hopkins: tarver...excerpts from interview on HBO

www.eastsideboxing.com

24.05.06 - On Saturday, May 20 during HBO’s World Championship boxing telecast of Barrera vs. Juarez, Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins were interviewed live via satellite. Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins appeared from their training camps. Antonio Tarver is in his training camp with Buddy McGirt in Vero Beach, FL. Hopkins is in New Orleans, LA where physical trainer Mackie Shilstone is in the process of helping Bernard build a light heavyweight body. Below are excerpts form the interviews..


HBO’s Jim Lampley:

Antonio, you reportedly got up to 218 pounds while on the set of Rocky where you were playing a heavyweight champion. How’s that process going and has it pre-occupied your training?

Antonio Tarver:

No it hasn’t. I don’t remember getting up to 218… The whole thing is this, I’m the light heavyweight champion of the world. Until I get my credit from boxing fans and so called experts around the word, I got a big chip on my shoulder. And until they find someone to beat me, I’m going to take it out on everyone that steps in the ring with me period!

Lampley:

Bernard, you perfected the art of having a chip on your shoulder your whole career. Do you believe Antonio is being sincere that he has been slightened leading up to this bout?

Bernard Hopkins:

I think Antonio is going to say what he’s going to say. I plan on making history like no other middleweight has done. To me what’s important is kicking his butt June10th, making history and going out like a king.

Lampley:

You look thicker already. Tell us about the process of going up in weight to the light heavyweight division. How high you going to go? 168? 175?

Hopkins:

Well I’m staying in New Orleans and they’re feeding me gumbo and a lot of different kinds of foods. I’m going to be comfortable where I can be competitive and win. It’s not the size of the dog. It’s what’s in the fight of Bernard Hopkins. I want to make sure there are no excuses whether Tarver’s 218, 212. He will be defeated come June 10th.

Lampley:

Antonio, you’re considered one of the hardest punchers in the light heavyweight division in years. Do you expect Hopkins to fight you or do you think he’s going to try and hide?

Tarver:

I hope he comes and fights like he talks. I’m gonna be right there on him. If Bernard comes and fights like he talks, the people and fans get ready for an electrifying night. Like I said, this fight isn’t gonna last past 6 rounds. I’m out to destroy Bernard Hopkins and until these people finally respect me as the best light heavyweight today, I’m gonna take it out on Bernard Hopkins like nobody’s business! He’s going down in 5!

Lampley:

Bernard, is the purpose of this fight to wipe away the bad taste from losing to Jermain Taylor?

Hopkins;

Absolutely not. I have no bad taste in my mouth. I have a new goal and new vision. I make decisions on history and what motivates Bernard Hopkins. Come June 10th, I’m gonna shock the world.

Lampley:

Bernard, Antonio, why are you going to win the fight?

Hopkins:

I’m the better fighter and the better athlete. People know around the world that I can do it all. Antonio Tarver doesn’t have those credentials. June 10th I’ll prove it.

Tarver:

I’m going to win the fight because I’m the better fighter. I’ve always been the better fighter and I’ll prove I’m the best fighter he’s ever faced in his entire career. He’s been known as to making all the right decisions in his career and he waited until the ripe old age of 41 to make a dumb move. It’s over Hopkins!

of course, i will be supporting hopkins in his last hurrah.....

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Originally Posted by miles

of course, i will be supporting hopkins in his last hurrah.....

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Tarver is a Clown I cant wait to See Hopkins take his heart and pride and humiliate the biggest asshole in sports!!!!

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by miles

of course, i will be supporting hopkins in his last hurrah.....

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Tarver is a Clown I cant wait to See Hopkins take his heart and pride and humiliate the biggest asshole in sports!!!!

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we shouldnt underestimate hopkins task though....hopkins is 41 after all and going up 2 weight divisions. its a big, big task...but im hoping he can do it....

he hadnt faded all that much against taylor, so maybe just maybe he has enough left in the tank to pull it off....

wont be an exciting fight for several rounds, but the championship rounds should justify it all as hopkins tries to come on and steal rounds....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by miles

of course, i will be supporting hopkins in his last hurrah.....

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Tarver is a Clown I cant wait to See Hopkins take his heart and pride and humiliate the biggest asshole in sports!!!!

