UFC's Doomsday Howard says he 'humbled' Tamerlan Tsarnaev

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – A professional fighter, who used to spar with suspected Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, says he wishes he could have put him down for good.

In an interview with FOX 25's Mark Ockerbloom, John "Doomsday" Howard said Tsarnaev was an outsider who used to spar at his gym.

"He was a good boxer. He was a Boston golden glove winner twice," Howard told Ockerbloom. "At the gyms he went to, he was beating guys up."

Howard said Tsarnaev asked if he could spar with a UFC fighter and Howard took him up on the offer. That's when Howard said he "humbled" the suspected terrorist.

"By the fourth time we sparred he kinda got a little cocky and tried to pick me apart; really tried to hurt me," said Howard. "Once I got the OK to go hard I gave him my famous left hook and broke his nose. When his hands went up, I came with a right hook and dropped him with a body shot. He got humbled that day."

Howard said that after the bombings he couldn't believe Tsarnaev was involved.

"I felt betrayed. I'm from Boston. I love my Boston people. To see my Boston people hurt and to see this man do this – and I had some interaction with him – it was unbelievable," said Howard. "I felt like if I knew something or had some clue I could have handled it. I could have probably finished him myself with my bare hands. You know, put him down for good."

Howard continued, "Terrorists don't say ‘I'm a terrorist.' They come with open hands and stab you in the back the first chance they get."

Howard will fight Uriah Hall at the TD Garden on Aug. 17 as part of the new FOX Sports 1 network.

Cox Media Group