Tarver vs. Muriqi in Hartford, June 9

SeikanJudanski · 05-11-2007, 06:13 PM

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Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing has announced that former undisputed light heavyweight world champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver will face Elvir “Kosovo Kid” Muriqi for the vacant IBO light heavyweight world title at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, USA on Showtime Championship Boxing on June 9.

“The Magic Man is back,” said 38 year-old Tarver, “On June 9, I am going to make Muriqi disappear.”

In his last fight on June 10, 2006 Tarver 24-4 (18) lost his crown on points over twelve rounds to middleweight great Bernard Hopkins. A bronze medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Tarver was originally catapulted to the forefront of the boxing world on May 15, 2004, when, with a single devastating punch, he derailed the pound-for-pound king Roy Jones Jr.

Recognizing Tarver’s charisma, Sylvester Stallone approached him to play Mason “The Line” Dixon in “Rocky Balboa” the critically-acclaimed final chapter of the Academy Award winning “Rocky” series released in late 2006. Tarver took to the silver screen as naturally as he does the squared circle, and the film was a critical and financial success.

“Antonio Tarver is in peak shape and is anxious to reclaim his status as monarch of the Light Heavyweight division” declared Star Boxing CEO Joe DeGuardia.

28 year-old Elvir Muriqi, a native of Kosovo, now fights out of the Bronx, New York. He has a professional record of 34 wins, 21 coming by knockout and 3 losses. He is a former 1998 Golden Gloves Champion in the 178 lbs weight class and has worked with world-class trainers such as Teddy Atlas.

In the main support, Connecticut’s own “Bad” Chad Dawson 23-0 (15), the current WBC light heavyweight champion, returns to the ring after his dominating performance over the former WBC champion Tomasz Adamek this past February. Dawson will defend his WBC world title against Jesus Ruiz 19-4 (17).

"Hail the conquering hero," said Gary Shaw, Dawson’s promoter. "There is nothing better than a world champion making his first title defense on his home turf. Chad is one of boxing’s brightest young stars and on June 9, he will write the first chapter of a very long and successful world championship story."

IrishMike · 05-12-2007, 01:01 PM

Be interested to see if he suffers from any ring rust. I didnt bthink he looked in great shape in the rocky movie

SeikanJudanski · 05-12-2007, 01:08 PM

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Originally Posted by IrishMike

Be interested to see if he suffers from any ring rust. I didnt bthink he looked in great shape in the rocky movie

Yeah, but that movie was made two years ago, plus when you are making a movie, you are always out shape. Look at Lennox, he played a role in Ocean´s 12 and got knocked out right afterwards by Rahman. Tarver has had enough time to prepare.