Antonio Tarver Returns Sept. 19 To Face Jonathon Banks In A Heavyweight Bout [VIDEO]

Former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver returns to the ring Sept. 19 to face heavyweight Jonathon Banks. The bout, which will be contested at heavyweight, will take place in San Antonio.

TMZSports.com first reported the agreement Thursday. Tarver later confirmed the bout with SportsWorldNews.com.

Tarver's son, Antonio Jr., is expected to compete on the undercard.
He was released from the jail in March after receiving funds to pay off the debt from high-profile boxing manager Al Haymon. Tarver promised to repay his debt from earnings he will make from boxing.

"With Al, it's all about friendship first," Tarver said immediately after his release. "I'm gonna pay him back by becoming the next heavyweight champion."

The 45-year-old Tarver, who makes his third appearance at heavyweight, will enter the ring with a professional mark of 30-6-0 with 21 knockouts.

Since exiting the light-heavyweight ranks following a second straight unanimous decision title loss in May 2009 to then-IBF champion Chad Dawson, Tarver has fluctuated between the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions.

In his most recent appearance - Nov. 26, 2013 - Tarver defeated Mike Sheppard by fourth-round TKO to earn the NABA interim heavyweight title.

Bank, 32, will seek to get back in the win column against Tarver. He was on the short end of a unanimous decision against Seth Mitchell in June 2013. Banks is 29-2-1 with 19 KOs.

Tarver posted a video recently of him training for the upcoming bout.

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