Antonio Deon Tarver (born November 21, 1968), nicknamed the "Magic Man", is a professional boxer

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

 from Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...

 and the former WBC

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...

, WBA

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...

, IBF

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...

, & The Ring light heavyweight

Light heavyweight

In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...

 champion.

Tarver built an impressive amateur career, including winning a bronze medal while representing the United States at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

1996 Summer Olympics

The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....

. He captured the world title at the 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships

1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships

thumb|German stamp from 1995The Men's 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany from May 4 to May 15. The eighth edition of this competition, held a year before the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, was organised by the world governing body for...

 in Berlin, just two months after having triumphed at the Pan American Games

Boxing at the 1995 Pan American Games

The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1995 Pan American Games was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina from March 11 to March 27. It served as a qualification tournament for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia...

 in Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...

.

In 2006, Tarver starred as Mason "The Line" Dixon

Mason Dixon (Rocky Balboa character)

Mason Dixon may refer to:*Mason–Dixon Line separating Delaware and Pennsylvania from Maryland, surveyed 1763--1767**Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, royal surveyors who developed the line...

, the heavyweight champion in the film Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa (film)

Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...

.

Early years

Tarver made his professional debut at the age of 28 on February 18, 1997, with a second-round knockout

Knockout

A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...

 of Joaquin Garcia at the legendary "Blue Horizon

The Blue Horizon

The Blue Horizon is a historic 1,500-seat boxing venue in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Ring magazine voted it the number-one boxing venue in the world, and Sports Illustrated noted it as the last great boxing venue in the country....

" in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

.

Tarver won his first 16 fights,14 by knockout, before stepping up his level of competition. After taking most of his first 16 fights in either his native Florida or at the "Blue Horizon", for his 11th fight he met veteran Rocky Gannon in Chester, West Virginia

Chester, West Virginia

Chester is a city in Hancock County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,592 at the 2000 census. Chester was established in 1896, but not incorporated until 1907. The city is...

, on August 30, 1998. Tarver knocked out Gannon in the second round.

On February 29, 2000, Tarver scored a knockout against Ernest M-16 Mateen

Ernest M-16 Mateen

Ernest M-16 Mateen , is a former United States and world Cruiserweight champion.-Amateur career:...

 in Las Vegas

Las Vegas metropolitan area

The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

. Later that year, Tarver suffered his first loss when he was knocked down in the 11th round by Eric Harding

Eric Harding

-Career:Harding turned pro in 1991 and was undefeated in his first 20 fights. These wins included a fight in which he defeated future champion Montell Griffin by split decision to win the NABF light heavyweight title on Nov 13, 1998, and a unanimous decision over then undefeated contender Antonio...

, en route to a unanimous decision on June 23 in Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....

.

In 2002, Tarver defeated former two-weight world champion Reggie Johnson by split decision to win the NABF & USBA light heavyweight titles, then scored a fifth round stoppage over Harding in a rematch

Winning the light heavyweight titles

On April 26, 2003, Tarver received his first world title shot, when he faced former WBC champion Montel Griffin for the WBC

World Boxing Council

The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...

 & IBF

International Boxing Federation

The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...

 light heavyweight titles that had been vacated by Roy Jones Jr.

Roy Jones Jr.

Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...

, who had gone on to defeat John Ruiz

John Ruiz

John "The Quietman" Ruiz , is a former American professional boxer. Ruiz is the first Latino heavyweight champion and former two-time WBA heavyweight champion. After a professional career spanning over 18 years, Ruiz officially announced his retirement from the sport at a press conference on April...

 for the WBA

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...

 heavyweight title the previous month. After dropping Griffin in the first and last rounds, Tarver was crowned champion after winning a unanimous decision.

Tarver vs Jones I & II

Next, rather than remain at heavyweight, Jones planned to return to light heavyweight and regain his belts. Given little chance of winning, Tarver took a weight-drained Jones the distance and lost the fight and WBC title by a majority decision on November 8, 2003, in Las Vegas (Tarver had relinquished the IBF title a few days earlier in anticipation of being unable to make a mandatory defense.)

In a rematch on May 15, 2004 in Las Vegas, Tarver upset the odds to regain the WBC title and win the "WBA Super" title by knocking Jones out in the second round. In the eyes of most observers, it wasn't as shocking that Tarver had beaten Jones as it was that he had knocked him out; in fifty previous fights, Jones had been sent to the floor only once, and he had never lost a fight by knockout.

