all night in the ring.

The infighting will be brief and flashy. Tarver will convince the judges he is the ring general and will enter into infighting for only a few seconds, step away and go right back to snapping that left jab, step to the left and popping the right hook. Johnson will have the option of taking a tremendous and brave thrashing or just falling to the mat from tiredness and frustration. You see, the only true way to beat someone like Tarver is to knock him out in the first fight, if you grant this man a rematch, you will see the rebirth of the hungry fighter. It is just the way Tarver likes to do things.

Over to you Jonny…….

Anyone remember Steve Collins? The Celtic Warrior challenged the great Mike McCallum for the latter’s middleweight title in 1990 and lost a decisive decision before losing to capable champions Reggie Johnson and Sumbu Kalambay in 1992. After that, Collins changed his game plan and, instead of boxing, he utilized an all-out attack, smothering his adversaries with a swarming style that broke down tougher and cuter opponents. The result: Fifteen consecutive wins, two WBO titles and the scalps of such luminaries like Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn!

Now let’s switch our attention to 2004 Fighter of the Year Glen Johnson. After an early career of proficient boxing and a loss to the great Bernard Hopkins, Johnson moved up in weight and, after losing some terrible hometown decisions, emerged as a bustling, effective fighter, never giving his opposing boxer time to settle or use their “superior” skills. Everyone Johnson goes in against is the favorite. Whether it is the hometown choice Clinton Woods, whom Glen beat but was awarded a draw so then had to go back and repeat the task, or all time great Roy Jones, who was expected to blow Johnson away but was battered for nine brutal rounds, culminating in a devastating and concussive kayo, or the classier and pedigreed Tarver, who threw the better punches in their first bout but was beaten by Glen’s relentless pressure.

Tarver’s supporters are making almost as many excuses for his loss to Glen as
Roy’s fans did after his close victory against Antonio. Maybe Tarver will be bothered to prepare properly this time, but “Gentleman” Glen from Jamaica, brings a self-belief, stiff punch and a veteran’s craft built up over fifty-two fights into this rematch. He will not simply lie down and will focus solely on his antagonist. Johnson will pressure the taller man for three minutes of every round. Tarver will have his moments and his fast, flashy style will catch the eye of many watching, but Johnson will be pushing, punching and pummeling the former Olympian to earn himself another close decision and more respect from the world of boxing.

Shaun Rico LaWhorn can be reached at filmmaking_mentality@msn.com

Jonny Townsend can be reached at taansend@yahoo.com