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TAKE HIS HEART? I WAS WATCHING ONE OF HIS FIGHTS LAST NIGHT. FROM 2000. I DONT THINK HE HAS ANY. GUY TALKS LIKE HE'S ALI. I WANT TO SEE HOPKINS KNOCK THE MOUTHPEICE THROUCH THE BACK OF HIS STUPID LOOKING BOBBLE HEAD

Exactly Miles, Hopkins has never fought a man as so big as Tarver, thats my problem in this fight Tarver is huge and i see a Ud for the Magic man, Hopkins was on the cautious side against a Middleweight what about against a man is a naturally a light heavy who has talked about going to heavy, i think Hopkins will be to shy in this fight and Tarver wins a comfotable decision.

I hope Hopkins rips Tarvers head off I can't stand him. I hope Hopkins has one last great fight in him to silence Tarver for once. My question is what if Hopkins does end up winning do you all think he actually will retire.

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Exactly Miles, Hopkins has never fought a man as so big as Tarver, thats my problem in this fight Tarver is huge and i see a Ud for the Magic man, Hopkins was on the cautious side against a Middleweight what about against a man is a naturally a light heavy who has talked about going to heavy, i think Hopkins will be to shy in this fight and Tarver wins a comfotable decision.

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good points, skel :coolclick:

the factors in hopkins favour are that tarver is much older than taylor and has stamina issues....b hop can exploit this down the stretch....otherwise a difficult, difficult task...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by miles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Exactly Miles, Hopkins has never fought a man as so big as Tarver, thats my problem in this fight Tarver is huge and i see a Ud for the Magic man, Hopkins was on the cautious side against a Middleweight what about against a man is a naturally a light heavy who has talked about going to heavy, i think Hopkins will be to shy in this fight and Tarver wins a comfotable decision.

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good points, skel :coolclick:

the factors in hopkins favour are that tarver is much older than taylor and has stamina issues....b hop can exploit this down the stretch....otherwise a difficult, difficult task...

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I cant see Hopkins being Shy this is a serious quest for Hopkins not a PR stunt,he is as focused as ever ,he is a prideful man I cant see him lying back and giving Tarver a shot at stealing his day in the sun...When its said and done were gonna say were has that man been hiding all these years

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by miles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Exactly Miles, Hopkins has never fought a man as so big as Tarver, thats my problem in this fight Tarver is huge and i see a Ud for the Magic man, Hopkins was on the cautious side against a Middleweight what about against a man is a naturally a light heavy who has talked about going to heavy, i think Hopkins will be to shy in this fight and Tarver wins a comfotable decision.

---

good points, skel :coolclick:

the factors in hopkins favour are that tarver is much older than taylor and has stamina issues....b hop can exploit this down the stretch....otherwise a difficult, difficult task...

---

I cant see Hopkins being Shy this is a serious quest for Hopkins not a PR stunt,he is as focused as ever ,he is a prideful man I cant see him lying back and giving Tarver a shot at stealing his day in the sun...When its said and done were gonna say were has that man been hiding all these years

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In all respect mate we said this going into the Taylor rematch me included and we saw an 41 year old man fearful of getting hurt in my opinion what has changed??

I honestly thought he wouldn't make the same mistake against Taylor the second time but we did and i think the age has caught him up, i could be wrong but i doubt it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by miles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Exactly Miles, Hopkins has never fought a man as so big as Tarver, thats my problem in this fight Tarver is huge and i see a Ud for the Magic man, Hopkins was on the cautious side against a Middleweight what about against a man is a naturally a light heavy who has talked about going to heavy, i think Hopkins will be to shy in this fight and Tarver wins a comfotable decision.

---

good points, skel :coolclick:

the factors in hopkins favour are that tarver is much older than taylor and has stamina issues....b hop can exploit this down the stretch....otherwise a difficult, difficult task...

---

I cant see Hopkins being Shy this is a serious quest for Hopkins not a PR stunt,he is as focused as ever ,he is a prideful man I cant see him lying back and giving Tarver a shot at stealing his day in the sun...When its said and done were gonna say were has that man been hiding all these years

---

In all respect mate we said this going into the Taylor rematch me included and we saw an 41 year old man fearful of getting hurt in my opinion what has changed??

I honestly thought he wouldn't make the same mistake against Taylor the second time but we did and i think the age has caught him up, i could be wrong but i doubt it.

---

Again I see the angle your coming at but trust me the way Tarver is running his mouth he is getting under Hopkins skin whether he admits this or not,and I think that losing to a Flash in the pan like Tarver is more embarassing then losing to Taylor twice..The last thing he wants to hear is Tarver saying "he retired the great Bernard Hopkins"!!!

