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Tarver is focused for Dawson rematch

Associated Press photo

IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, left, and Antonio Tarver pose for photos after an official weigh-in ceremony in Las Vegas, Friday, May 8, 2009.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 9, 2009

Updated: 05/09/2009 12:12 am

TAMPA - The volume on this one has been turned down - way down.

When Tampa light heavyweight Antonio Tarver prepared to face then-challenger Chad Dawson in October 2008, there was plenty of talk coming from Tarver.

Tarver told Dawson nothing on his resume impressed him, Dawson was going to get what he asked for and he likely would put Dawson on his back. And that was the mild stuff.

Dawson countered by dominating Tarver in 12 rounds, collecting a 118-109, 117-110, 117-110 victory. In the process, Dawson took Tarver's IBF and IBO light heavyweight belts. To make that fight happen, Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) vacated his WBC light heavyweight title.

"I needed a big name on my resume and Antonio Tarver was what I needed. I gave up one title and picked up two, so I got a two-for-one deal," Dawson said laughing.

If Tarver's preparation for tonight's fight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is any indication, he's on a mission to silence the laughs.

Tarver (27-5, 19 KOs) changed his cell phone number, distancing himself from people he deemed a distraction. He went back to his old trainer, Buddy McGirt, and rented a house in Vero Beach miles from the gym. And there was noticeably very little chatter coming from Tarver's camp.

He basically shuttered himself away from the outside world.

"We were working hard, trying to eliminate all the mistakes we think we made the last time and capitalize on the things we feel like we did pretty good. Just go in this fight with a new mindset," Tarver said. "It's the rematch and I'm always at my best in rematches. Taking nothing from Chad Dawson, he's a guy that's 26 years old and I'm 40. So we're going to have to combat the age difference and just outsmart him. ... We're just going to have to change my style up and make my age work in my advantage and that's from experience and being seasoned."

One could argue Tarver's reputation has come largely on what he has done in rematches. He suffered a broken jaw and two broken ribs in a unanimous decision loss to Eric Harding. Two years later, Tarver stopped Harding in the fifth round.

In 2003, Tarver suffered a majority-decision loss to Roy Jones Jr. and avenged that six months later by knocking Jones out in the second round. That win regained Tarver's WBC light heavyweight title and snatched Jones' WBA and IBO belts.

He dropped a split decision to Glen Johnson in 2004, only to beat him on points six months later.

That history has not been lost on Dawson, who hired a new strength-and-conditioning trainer and says he had the best training camp of his career.

Don't expect to see the defensive Tarver in the ring either. His goal is to take it to Dawson.

"I'm ready," Tarver said. "We're going to lay all the chips on the table. No excuses. I'm going to fight my fight. If I come up on the short end of the stick, then he beat me at my best, but when I'm at my best, I'm undefeated."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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