Interestingly, eight days before the match, Tarver filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Assuming creditors accepted his proposed debt repayment plan before the fight, all Tarver's previous debts would have been discharged, and the $2 million dollar purse from the win would have been his, free and clear. (ESPN.com news services, May 17, 2004) (The Law of Debtors and Creditors, Warren and Westbrook, p. 421, which quotes the ESPN article.)

Rise in popularity

Tarver became a mainstream celebrity after his rematch win over Jones, making appearances at late-night shows, appearing on the cover of both Ring and KO Magazine

KO Magazine

KO Magazine is a popular United States boxing magazine. It was first published in 1979, to compete with The Ring.During the 1980s, KO Magazine, nicknamed "The knockout boxing magazine", ran some popular features, such as a round-by-round section where the most important fights were described punch...

, being spotted by television cameras as a spectator at various boxing fights, and co-hosting ESPN

ESPN

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....

's "Friday Night Fights" for one telecast.

Tarver vs Johnson I & II

Later in 2004, the WBC decided to strip Tarver of the world title after he decided against fighting their mandatory challenger, instead choosing to fight IBF title holder Glencoffe Johnson December 18 in Temecula, California

Temecula, California

Temecula is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States with a population of 100,097 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it the lowest populated American city over 100,000 population. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989...

; Tarver had already been removed as Super Champion by the WBA in their July rankings. Interestingly, Johnson himself had been stripped of his IBF title before the bout with Tarver for not fighting his mandatory challenger. Both fighters were celebrated for their decision to fight each other rather than bow to the pressure from what has become known as "The Alphabet Soup" sanctioning bodies (WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF). Instead, Tarver and Johnson, who most believed to be the top two fighters in the division, fought each other. Ring Magazine announced that the winner would be declared its recognized champion.

Tarver, considered a favorite to win the fight, suffered an upset loss to Johnson by way of a split decision in a fight that he did not appear to be in top shape for. Tarver avenged the loss six months later with a unanimous decision, out-boxing and out-working the aggressive Johnson at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....

 to regain The Ring championship.

Rubber match against Jones

In their third fight, Tarver won a unanimous decision over Roy Jones Jr.

Roy Jones Jr.

Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...

 on October 1, 2005 in Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

, almost knocking Jones out in the 11th round but also finding himself in trouble at times during the fight.

Tarver vs Hopkins

On June 10, 2006, Tarver faced former undisputed world middleweight

Middleweight

Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...

 champion Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins Jr, known as The Executioner is an American boxer and the current Ring Magazine and WBC light heavyweight champion...

 for Tarver's The Ring title at The Boardwalk Hall

Boardwalk Hall

Boardwalk Hall, formally known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, is an arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States...

 in Atlantic City, NJ. Hopkins, a 3-to-1 underdog, dominated the fight, outboxing Tarver to win a unanimous decision. The fight was scored 118-109 by all three judges. Tarver was knocked down in the 5th round. As a result of a clause in the fight contract, Tarver was forced to pay $250,000 to a charity of Hopkins' choice since he did not knock Hopkins out before the fifth round. Tarver's record would now stand at 24 wins and 4 losses, with 18 wins coming by way of knockout.

Return to the ring

Tarver returned to the ring nearly one year after his loss to Hopkins, defeating Albanian-fighter Elvir Muriqi on June 9, 2007 by way of a majority decision

Majority decision

A majority decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking...

. In his next fight, held at Foxwoods Resort Casino

Foxwoods Resort Casino

Foxwoods Resort Casino is a hotel-casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States. Together with the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, it is one of the largest casino complexes in the world in terms of floor space for gaming. The entire resort comprises of space. The casino has over 380 gaming tables...

 on December 1, 2007, Tarver registered a win over Danny Santiago

Danny Santiago

Danny Santiago is a boxer in the light heavyweight division. He resides in Ocala, Florida.-Amateur career:Santiago had a strong amateur career, including the following highlights:...

 by way of a 4th round TKO

Knockout

A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...

.

Tarver then regained the IBF title by outpointing Clinton Woods

Clinton Woods

Clinton Woods , is a retired professional boxer from Sheffield, England. He is the former IBF, European, British, & Commonwealth light heavyweight champion....

.

Tarver vs Dawson I & II

On October 11, 2008, Tarver faced rising star Chad Dawson

Chad Dawson

"Bad" Chad Dawson is an American boxer from Hartsville, South Carolina, USA, and the former WBC & IBF light heavyweight champion. Dawson is rated by The Ring Magazine as the number four Light Heavyweight boxer in the world.-Early life:...

 for Tarver's IBF title. The fight took place at Palms Casino in Las Vegas. Tarver lost the fight via unanimous decision, with wide margins of 118-109 and 117-110 (twice). The outcome was not disputed.