There is alot more on the line here

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by miles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Exactly Miles, Hopkins has never fought a man as so big as Tarver, thats my problem in this fight Tarver is huge and i see a Ud for the Magic man, Hopkins was on the cautious side against a Middleweight what about against a man is a naturally a light heavy who has talked about going to heavy, i think Hopkins will be to shy in this fight and Tarver wins a comfotable decision.

---

good points, skel :coolclick:

the factors in hopkins favour are that tarver is much older than taylor and has stamina issues....b hop can exploit this down the stretch....otherwise a difficult, difficult task...

---

I cant see Hopkins being Shy this is a serious quest for Hopkins not a PR stunt,he is as focused as ever ,he is a prideful man I cant see him lying back and giving Tarver a shot at stealing his day in the sun...When its said and done were gonna say were has that man been hiding all these years

---

In all respect mate we said this going into the Taylor rematch me included and we saw an 41 year old man fearful of getting hurt in my opinion what has changed??

I honestly thought he wouldn't make the same mistake against Taylor the second time but we did and i think the age has caught him up, i could be wrong but i doubt it.

---

Again I see the angle your coming at but trust me the way Tarver is running his mouth he is getting under Hopkins skin whether he admits this or not,and I think that losing to a Flash in the pan like Tarver is more embarassing then losing to Taylor twice..The last thing he wants to hear is Tarver saying "he retired the great Bernard Hopkins"!!!

There is alot more on the line here

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Im split here my friend, in one way i want this punk Tarver KTFO, but with me being British id like our very own Calzaghe to do it, but i suppose i would be happy if Hopkins got there first.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jtrock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by miles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skel1983

Exactly Miles, Hopkins has never fought a man as so big as Tarver, thats my problem in this fight Tarver is huge and i see a Ud for the Magic man, Hopkins was on the cautious side against a Middleweight what about against a man is a naturally a light heavy who has talked about going to heavy, i think Hopkins will be to shy in this fight and Tarver wins a comfotable decision.

---

good points, skel :coolclick:

the factors in hopkins favour are that tarver is much older than taylor and has stamina issues....b hop can exploit this down the stretch....otherwise a difficult, difficult task...

---

I cant see Hopkins being Shy this is a serious quest for Hopkins not a PR stunt,he is as focused as ever ,he is a prideful man I cant see him lying back and giving Tarver a shot at stealing his day in the sun...When its said and done were gonna say were has that man been hiding all these years

---

In all respect mate we said this going into the Taylor rematch me included and we saw an 41 year old man fearful of getting hurt in my opinion what has changed??

I honestly thought he wouldn't make the same mistake against Taylor the second time but we did and i think the age has caught him up, i could be wrong but i doubt it.

---

Again I see the angle your coming at but trust me the way Tarver is running his mouth he is getting under Hopkins skin whether he admits this or not,and I think that losing to a Flash in the pan like Tarver is more embarassing then losing to Taylor twice..The last thing he wants to hear is Tarver saying "he retired the great Bernard Hopkins"!!!

There is alot more on the line here

---

Im split here my friend, in one way i want this punk Tarver KTFO, but with me being British id like our very own Calzaghe to do it, but i suppose i would be happy if Hopkins got there first.

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Trust me dude I am a huge Jeff Lacy fan and Joe Broke my heart with that dismanteling,But I respect him now as time go's on.. I admit I wuz a sore loser on this forum still discrediting Joe after the Lacy Battering but as the wounds heal I see Joe as Being everything he been accolated to be..Believe you me I would love to see Joe whip Tarvers a$$ worse than Lacy's.

But at this point I would love to see anyone Kick that Dickheads A$$!!!!

As a fan of the sport I do not speak off of emotion only logic. So many people talk about how big Tarver's mouth is but Bernards mouth is no smaller. But of them are very arrogant and cocky who cannot stop talking. Hopkins has actually disrespected a small culture of people by throwing their flag on the ground which nearly got him killed. Tarver has succeded in disrespecting legend's such as Roy Jones after his second victory. I don't think you can consider either one of these fighters a people's champ candidate even though Bernard Hopkins is self proclaimed. I am sorry after all of Hopkins antics with threatning Jermain Taylor to say good bye to his family cause he will never see them again and disrespecting Trinidad and his people and threatning one of Joppy's family members at the press conference I would have to say I am drooling to see him get knocked out.

Wishlist;

1. B-Hop batters Tarver and retires after the win

2. RJJ batters Tarver and retires after the win

I am really hoping for these scenarios, Magic Man aint so magical anymore after this is done. Get his mouth shut. Crap naming himself the Legend Killer, PLEASE!