 Johnson (left) and Tarver are old enemies |
Antonio Tarver gained revenge over Glen Johnson in defending the peripheral IBO light heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision in Memphis on Saturday. America's Tarver outboxed and outworked his Jamaican opponent and used his movement to good effect early on.
Johnson started landing some big shots in the middle rounds but Tarver moved away again in the final straight.
The judges scored the fight 116-112, 116-112, 115-113 and Tarver could now face a rubber with Roy Jones Jr.
Both Johnson (IBF) and Tarver (WBC and WBA) relinquished their belts last November in order to fight one another.
 |  Johnson's a pit bull and I had to train him |
Johnson took a split decision against Tarver in their first clash last December but Tarver is now the consensus light heavyweight champion.
Tarver, 36, won the undisputed crown from Jones Jr in a rematch last May and now a third fight looks likely.
"Johnson's a pit bull and I had to train him," said Tarver, who is now 23-3 with 18 knockouts.
The 36-year-old Johnson falls to 42-10-2 with 28 knockouts.
On the undercard, former WBA welterweight champion Ike Quartey of Ghana took a unanimous decision over former IBF and WBO light middleweight champ Verno Phillips. 
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 