For Bernard and Antonio, Father-Time Awaits

“Age ain’t nothin’ but a number” A perfect phrase to describe a young prodigy.

But come next Saturday, it’s a perfect way to praise the legends.

At the famous Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ , aging veterans Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins will meet for the respected world light heavyweight championship

And sadly enough, it will be indictment of what’s really left in the sport’s current market value.

In addition to aforementioned two, stars such as Oscar De La Hoya, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Roy Jones Jr., have already begun to fade. This could arguably be the last major bout featuring two guys born before the year 1970.

In case of Roy Jones, the former pound-for-pound king faded faster than Mariah Carey’s singing career in the late 90s. While Carey made her successful comeback with her Grammy winning album, ‘Emancipation of Mimi’, unfortunately for Jones, this is boxing.

You could only wish for a Jermaine Durpi in the sport to rely on.

NAIL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

Bernard is an intelligent man. He knows what this fight means to him.

As a professional, this fight means a lucrative payday. A win would only enhance his legacy. Correction, a win not only defines his standing among greats, but for his own sake of pride, it would place him ahead of his former rival.

For the Executioner, a win over Antonio Tarver is a win over Roy Jones.

As was the case for those light heavies moving up to challenge for the heavyweight title, Hopkins is a decisive underdog to pull out the upset.

And history has shown – the middleweights who have climbed up a ladder, often failed in their task to capture the light heavyweight crown.

Could Bernard achieve something even the great Ray Robinson failed to accomplish?

A treasure, which the great Marvin Hagler and Carlos Monzon didn’t dare to seek?

There’s more than one up for grabs. Finale of a great career can only end better with a ‘W’ over another great.

It’s Hopkins’ chance to pull the unprecedented. But it’s Tarver’s fate to crumble happy endings.

Just ask Roy Jones.

Billed as ‘Fight to the Finish’, it’s only a matter of time to see who will age over night.

Its title appropriately fits the description. However, the question doesn’t lay on which of the two will finish. Perhaps the other way around, who will succumb to the inevitable father-time?

To put it in a blunt manner, this fight will determine which of the two aging greats should sail to Sunset Blvd.

For Hopkins and Tarver, they ride this promotion as a one-night stand. No rematch, no nothing.

IT AIN’T SO BAD BEING THE OLD LION

Favorably due to their legacy, fans will undoubtedly subscribe to this PPV-Event.

Thwarting the repetitive use of the cliche, the terms ‘shot’, ‘over the hill’, or just simply ‘old’, Hopkins has defied against his age, years after years.

Dating back to his career-defining win in ’01, Hopkins, at age thirty six, showed no signs of fading when he unmercifully denied the fierce youth of Felix Trinidad.

Against Jermain Taylor, Hopkins twice matched the much younger opponent only to drop two disputed decisions.

Tarver, who has less than thirty pro fights to his credit, is now reaching his forties.

He calls himself ‘the Legend Killer’, yet during his journey to dethrone the legendary Jones, Tarver subconsciously became a legend of his own.

In retrospect, both Hopkins and Tarver will try to defy father-time. In Hopkins’ case, he’s already done a quite of job leading up to this juncture.

And for what it’s worth, they both appear to be old just enough to make this interesting.

Optimistically, I see more of a Leonard-Hearns II, than a Lewis-Tyson.

But who knows? It might turn out to be an American version of Fabrice Tiozzo-Dariusz Micalzweski.

LIGHT HEAVIES ITCHING FOR A SHOT

The verdict is still out there. Who’s the best light heavy in the world?

In addition to Tarver himself, there are younger champions/contenders such as Clinton Woods, Zolt Erdei, Thomas Adamek, and Paul Briggs. The elders, Fabrice Tiozzo and Glen Johnson have and could compete on a same level.

Maybe a year and a half ago, Tarver’s claim might have proved to be legitimate.

But in reality, Tarver has not beaten anyone under the age of thirty-five since his rematch against Eric Harding.

Which begs the question, is Antonio Tarver beginning to coast?

Well, to his credit, Tarver is doing a great job following up on his two wins over Roy Jones Jr. He also split two wars against Glen Johnson along the same timeframe.

In addition, landing a role in Rocky VI and his verbose talent doesn’t hurt. The man definitely knows how to sell himself.

Deservedly so, he now has the ball and the court is his.

Picking Hopkins, a great champion who’s seen his better days, was the most lucrative and safest choice to be made.

HARD TO STAY AWAKE AFTER DARK

Past Saturday’s card featuring the WBO Bantamweight Title bout between Jhonny Gonzalez and Fernando Montiel rightfully emphasized the newly defined theme of Boxing After Dark. Followed by a decent scrap between two young welterweight prospects, the main-event, AGAIN, failed to even come close in meeting any sort of expectations.

After another lackluster card on its second consecutive outings, HBO and promoters can’t seem to deliver any signs of prominence.

Despite being only its second episode, the series alongside the new commentating crew have yet gained any respective appeal.

Long gone are the days of Barrera-McKinney.

Which reminds me. Without the head honchos (Oscar, Bernard, Shane, and Marco) themselves in action, Golden Boy Promotions has yet to carry itself as a first-rate promotional outfit.

And it doesn’t take a mathematician to realize that aging promoters Bob Arum and Don King will soon depart from this business.

Might seem a bit ironic, but I think the two will be missed in their departure.

THE FINAL TILT

After twenty years of jabbing and moving, Manuel Medina ran out of lard in what most likely may have been the final bout of his career. Everything must come to an end at some point. Hopefully, there won’t be another ‘Mantecas’ sequel. With the win, Cassius Baloyi returns to South Africa with the IBF belt. A bit of a lackluster fight it was, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Baloyi defend against former champ, Yodsanan 3K Battery. BIG SURPRISE! Joe Calzaghe pulls out due to another hand injury! At this juncture, it’s a bit too much to blame the guy. After all, wasn’t Jeff Lacy supposed to knock his head off? My sympathy goes to Glen Johnson who just wants to fight the best. I heard WBC is mandating Thomas Adamek for a title defense. How about Johnson-Adamek on the undercard Spinks-Karmazin? Give me Diego Corrales this Saturday to stop Jose Luis Castillo in another wild affair. Chico took some hellacious beating in the previous two, but he just might pull through…..especially when you take Castillo’s struggle with weight into consideration. With all the controversy fueled from dishonorable tactics residing both fights, they should bill this finale as ‘A Battle For Integrity’ or ‘Dignity Is Only Way To Finish!’ Either way, vindication awaits.