Antonio Tarver runs the risk on WEDNESDAY NIGHT SYNDEY AUSTRALIA TIME of falling victim to the little known but famous curse I am about to expose.
It’s the curse which saw Mike Tyson fail in his final comebacks after appearing in a couple of James Toback films, that saw Lenox Lewis felled by Hasim Rahman after appearing in Oceans 11 with Wlad Klithcsco -who’s career was also sent into a frightful stall, it’s the one which saw poor old James Toney, after his terrific performance in ALI as Joe Frazier, go to all UFC in a fateful skirmish on the mat, presumably fighting over the cheque.
Yes it’s the curse that befalls boxers, who become famous enough to branch out into areas of celebrity, colour commentary and movie star acting.
History has shown that a boxers billing on a film normally marks the hight point of their career. But that in itself shouldn’t be a reason to fell so many careers. But why is it that Ali was ’never the same’ after playing himself in 76 in ’THE GREATEST’ released in 77.
There is a lot in common with a HBO performance and movie set: the deadlines, the hundreds of people involved, the pressure, having to starve oneself before the big moment, the early mornings, not to mention the fight training...oh and the ca$h.
But ultimately - I think why it knocks out so many fighters futures is not to do with the craft services truck...its the fact that once you have pretended to get hit and got paid well for it...it kind of ruins your enthusiasm to actually do it for real.
Antonio Tarver, may have had a few wins here and there since his show stopping performances in ROCKY6, but he has the colour commentary gig going strong and most disturbingly has recently fallen victim to calling himself a ’brand’. I don’t know about you but When I hear boxers start referring to themselves as a brand, (as if that in itself is a good thing), I make a note as that means that is usually the nadar of their boxing. Their ’jumping the shark’ moment. It comes from spending too much time with marketing knuckleheads.
Lets never forget, these guys build their Brand meticulously buy getting hit in the head. Or at the very least hitting some one else.
Who can blame a Champ, once they taste from the cup of profits without all of the pain, why would they want to go back? Where is Kostzya Tsu since he won the court cases against his lawyers insurance company? for example?
Green and his team seem to have been courting this guy for years. He has a great reel of highlights, he is terrific on the promo circuit, speaks in grabs and always looks great.
But come Wedsnight, my fear is, that the spectre of the boxers in movies comfort curse could take away Antonio’s legs, rob him of the urge to go long into the late rounds, see him covering up and holding and at the final bell see his Brand reeling from the consequences of being associated with a loss.
And if you don’t believe me about this curse...check out the record of hero and legend Roy Jones junior after he appeared in one of those dreadful Matrix Sequels. He followed the rabbit all right. But it took him down the hole. And not too recently at all, to the same guy in the ring on Wednesday night, who gave him one of the worst thumpings of his brands life.
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