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Antonio Tarver’s license has been revoked by NJ Control Board

Fighters Network
29
Apr
Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Antonio Tarver’s boxing license has been revoked and he has been fined $25,000 by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board for providing false licensing documents related to child support before his Aug. 14 Spike TV heavyweight bout with Steve Cunningham, RingTV.com has learned.

Nick Lembo, deputy attorney general and NJ State Control Board counsel, confirmed the news but declined to comment for the story because he considers it an ongoing matter that might have additional civil and criminal implications.

The New Jersey Board imposed and upheld Commissioner Larry Hazzard’s determination at an appeals hearing on Monday at the Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton, New Jersey. The hearing was open to the public, during which Tarver is said to have not attended. Tarver’s attorneys have withdrawn from the case.

Hazzard later released a statement on the revocation and fine on Friday afternoon, stating, in part: “On February 17, 2016, Mr. Antonio Tarver was notified of Commissioner Hazzard’s intent to revoke his license as a professional boxer and be fined in the amount of $25,000. This intent to impose disciplinary action arose due to responses on Mr. Tarver’s licensing application regarding child support obligations.”



Section IV of the State Board licensing application for New Jersey asks applicants if they “currently have a child support obligation.” Tarver answered no, Lembo confirmed. Tarver also answered ‘No’ Lembo confirmed for whether he is “in arrears in payment of said obligation?”

“On April 25, 2016, the Board decided to uphold the Commissioner’s intended disciplinary action,” the release continued. “Be advised that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board has revoked Mr. Tarver’s license as a professional boxer and has fined him in the amount of $25,000. We have notified Fight Fax, the designated central records agency, of this action by writing.”

The hearing on Monday was separate from a hearing back on February 11 in which Tarver was fined $50,000 and suspended six months by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board after he tested positive for synthetic testosterone before and after his draw with Cunningham. Both Tarver’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples came back positive. The fight’s outcome was later changed to a no-decision. Tarver still hasn’t paid the $50,000 fine, either, making the financial penalties against him come to a total of $75,000.

At the hearing in February, Tarver was asked if he answered questions truthfully on his boxing application related to child support and his answers led to another notice of intended discipline.

Tarver is expected to work as a commentator tonight for Spike TV’s “Premier Boxing Champions” card at the Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City in a show headlined by the super middleweights Andre Dirrell vs. Blake Caparello. A source said his wages for the night’s work would not be garnished for the commission’s fines.

Attempts to reach Tarver weren’t immediately successful on Friday.

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