“People Love Roy Jones Jr. So Much They Had to Despise and Hate Me”: Antonio Tarver Confides in Mike Tyson

In a span of two years, from November 2003 to October 2005, Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones Jr. fought three times. With two wins under his belt, the legendary trilogy tilts in Tarver’s favor. However, as he went back in time along with Mike Tyson and DJ Whoo Kid, the Atlanta Olympic bronze medalist, known to many as Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon from ‘Rocky Balboa’ (2006), revealed that his cart of success lacked the wheel of appreciation and adulation.

‘The Magic Man’ joined Tyson and Whoo Kid in the Hotboxin’s studio. He had an extensive amateur career that saw him set a record by winning three championships in the same year. Finally, in 1997, Antonio Tarver became a professional boxer. His nearly two-decade-long career saw him win world titles across the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. He grabbed a regional title in the heavyweight division as well. Many fans still remember him for the rematches with Eric Harding and Glen Johnson and, of course, the title fights against Roy Jones Jr.

Antonio Tarver: Trust Self before the Rest

So ‘The Magic Man’ was explaining how Harding had been the toughest opponent of his career. More so, he was the boxer who inflicted the first career loss on Tarver. He was explaining how, before the bout, he saw films of Harding’s old fights. Boxers usually do that to gauge the opponent’s fighting style and ring habits. However, it proved to be the last time he indulged in the practice, as it tended to give a ‘false sense of security’. Hence, after the defeat, he started believing in a mantra. Something he shared with many young boxers. He advises them to invest in personal betterment and have greater faith in their own capabilities.

‘Iron’ Mike added, “You know how hard it to believe in yourself. Everybody else says you piece of sh*t. Everybody, you got to believe in yourself.” Antonio Tarver then explained that he went through the issue. “I’ve had to do that, and you got to understand, man, I…I really haven’t had a chance to celebrate my victories because every time you know it’s met with the excuses…you you see what I’m saying.”

DJ Whoo Kid said there wouldn’t have been the high-profile parties that everyone usually sees in Las Vegas. Tarver immediately pointed out that wasn’t the only problem. He took the example of the Roy Jones Jr. fights. He said, “People people love Roy Jones so much to they had to despise and hate me. You feel me.”

Whoo Kid stated probably people were trying to find reasons. So ‘The Magic Man’ said only if the followers knew about the kind of relationship he and Roy Jones Jr. shared. Perhaps then they wouldn’t have felt any sort of animosity or ill will towards him.

‘The Magic Man’ Casts a Spell on the ‘Superman’

The first match between Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones Jr. occurred on November 8, 2003. The former lost it by a majority decision. But six months later, at the same venue, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Tarver shocked the boxing world by defeating Jones Jr. via a second-round technical knockout. The fight made the Orlando, Florida-born southpaw an undisputed light heavyweight champion in the pre-four-belt era. The duo met for the final time on October 1, 2005. This time, the fight for the IBO and the Ring light heavyweight belts went the whole distance. Eventually, Antonio Tarver won by a unanimous decision. Only, some eight months later, did he lose both titles to Bernard Hopkins.

Read More: Despite Roy Jones Jr.’s KO Win and a Role in Sylvester Stallone’s ‘Rocky’ Movie, Antonio Tarver Confides in Mike Tyson About Boxing Politics That Cost Him Bernard Hopkins Rematch

Do you also believe what Tarver said about not receiving the kind of love and admiration that he deserved? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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