Press release: The Ring Magazine would like to congratulate Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson for signing to fight each other on December 18. The Ring has recognized Tarver as the world light heavyweight champion since his knockout of Roy Jones on May 15, 2004. Tarver was presented with The Ring championship live on ESPN, September 17, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Johnson is currently The Ring's number-one contender, a position he earned by knocking out Jones on September 25, 2004.

"The Ring does not force mandatory defenses on the fighters the magazinerecognizes as genuine champion," said Editor-in-Chief Nigel Collins. "We believe that the market place is the best matchmaker, and the Tarver-Johnson fight is exactly the kind of fight fans want to see, a showdown between the two best fighters in the division."

The Ring has been awarding championship belts since 1922, with the first going to heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. The current Ring champions are: Vitali Klitschko (heavyweight), Antonio Tarver (light heavyweight), Bernard Hopkins (middleweight), Winky Wright (junior middleweight), Cory Spinks (welterweight), Kostya Tszyu (junior welterweight), Jose Luis Castillo (lightweight),
Manny Pacquiao (featherweight).