With the loss to Dawson, it was speculated that Tarver may choose to retire; however, he later announced that he and Dawson would meet in a rematch in March 2009.

A rematch with Dawson, originally announced for March 14, 2009, had to be postponed due to an injury suffered by Dawson. Finally, on May 9, the two fighters met at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. Tarver, who came to the fight as a 5:1 underdog, again lost by unanimous decision.

Move up to heavyweight

Following the rematch loss to Dawson Tarver took over a year off from the ring, before returning on 15 October 2010 to defeat Nagy Aguilera

Nagy Aguilera

Nagy Aguilera De La Rosa is a Dominican professional boxer in the Heavyweight division.-Professional career:Nagy Aguilera gained notoriety when he knocked out former WBC Heavyweight Champion Oleg Maskaev in the first round on December 11, 2009 in what was considered a major upset...

 by 10 round unanimous decision in a bout that took place at the heavyweight

Heavyweight

Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...

 limit. For this fight Tarver officially weighed 221lbs, some 46lbs more than he had weighed for the Dawson rematch.

Cruiserweight

On 20 July 2011, Tarver took on Australian Danny Green

Danny Green

Daniel "Danny" Green is an Australian professional boxer and the former IBO cruiserweight champion.- Amateur boxing career and the Olympics :...

 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre

Sydney Entertainment Centre

The Sydney Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose venue, located in Haymarket, Sydney, Australia. It opened in May 1983, to replace Sydney Stadium, which had been demolished to make way for a new railway. The centre is currently owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which administers...

, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in Tarver's debut in the 200lb cruiserweight division.

Tarver dominated the fight, knocking Green down in the second round and controlling the majority of the action from there on in. After taking heavy punishment and being saved by the bell at the end of round 9, Green failed to come out for the start of round 10, allowing Tarver to take the victory by TKO.

Rocky Balboa

Tarver starred as heavyweight champion Mason "The Line" Dixon

Rocky Balboa (film)

Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...

 in the 2006 film Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa (film)

Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...

. In the film the current, unpopular, champion Dixon fights former champion Rocky Balboa, who decides to come out of retirement. Dixon wins the match by split decision, and after breaking his hand in the second round of the bout but still managing to stand toe to toe with Rocky for the full 10 rounds, proves to doubters that he has the heart of a champion. The DVD of the movie offers an alternate ending, in which Rocky wins the split decision. Dixon's record before the fight is 33-0-0.
Also on the DVD, the film's writer and director Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone

Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...

 wanted to cast a real boxer in the role of Dixon, as he thought it would be easier to teach a boxer how to act than to teach an actor how to box convincingly. In an August 18, 2010 interview with Stallone on The Howard Stern Show, the director indicated that Tarver refused to film his scene after the MGM had been rented out and filled with people already incurring high costs. In order to get the filming done, Stallone gave Tarver a cut of his own salary and points on the back end which resulted in Stallone making no money on the film.

Commentating with Showtime

Since his loss to Dawson, Tarver has been serving as a boxing analyst for Showtime Championship Boxing

Showtime Championship Boxing

Showtime Championship Boxing is a television boxing program airing on Showtime. Debuting in March 1986, it is broadcast live on the first Saturday of every month...

.

Amateur career

• 1993 and 1995 United States amateur Light Heavyweight champion.
• 1994 National Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight champion
• Won the Light Heavyweight bronze medal for the United States at the 1996 Olympics
  Summer Olympic Games
  The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
  
   in Atlanta. His results were:
• Defeated Dmitry Vybornov
  Dmitry Vybornov
  Dmitry Borisovich Vybornov is a retired male boxer from Russia. He represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was stopped in the first round of the men's light-heavyweight division by USA's eventual bronze medalist Antonio Tarver.-References:*...
  
   (Russia) 5-2
• Defeated David Kowah (Sierra Leone) RSC 1 (2:43)
• Defeated Enrique Flores (Mexico) RSC 3 (1:54)
• Lost to Vassiliy Jirov
  Vassiliy Jirov
  Vassiliy "The Tiger" Jirov is a professional Kazakh boxer and former IBF cruiserweight champion, currently fighting out of Las Vegas under Thell Torrence...
  
