Fan favorite Danny Green will make the fifth defense of his International Boxing Organization cruiserweight championship against three-time IBO light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver on July 20 at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia.Green, 38, who won the vacant title in August 2009 in Biloxi, Miss., has gone “down under” for his four subsequent fights – stopping Roy Jones (TKO 1), Manny Siaca (KO 3) and Paul Briggs (KO 1) in succession before outpointing unbeaten No. 1 challenger B.J. Flores (UD 12) on Nov. 17.
Green had serious health issues last year that sprang up undetected, and at first it seemed like perhaps he would never fight professionally again. His life was even at risk, and fighting was sent to the rear of his mind. During his illness, he lost nearly 30 lbs. However, he’s back to health and eager to get into the ring.
He is 31-3 with 27 knockouts in a pro career that began in 2001.
Tarver, 42, fights at cruiserweight for the first time after a long career at light heavyweight was followed by a one-fight foray at heavyweight, where he won a unanimous 10-round decision from Nagy Aguilera on Oct. 15 in Miami, Okla.
The Orlando, Fla. native defeated Jones (TKO 2) for the IBO title at 175 pounds in 2004, lost and regained it in a memorable two-fight series with Glen Johnson and regained it yet again in 2007 – a year after dropping a 12-round verdict to Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City, N.J.
He is 28-6 with 19 KOs in 14 years as a professional.
