With the hard work complete, boxing superstar Antonio Tarver and his team, which is led by trainer Jimmy Williams, the man who first coached him when he was just 11 years old, is preparing to leave Tampa, Florida for the long trip to Sydney, Australia, site of ‘The Magic Man’s July 20th showdown with Danny Green at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
But before he steps on to the plane to go to the land down under to challenge Green for the IBO cruiserweight title in one of the most highly-anticipated bouts to hit Australia in years, Tarver, along with Williams, checked in with thoughts on one of the best training camps they have ever had.
ANTONIO TARVER ON…
GOING TO AUSTRALIA:
“We’re going two weeks in advance and I think that’s more than enough time. What was good was that we went over there prior (for the press tour) and saw everything. So we’re going to get right off the plane, get a good workout in, and I think we should be okay in a couple days to get use to the time and climate. It shouldn’t be a problem. This gives me an opportunity to do something that I haven’t done, and that’s go abroad and show the people why I’m the “Magic Man.” And I’m excited about the opportunity to go over there and do something that a lot of people may not think I’m capable of doing, and that’s beating Danny Green in Australia.”
FILM WATCHING:
“I haven’t watched any film on Green. I’ve seen some fights, but I let my trainers do that. I’m not worried about film because I can watch any film, and nobody he’s faced looks like me. There’s a difference, and any fighter has a right to make changes. That’s what it’s all about. He can’t be stuck on the same fight he fought two years ago, and if a fighter’s watching tape on me, then he’s going be sadly mistaken because I’ve added things to my arsenal that I’ve never used before. So I don’t get stuck on watching film too much because the last time I did that, it was against Eric Harding. By watching film I never thought that Eric Harding could ever beat me on my worst night, and it was one of my worst losses. I got my jaw broke, and I never did that again.”
HIS CRUISERWEIGHT DEBUT:
“I’m in great shape, you’re going to see my muscles, you’re going to see me looking fabulously in shape and you’re going to see a different fighter. I’m going to let my hands go like I did in most of my best light heavyweight fights, when I fought guys like Glen Johnson the second time. When I let my hands go and I’m standing there toe-to-toe, and boxing sort of like I did with Clinton Woods, I’m a hard guy to beat.”
THE ULTIMATE GOAL:
“My whole thing is I’m going to be in the best shape and best condition that I can be in and I’m going to have the best mental focus. I worry about me. I’m not really worried about Danny Green because he’s got two hands and he can’t throw but one at a time, and that’s a simple thing to worry about – one punch at a time coming at me. He’s not going kick me, he’s not going to throw both hands, so I simplify it. We’re going see what his best hands can do against my two best hands.”
TRAINER JIMMY WILLIAMS ON…
TRAINING CAMP:
“Training camp has been very good. Antonio is sharp as he’s ever been, he’s been fighting for almost 20 years and it’s still in him. I brought him back to the basics and fundamentals that got him to where he was. He’s bigger than Danny Green, taller, and more experienced. The guy has no skills…we can run him.”
DANNY GREEN:
“We saw how he fought Roy Jones, coming in with his head and elbows; anything goes with him, he’s very primitive. He has no rhythm and is very awkward. He’s one dimensional, comes straight at you, and his defense is his offense. He throws a lot of punches, but he has no defense.”
Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com.au (+1300883622) and are priced at $1000 for VIP Ringside, $750 Platinum Ringside, $500 Gold Ringside, $350 Silver Ringside, $250 Bronze Ringside, $175 VIP, $135 Platinum, $95 Gold, $75 Silver and $55 Bronze.