   (Kazakhstan) 9-15

Professional boxing record

|-
|align="center" colspan=8|29 Wins (19 knockouts, 9 decisions), 6 Losses, 0 Draws
|-
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Res.
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rnd. Time
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes
|-align=center
| Win
|29–6
|align=left|  Danny Green

Danny Green

Daniel "Danny" Green is an Australian professional boxer and the former IBO cruiserweight champion.- Amateur boxing career and the Olympics :...

|RTD
|9
|2011-07-20
|align=left|  Sydney, NSW
|align=left|
|
|-align=center
| Win
|28–6
|align=left|  Nagy Aguilera
|UD
|12
|2010-10-15
|align=left|  Miami, OK

Miami, Oklahoma

Miami is a city in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. As of 2009, the population estimate was 12,910. It is the county seat of Ottawa County. The city is named after the Miami tribe...

|align=left|
|
|-align=center
|Loss
|27–6
|align=left|  Chad Dawson

Chad Dawson

"Bad" Chad Dawson is an American boxer from Hartsville, South Carolina, USA, and the former WBC & IBF light heavyweight champion. Dawson is rated by The Ring Magazine as the number four Light Heavyweight boxer in the world.-Early life:...

|UD
|12
|2009-05-09
|align=left|  Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas metropolitan area

The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

|align=left|
|
|-align=center
|Loss
|27–5
|align=left|  Chad Dawson

Chad Dawson

"Bad" Chad Dawson is an American boxer from Hartsville, South Carolina, USA, and the former WBC & IBF light heavyweight champion. Dawson is rated by The Ring Magazine as the number four Light Heavyweight boxer in the world.-Early life:...

|UD
|12
|2008-10-11
|align=left|  Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas metropolitan area

The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

|align=left|
|
|-align=center
|Win
|27–4
|align=left|  Clinton Woods

Clinton Woods

Clinton Woods , is a retired professional boxer from Sheffield, England. He is the former IBF, European, British, & Commonwealth light heavyweight champion....

|UD
|12
|2008-04-12
|align=left|  Tampa, FL

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

|align=left|
|
|-align=center
|Win
|26–4
|align=left|  Danny Santiago

Danny Santiago

Danny Santiago is a boxer in the light heavyweight division. He resides in Ocala, Florida.-Amateur career:Santiago had a strong amateur career, including the following highlights:...

|TKO
|4 , 2:53
|2007-12-01
|align=left|  Mashantucket, CT
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win
|25–4
|align=left|  Elvir Muriqi

Elvir Muriqi

Elvir Muriqi is a Kosovar-Albanian boxer. Elvir was born in Kosovo but moved to the United States in 1996 with his family to escape the growing tension in Kosovo. Muriqi boxed as an amateur in his homeland but never had a chance to become known outside Albania. Muriqi turned professional in New...

|MD
|12
|2007-06-09
|align=left|  Hartford, CT

Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...

|align=left|
|
|-align=center
|Loss
|24–4
|align=left|  Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins Jr, known as The Executioner is an American boxer and the current Ring Magazine and WBC light heavyweight champion...

|UD
|12
|2006-06-10
|align=left|   Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...

|align=left|
|
|-align=center
|Win
|24–3
|align=left|  Roy Jones Jr.
|UD
|12
|2005-10-01
|align=left|  Tampa, FL

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win
|23–3
|align=left|  Glen Johnson

Glen Johnson (boxer)

Glengoffe Donovan Johnson is a professional boxer. Nicknamed Gentleman and The Road Warrior, Johnson is the former IBF and Ring magazine light heavyweight champion.-Amateur career:...

|UD
|12
|2005-06-18
|align=left|   Memphis, TN

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Loss
|22–3
|align=left|  Glen Johnson

Glen Johnson (boxer)

Glengoffe Donovan Johnson is a professional boxer. Nicknamed Gentleman and The Road Warrior, Johnson is the former IBF and Ring magazine light heavyweight champion.-Amateur career:...

|SD
|12
|2004-12-18
|align=left|  Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win
|22–2
|align=left|  Roy Jones Jr.
|KO
|2
|2004-05-15
|align=left|  Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas metropolitan area

The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Loss
|21–2
|align=left|  Roy Jones Jr.
|MD
|12
|2003-11-08
|align=left|  Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas metropolitan area

The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win
|21–1
|align=left|  Montell Griffin

Montell Griffin

Montell Julian Griffin is an American boxer. He is best known for his two bouts at Light Heavyweight with Roy Jones Jr.- Professional career :...

|UD
|12
|2003-04-26
|align=left|  Mashantucket, CT
|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win
|20–1
|align=left|  Eric Harding

Eric Harding

-Career:Harding turned pro in 1991 and was undefeated in his first 20 fights. These wins included a fight in which he defeated future champion Montell Griffin by split decision to win the NABF light heavyweight title on Nov 13, 1998, and a unanimous decision over then undefeated contender Antonio...

|TKO
|5
|2002-07-20
|align=left|  Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

|align=left|
|-align=center
|Win
|19–1
|align=left|  Reggie Johnson
|SD
|12
|2002-01-25
|align=left|   Rosemont, IL

Rosemont, Illinois

Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...

