Boxing: Hopkins Ready For Tarver Test

Viggö

Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver are promising a night to remember as they look for their place in history when they meet in a light-heavyweight showdown in Atlantic City.

The legendary Hopkins is aiming to bow out on a high as it will most probably be the 41-year-old's final fight at the Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night.

'The Executioner' made a record 20 defences of his undisputed middleweight title and went unbeaten for 12 years between 1993 and 2005 as he dominated his division.

Although he has been defeated in his last two contests, both those losses to Jermain Taylor were controversial points decisions in which Hopkins arguably did enough to win both fights.

This time though, Hopkins steps up to light-heavyweight to face 'The Magic Man' Tarver, who also has a point to prove to those who say he is fast running out of gas.

As the two men went face-to-face ahead of the fight Hopkins noted the weight Tarver has shed for the fight, after piling on the pounds to appear in the latest Rocky movie, but warned him he would need all his strength to come out with a victory.

“Three months ago, one month ago, I was thinking I had to fight a heavyweight, but I'm glad I've got here and he looks like me,� said Hopkins.

“I hope he didn't leave it all out there, because he's going to need to be at his best to deal with me.�

If Hopkins is rated by some as a legend, Tarver has been calling himself 'The Legend Killer' and aims to end his opponent's career on a losing streak.

Tarver has the most to lose from the fight as he needs a big win to prove the critics wrong after his sluggish display in his last fight against Roy Jones Jr.

Tarver needs a big fight to boost his standing again, and although he is predicting a sixth-round victory, he believes it will be a classic encounter.

“I hope he comes to fight like he talks, because if he does it's going to be one of the great nights,� said Tarver.

“It's going to be Hagler v Hearns all over again.

“That's the sort of intensity I'm coming at him with.�

[Credit: SkySports]