Tarver vs. Johnson- Just A Good Fight

By Bret "The Threat" Newton
Photos: Will "The Thrill" Trillo
 

In a fight that pitted the two Roy Jones Jr. Conquerors to do battle without their recently won and shortly after vacated Titles. In a fight that didn’t give us fouls, taunting, clinching, points taken away, trash talk before, during or after, Light Heavyweights Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver gave us a closeout to 2004 with a boxing fight that was actually...GOOD! No, it wasn’t a “fight of the year”. No there wasn’t any Barrera vs. Morales type of exchanges. But, this was a very respectable fight that deserves, and will get, a rematch. A fight that most fans probably needed after all that been going on in boxing lately. There may have been dull points in this fight as it wasn’t the most of entertaining, but for Johnson and Tarver, the two boxed for 12 rounds, and that’s that. It’s been a while since two fighters did just that. No clowning around or “go ahead, hit me on the chin while I drop my hands” type of tactics. A good, clean fight.

The scores that were read after the two men gave their all throughout 12 tough rounds of battle may have come to upset those who had a different score, but at least there wasn’t one judge who had it way off, or all 3 of them for that matter. There wasn’t a 117 to 111 one sided score as we were so greatly privileged to get in a recent close fight. The fact is, it was a close fight, and there really cant be much of an argument since the fight was close and could’ve gone to either Tarver or Johnson by 1 or 2 rounds, let alone a draw which looked very probable.

In round 1, Johnson came blazing out of his corner and started his plan immediately. He backed Tarver all the way to the ropes and applied the pressure he showed in his fight with Jones. Tarver held his guard up while Johnson was just pounding away. Johnson caught Tarver with a few clean right hands that went through Tarver tight defense, but things were just getting started.

The following round, Johnson came right out again. Looping his hook around Tarver’s long arms to land. Tarver looked to be unsure of what to do and even heard it from his trainer, Buddy McGirt, in between rounds who was not happy at the moment. Tarver was not using his heaight and reach and was doing much like Jones did in their first fight together where he laid back to fight off the ropes.

In round 3, Tarver finally opened up and began to connect with the jab. Johnson took them clean and just kept coming forward like a man on a mission. Everything Tarver threw, Johnson just kept walking through. Tarver began to circle the ring and made it uneasy for Johnson to land any more clean shots.

In round 4, Johnson again brought Tarver back to the ropes where he applied no stop combinations to the body and head. Some of them blocked, but the left hook to the body was finding it’s mark on Tarver. Johnson looked to be on his way to win the 4th round until a late rally by Tarver that was followed by a big right hand which staggered Johnson may have stole the round in Tarver’s favor.

In round 5, Johnson managed to come up with the best round up to this point as he hurt Tarver with a huge uppercut that sent Tarver back to the ropes. Tarver wasn’t punching back and was taking some big right hands over his guard.

In round 6, a clash of heads opened up a cut on Johnson’s left eye. Johnson clearly was phased by the headbutt as he couldn’t get back on track from what he accomplished in round 5. Tarver immediately took advantage and shook Johnson with a straight right.

In rounds 7 through 9, the fight slowed down a bit and the rounds went to which ever style you felt worked better. Was it Johnson aggressiveness, coming straight in while attacking often landing on Tarver’s guard, but getting a few clean. Or was it Tarver taking his time and calculating when to land when he circled Johnson.

In round 10, Tarver may have made the mistake of the fight as he took the round off and Johnson took control right away. Tarver was exhausted and desperately needed to take a breather, however he wasn’t punching back and Johnson was able to narrow up on the scores if you gave any of the 7-9 to Tarver.

In round 11, Johnson had his best rally as he hurt Tarver with a right hand as Tarver was sent reeling into the corner. Johnson jumped right in and Tarver looked to be in big trouble, but the bell rang shortly after, saving Tarver from what may have been Johnson’s best round of the night.

In the 12th and final round, it looked to be very close on the scores and who ever may pull out the final round may take it home. Johnson came right out to see if Tarver was still hurt from the previous round. Tarver digs deep and unleashes a combination of punches that staggers Johnson and calls him to grab and hold. Tarver looked to have hurt Johnson back but he was too tired to punch any more. Near the final minute of the fight, Johnson staggered Tarver back and pounced right on him in the corner. The bell sounded as it did in the 11th, only this time ending the fight.

Both men had moments in that final round, who did you give it to?

Final scores were 116-112 for Tarver, and 115-113 x 2 for Johnson, giving Johnson the split decision win and the Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Championship Belt.

After the fight, Tarver said he had hurt his hand in the 5th round from a punch he landed on Johnson’s head.

Johnson still went with what he said after he beat Jones with “I am not the best. I am still looking for Mr. Best.”


Questions or Comments? Please Contact Bret “The Threat” Newton