Former champion boxer Tarver arrested in bad check case

By FRANCIS McCABE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

11 years ago

This Saturday, March 1, 2014, Pinellas County Jail booking photograph shows former heavyweight champion boxer Antonio Tarver. Tarver was arrested Saturday, after a tag violation and during the stop it showed an arrest warrant out of Nevada. Tarver is allegedly in a legal battle with the Wynn Las Vegas casino, and is accused of not paying back a gambling marker. (AP Photo/Pinellas County Jail)

Antonio Tarver celebrates his second round knockout of Roy Jones Jr. in their WBC Light Heavyweight Championship bout at the Mandalay Bay events center Saturday, May 15, 2004. (RJ Photo/K.M. Cannon)

Boxer Antonio Tarver reacts after being defeated by his opponent Chad Dawson following their light heavyweight bout at the Palms hotel-casino Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, in Las Vegas. (File, John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Boxer Antonio Tarver, left, lands a blow to his opponent Chad Dawson during their light heavyweight bout at the Palms hotel-casino Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, in Las Vegas. (File, John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Bernard Hopkins, right, of Philadelphia, Pa., hits Antonio Tarver, of Orlando Fla., during the eighth round of the IBO Light Heavyweight Championship at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on Saturday, June 10, 2006. Hopkins won by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Tim Larsen)

Former world champion boxer Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver was arrested in Florida on charges he didn’t pay off $200,000 in casino markers to Wynn Las Vegas.

The former Olympic bronze medal winner owed Wynn for taking out three markers in July 2012, court papers show.

He faces one count each of passing a bad check and theft. Gambling debts are prosecuted in Nevada as bad check cases.

Wynn is also suing Tarver over the unpaid funds.

An arrest warrant was issued for Tarver in June by a Las Vegas Justice Court judge for failing to appear.

The Florida Highway Patrol arrested the 45-year-old Saturday night after a traffic stop. Tarver, who lives in Tampa Bay, Fla., was being held on $215,425 bail.

Tarver had a 30-6 professional record and won a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

He played a heavyweight boxer in the 2006 movie “Rocky Balboa” and has served as a commentator for Showtime Sports Boxing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@review journal.com or 702-380-1039.