By Matthew Hurley: International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, 41-3-1 with 24 KOs has finally been given the opportunity to step into the ring with current IBO champion Antonio Tarver, 26-4 with 19 KOs after several years of absorbing verbal taunts from the ever loquacious former undisputed light heavyweight champion..
Tarver, who cemented his ring legacy with two victories over Roy Jones Jr. in their trilogy, has always had a gift for gab which led him to Hollywood in a staring role in the movie Rocky Balboa but as of late his resume between the ropes has paled in comparison to his performance opposite Sylvester Stallone. Victories over Elvir Muriqi and Danny Santiago have done nothing to erase the memory of his lackluster showing against former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins in 2006 – a losing effort that seemed to push Tarver out of the spotlight and into middling efforts on Showtime. Now, Clinton Woods hopes to put the final nail in Tarver’s fistic coffin.
“It’s a fight I’ve been longing for,” the British fighter told Sky Sports. “He told me he would beat me years ago. Well, now he has got the chance. He can’t run any longer because the deal has been made. It is smell-the-coffee time and he is going to find out the hard way what a thorough beating is all about.”
The fight was recently added to the April 12th Showtime presentation of WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson’s defense against former champion Glen Johnson at the St. Pete Times forum in Tampa, Florida. Johnson went 1-1-1 with Woods and 1-1 with Tarver. The victors in the two bouts could possibly meet in a unification match by years end, although Woods, should he defeat Tarver, has added his name to the list of those now suddenly calling out super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe.
“If Joe Calzaghe gets past ‘granddad’ Hopkins the week after I make mincemeat of Tarver, he can come looking for me. I’m ready for Calzaghe any time and any place and he knows it. That has got to be the dream. I think me against Tarver and Calzaghe versus Hopkins are the semi-finals, with the winner facing each other in the final. Even though Hopkins is old he will still be a formidable test for Joe Calzaghe. I will spark out Tarver the week before Calzaghe fights Hopkins and then watch from ringside while the other semi-final goes ahead”
Woods’ promoter Dennis Hobson is, at this time, looking forward to a unification match with Dawson should the WBC champion get by the gritty ‘Road Warrior’ Johnson.
“Gary (Shaw) and I have a good relationship and when Clinton disposes of Tarver I’ll look forward to sitting with him and discussing the Dawson unification match.”
Woods, who will be fighting Tarver in the ‘Magic Man’s’ backyard, has no qualms about fighting in Florida and is also confident of his position in the light heavyweight ranks.
“My fans will have a great time in Florida soaking up the sun and then they can watch me swarm all over Tarver,” he said, before adding, “I don’t think I am the best light heavyweight in the world. I know it.”
The world championship doubleheader will air live on Showtime Championship Boxing at 9 pm Eastern Standard Time.