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|
|-align=center
|Win
|18–1
|align=left|  Chris Johnson
|KO
|10
|2001-08-03
|align=left|   Toppenish, WA

Toppenish, Washington

Toppenish is a city in Yakima County, Washington, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,949.-History:The General Allotment Act of 1887 granted an allotment of land to a woman of half Indian ancestry, Josephine Bowser Lillie, known as "The Mother of Toppenish"...

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|-align=center
|Win
|17–1
|align=left|  Lincoln Carter
|TKO
|5
|2001-02-24
|align=left|  Tampa, FL

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

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|-align=center
|Loss
|16–1
|align=left|  Eric Harding

Eric Harding

-Career:Harding turned pro in 1991 and was undefeated in his first 20 fights. These wins included a fight in which he defeated future champion Montell Griffin by split decision to win the NABF light heavyweight title on Nov 13, 1998, and a unanimous decision over then undefeated contender Antonio...

|UD
|12
|2000-06-23
|align=left|   Biloxi, MS

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....

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|-align=center
|Win
|16–0
|align=left|  Ernest Mateen
|KO
|1
|2000-02-29
|align=left|  Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas metropolitan area

The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

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|-align=center
|Win
|15–0
|align=left|  Mohamed Benguesmia
|TKO
|9
|1999-10-02
|align=left|  Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas metropolitan area

The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

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|-align=center
|Win
|14–0
|align=left|  Jerry Williams
|TKO
|5
|1999-06-12
|align=left|  Wilmington, MA

Wilmington, Massachusetts

Wilmington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 22,325 at the 2010 census.-History:Wilmington was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1730, from parts of Woburn, Reading and Billerica. Minutemen from Wilmington responded to the alarm...

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|-align=center
|Win
|13–0
|align=left|  Roy Francis
|TKO
|3
|1999-03-27
|align=left|  Miami, FL

Miami, Florida

Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...

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|-align=center
|Win
|12–0
|align=left|  John Williams
|KO
|4
|1999-02-05
|align=left|  Miami, FL

Miami, Florida

Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...

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|-align=center
|Win
|11–0
|align=left|  Rocky Gannon
|TKO
|2
|1998-08-30
|align=left|   Chester, WV

Chester, West Virginia

Chester is a city in Hancock County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,592 at the 2000 census. Chester was established in 1896, but not incorporated until 1907. The city is...

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|-align=center
|Win
|10–0
|align=left|  Jose Luis Rivera
|RTD
|4
|1998-06-23
|align=left|   Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

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|-align=center
|Win
|9–0
|align=left|  Charles Oliver
|UD
|8
|1998-03-24
|align=left|   Tunica, MS

Tunica, Mississippi

Tunica is a town in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States, located near the Mississippi River. Until the early 1990s the town was one of the most impoverished places in the United States, semi-famous for the particularly deprived neighbourhood known as "Sugar Ditch Alley", named for the open...

|
|-align=center
|Win
|8–0
|align=left|  Boyer Chew
|TKO
|7
|1998-01-17
|align=left|   Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...

|
|-align=center
|Win
|7–0
|align=left|  Roy Francis
|TKO
|2
|1997-12-02
|align=left|   Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

|
|-align=center
|Win
|6–0
|align=left|  Benito Fernandez
|TKO
|3
|1997-10-28
|align=left|   Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

|
|-align=center
|Win
|5–0
|align=left|  Berry Butler
|UD
|6
|1997-10-04
|align=left|   Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...

|
|-align=center
|Win
|4–0
|align=left|  Shelby Gross
|TKO
|1
|1997-08-12
|align=left|   Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

|
|-align=center
|Win
|3–0
|align=left|  Tracy Barrios
|TKO
|3
|1997-06-21
|align=left|  Tampa, FL

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

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|-align=center
|Win
|2–0
|align=left|  Jason Burrell
|TKO
|3
|1997-04-29
|align=left|   Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

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|-align=center
|Win
|1–0
|align=left|  Joaquin Garcia
|TKO
|2
|1997-02-18
|align=left|   Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

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External links

• Official Antonio Tarver website

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