Whats Up With Tarver????

[JT Rock]

Lacy Gives Up On Fight With Tarver
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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 21, 2006

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TAMPA - St. Petersburg super middleweight Jeff Lacy officially called off a proposed fight with Tampa light heavyweight Antonio Tarver after weeks of frustrating contract negotiations.

Tarver and Lacy were trying to set up an Oct. 7 fight at the St. Pete Times Forum. It could have been the most intriguing local fight since Roy Jones Jr. and Tarver battled in Tampa last year.

However, Lacy believed he made enough reasonable concessions to finalize the fight, but after his promoter, Gary Shaw, called Tarver's promoter, Joe DeGuardia, on Monday and there was still no answer, they agreed to walk away.

"I'm happy with our decision, but I'm just sad the local fans can't see this fight. I wish we could have brought together a fight that everyone had been talking about," Lacy said.

Shaw said he and DeGuardia had a verbal commitment on the table for the past eight days, but Tarver never communicated with his promoter what his intentions were. After Showtime pressured both parties for a definitive answer, Shaw concluded Tarver did not want to fight.

"Tarver can't hold everyone hostage. He was holding us hostage, Showtime hostage, and many other fighters. I tried to give in on many issues to make this fight happen, but maybe he just doesn't want to fight. If he does want to fight, he doesn't act like it," Shaw said. "Jeff Lacy is the only big fight out there. We would have loved to fight in Tampa. We would have loved to do what was right for boxing. Tarver just didn't want to fight."

Tarver agreed he did not want to fight, but scoffed at the notion he was avoiding Lacy.

He does not believe Lacy has as large a fan base, can match his skills or is appreciative of the opportunity that is in front of him. Tarver said Lacy had no negotiating power and should have taken whatever offer was given.

Tarver recently questioned why Lacy did not accept a $1.5 million offer to fight him, even though Lacy received more than that in his last bout. Tarver wanted all the gate revenue - normally a right reserved for when a fighter brings an unknown opponent into his back yard - which could exceed $3 million. Tarver also wanted all foreign rights earnings, meaning he could earn more than $5 million compared to Lacy's $1.5 million.

"They are overpricing themselves in a lot of ways. They are not looking at it from a business standpoint. I made money. Jeff is still young, he hasn't peaked and has not realized his financial goals. At the same time, it is what it is," Tarver said. "It's not always about the money, but the opportunity. We fight to be recognized, and he's not taking the opportunity to be recognized.

"They're tripping because they don't realize what I bring to the table. I'm a movie star. I have marketability and crossover appeal, and that's what puts butts into the seats," Tarver said. "They need to understand they may never get another opportunity like this.

" I'm the 'A' fighter and Jeff's the 'B' fighter. If he beats me, he's the shot-caller in boxing. He's the man everyone is coming after. Show me where he deserves anything more than what he's being offered."

Lacy is coming off a loss by unanimous decision against Joe Calzaghe last March, but Tarver was equally unimpressive during his lopsided loss against Bernard Hopkins last month. Both fighters need a win against a credible opponent, which is what made the matchup intriguing.

"He doesn't want to fight me. With what we've been through and how much we've given him, and now he wants more? This fight will never happen," Lacy said. "I'm not going to chase it. I'm just going to continue doing my thing and fight again later this year."

Reporter Anwar S Richardson can be reached at (813) 865-1510 or arichardson@

tampatrib.com.





Is Tarver that delusional He still thinks he has some sort of appeal I Smell bulshit big time....I give Lacy credit for chasing a dangerous fight after the beating from Calzaghe and not wanting to take on a street sweeper opponent obviously Tarver is not that courageous....

Tarver knows he would get Knocked Out.... This would be a good fight with alot of fan appeal and curiosity especially seeing both men need a good win after there landslided losses

[TheBESTP4P]

Tarver needs all that $ cuz cocaine cost alot these days.

[JT Rock]

Lacy Gives Up On Fight With Tarver

I just cant see Tarver getting any big fights soon, when your a loud mouth and a shameless self promoter like he is and you cant back up your smack talk...He is just gonna wind up dissapearing into obscurity if he dosent get off his high horse..

[Bookkeeper]

Lacy Gives Up On Fight With Tarver

I just cant see Tarver getting any big fights soon, when your a loud mouth and a shameless self promoter like he is and you cant back up your smack talk...He is just gonna wind up dissapearing into obscurity if he dosent get off his high horse..

His high horse is attached to him, he cant get off. But it's late in the game for him and if he does not make his move fairly soon he will wind up selling insurance door to door.

[Preme]

i would put it down to the fact tarver is nothing more than a 'decen't boxer that the most. He beat a well pas it it RJJ and thought he was fighting a past it Hopkins. even thought the hopkins he fought was good, but by far not the best hopkins - he will go back to fighting bums to try cash in on as much as he can.

Unless he gets a stupid pay day from lacy, for the amount that was be = to 2-3 fights with bums he wont fight him., why? coz lacy is a very very good boxer, would knock tarver out; despite what most would like to think lacy is not the great, rather than say calzaghe is the real deal - lacy is a really damn good boxer and tarver isnt.

[TyBuff]

WOW! I think Hopkins hit Tarver to often in the head.

[Purist]

Tarver is a basic boxer with a big punch who relies on his height and decent feints and leans with his height and arms for defense. The only reason he made it this far was A) his power and B) Roy Jones Jr.

[TyBuff]

Tarver is a basic boxer with a big punch who relies on his height and decent feints and leans with his height and arms for defense. The only reason he made it this far was A) his power and B) Roy Jones Jr.

I would have to disagree with you Starr. The reasons Tarver has gotten this far are A) Roy Jones Jr. and B) his power. If it wasnt for Roy we be wondering who the loudmouth idiot is.

[bleech1]

"I'm a movie star"

[JT Rock]

"I'm a movie star"

Poor Stallone was looking to make a huge splash with Rocky 6 and this assclown Tarver probably Tanked it....

Of course the Irony is when I watch the Movie I am probably gonna be impressed with his acting ability then you will know

[means2184]

i think Tarver is sorta in Denial about what happened against bernard ...he sorta chalked it off as a "bad night" ..!!man he got smacked around and beat to the punch by a much greater fighter and wouldnt have done better on a good day! ...so tarver is rying to play it off and convince everyone else hes still #1 ...cause hes a movie star ...to a movie that hasnt come out yet lol

[Galaxy]

Tarver's gotta remember the old saying " Your only as good as your last fight!" & Tarver was sh*t in his last fight!!!