NOTES FROM SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION
Posted on | April 21, 2007 | 1 Comment
NOTES FROM SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION
~ APRIL 20, 2007 ~
(Final Results Release To Follow)
“MAGIC MAN” ANTONIO TARVER RETURNS TO THE RING
Former Light Heavyweight Champion Will Face Elvir Muriqi on Showtime Championship Boxing, June 9, live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast)
Poof! The “Magic Man” is back – and fighting on America’s No. 1 Boxing Network.
One of boxing’s most recognizable and talented pound-for-pound fighters, the legendary Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver will make his highly anticipated return to the ring on Saturday, June 9, 2007, in the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
A former World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight champion, Tarver (24-4, 18 KOs) will fight for the first time in one year when he battles Elvir Muriqi (34-3, 21 KOs) for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) 175-pound title on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Tarver vs. Muriqi is being promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and will take place at a site to be announced.
“The Magic Man is back,” Tarver said, “On June 9, I am going to make Muriqi disappear.”
Tarver will forever be remembered for his trilogy with Roy Jones Jr. He defeated the then-invincible Jones two out of three times, including a devastating second-round knockout in the second fight.
The popular, brash southpaw also made movie magic in Hollywood. He had a starring role as Mason “The Line” Dixon in the sixth installment of the popular movie series Rocky.
But now it is time for Tarver, who fought Rocky Balboa in reel life, to fight for real. For the last few months, he has been training with Buddy McGirt in Vero Beach, Fla.
“I want to fight and let people know I am back,” said Tarver, who dropped a decision to Bernard Hopkins in his last start on June 10, 2006. “I’m staying in shape. That’s going to be the difference.”
Tarver is among today’s brightest stars in the sport. He has fought some of the most memorable bouts in recent history against some of the best fighters of his generation.
In the opening bout of Tarver’s scintillating series against Jones (Nov. 8, 2003) he lost a disputed 12-round majority decision. Tarver avenged the loss and cemented his legacy, when he brutally flattened Jones in the rematch (May 15, 2004). Tarver won a 12-round decision in their third encounter on Dec. 1, 2005.
“I am looking forward to fighting on SHOWTIME,” the six-foot-two-inch Tarver, 38, said. “I appreciate the opportunity to come back on the sport’s highest stage.”
CSTV TO BROADCAST 2007 COLLEGIATE NATIONALS BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP
NABO middleweight champion Joey Gilbert was in Atlantic City for tonight’s fight card at Bally’s. The WBO No. 6-ranked 160-pounder from Reno, Nev., recently provided color commentary for the 2007 Powerade Collegiate Nationals Boxing Championships, which was part of CSTV’s second annual Collegiate Nationals event. The event, which is a great showcase for amateur boxing, will be broadcast nationally on CSTV premiering on Saturday, May 12 for three consecutive nights.
“It was an exciting event,” said Gilbert. “Without giving away any results, I must say from Penn State and the Military Academies as well as UNLV and my alma-mater the University of Nevada there are some excellent college boxing programs across the country and some very talented collegiate athletes. The Collegiate Nationals was a great showcase for amateur boxing and anyone who watches the broadcast on CSTV will be impressed with the skill and heart that the fighters displayed.”