Antonio Tarver

“The Magic Man”

Boxing · Retired

31-6-1 (1 NC)RECORD

22WINS BY KO / TKO

9WINS BY DECISION

39PRO FIGHTS

Profile

Full name	Antonio Deon Tarver
Nickname	The Magic Man
Date of birth	21 Nov 1968
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Orlando, Florida, USA
Based in	Tampa, Florida, USA
Weight classes	Light Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, Heavyweight
Trainers	Bob Lee
Height	188 cm (6′2″)
Reach	191 cm (75″)
Stance	Southpaw
Years active	1997-2015
Status	Retired
Pro debut	18 Feb 1997
Last fight	Draw vs Steve Cunningham, 14 Aug 2015

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 8 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

WBC and IBF light heavyweight champion in 2003
Won the WBA, WBC, IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles by stopping Roy Jones Jr. in 2004
IBO and The Ring light heavyweight champion 2005-2006
IBF light heavyweight champion 2008
IBO cruiserweight champion in 2011

Background

A 1996 Olympic bronze medalist from Florida, he turned professional in 1997 and won world titles at light heavyweight, including a knockout of Roy Jones Jr. in 2004.

Fight history

39 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Date	Location	Notes
Draw	Steve Cunningham	Decision (split)	12		14 Aug 2015	Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA
Win	Johnathon Banks	TKO	7	2:25	11 Dec 2014	Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
Win	Mike Sheppard	TKO	4	1:54	26 Nov 2013	BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida, USA	Won WBA-NABA interim heavyweight title
No contest	Lateef Kayode	No contest	12		2 Jun 2012	Home Depot Center, Carson, California, USA	IBO cruiserweight title at stake; originally a split decision, later ruled a no contest
Win	Danny Green	TKO (corner retirement)	9	3:00	20 Jul 2011	Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia	Won IBO cruiserweight title
Win	Nagy Aguilera	Decision (unanimous)	12		15 Oct 2010	Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, Oklahoma, USA
Loss	Chad Dawson	Decision (unanimous)	12		9 May 2009	The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, USA	For IBF and IBO light heavyweight titles
Loss	Chad Dawson	Decision (unanimous)	12		11 Oct 2008	Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, USA	Lost IBF and IBO light heavyweight titles
Win	Clinton Woods	Decision (unanimous)	12		12 Apr 2008	St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, USA	Retained IBO title; won IBF light heavyweight title
Win	Danny Santiago	TKO	4	2:53	1 Dec 2007	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA	Retained IBO light heavyweight title
Win	Elvir Muriqi	Decision (majority)	12		9 Jun 2007	Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, USA	Won vacant IBO light heavyweight title
Loss	Bernard Hopkins	Decision (unanimous)	12		10 Jun 2006	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA	Lost IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
Win	Roy Jones Jr.	Decision (unanimous)	12		1 Oct 2005	St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, USA	Retained IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
Win	Glen Johnson	Decision (unanimous)	12		18 Jun 2005	FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, USA	Won IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
Loss	Glen Johnson	Decision (split)	12		18 Dec 2004	Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA	Lost IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
Win	Roy Jones Jr.	TKO	2	1:41	15 May 2004	Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, USA	Won WBA, WBC, IBO and The Ring light heavyweight titles
Loss	Roy Jones Jr.	Decision (majority)	12		8 Nov 2003	Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, USA	Lost WBC light heavyweight title; for IBO, The Ring and vacant WBA titles
Win	Montell Griffin	Decision (unanimous)	12		26 Apr 2003	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA	Won vacant WBC and IBF light heavyweight titles
Win	Eric Harding	TKO	5	0:43	20 Jul 2002	Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Win	Reggie Johnson	Decision (split)	12		25 Jan 2002	Ramada Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois, USA	Won WBC-NABF and IBF-USBA light heavyweight titles
Win	Chris Johnson	KO	10	1:53	3 Aug 2001	Yakama Legends Casino, Toppenish, Washington, USA
Win	Lincoln Carter	TKO	5	1:22	24 Feb 2001	Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, USA
Loss	Eric Harding	Decision (unanimous)	12		23 Jun 2000	Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA
Win	Ernest Mateen	KO	1	0:56	29 Feb 2000	Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Mohamed Benguesmia	TKO	9	0:51	2 Oct 1999	Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Jerry Williams	TKO	5		12 Jun 1999	Aleppo Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA
Win	Roy Francis	TKO	3		27 Mar 1999	Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, USA
Win	John Williams	KO	4	0:42	5 Feb 1999	Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, USA
Win	Rocky Gannon	TKO	2	2:28	30 Aug 1998	Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, USA
Win	Jose Luis Rivera	TKO (corner retirement)	4	3:00	23 Jun 1998	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	Charles Oliver	Decision (unanimous)	8		24 Mar 1998	Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, USA
Win	Boyer Chew	TKO	7	2:17	17 Jan 1998	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Win	Roy Francis	TKO	2	2:03	2 Dec 1997	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	Benito Fernandez	TKO	3		28 Oct 1997	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	Berry Butler	Decision (unanimous)	6		4 Oct 1997	Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Win	Shelby Gross	TKO	1	2:59	12 Aug 1997	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	Tracy Barrios	TKO	3		21 Jun 1997	Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, USA
Win	Jason Burrell	TKO	3	0:22	29 Apr 1997	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Win	Joaquin Garcia	TKO	2	2:01	18 Feb 1997	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA	Professional debut