Antonio Tarver Injured: Off September 29th Boxing Card

The recently announced junior featherweight bout between Southern California favorite Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz and Mexican warrior Raul Hidalgo has been elevated from the co-main event to the main event for the Monday, Sept. 29 Golden Boy Live! fight night from the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas due to an injury suffered by former light heavyweight world champion Antonio Tarver. Tarver, who was scheduled to face Johnathon Banks in a 10-round heavyweight bout on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes, injured his thumb during training camp. “The injury actually happened two and a half weeks ago and I’ve been trying my hardest to work through it. Finally my doctor ordered an X-ray and we found out it was a fracture,” Tarver said of his injury.

Tarver added, “I’m very disappointed I won’t get to face Johnathon Banks, but hopefully we will be able to reschedule this fight with him for a later date. I was ready to make a statement with this fight, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Tarver still plans to be in Texas, however, to witness his son Antonio Jr.’s professional debut. The remainder of the televised portion of the card will feature a co-main event between New Mexican junior welterweight Fidel “The Atrisco Kid” Maldonado Jr. (18-2, 15 KOs) and an opponent to be determined, as well as junior welterweight Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez (23-3, 13 KOs) in the televised opener against an opponent to be determined.

“The show must go on,” said Oscar De La Hoya, founder and president of Golden Boy Promotions. “The loss of the Tarver vs. Banks fight is a disappointment, but fans in the State Farm Arena and those watching at home on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes will not be disappointed.”