By Mark Vester
Lou Harris, former trainer and mentor to Antonio Tarver, is helping Clinton Woods prepare for victory at Orlando's Frontline gym. Woods defends his IBF light heavyweight title against Tarver on April 12 in Florida.
Harris says that a 19-year-old Tarver came to his doorstep seeking help, after living on the streets and experimenting with drugs. He helped guide Tarver to a bronze medial at the 1996 Olympics. Harris claims that Tarver would later desert him and leave him heartbroken. He is more than happy to help Woods beat his former pupil.
"We're throwing out pointers here and there when we're asked," said Harris. "Antonio's only got four punches and if Clinton figures that out he'll be OK. He needs to be aggressive and get right in Tarver's face," Harris told BBC Sport. "I tried to treat Antonio like a son but after everything I did for him he just walked away. You know what it's like when a fighter comes out of the ghetto and gets a few nickels to rub together.
"I can tell you that all my fighters who were here when Antonio was around, they are praying that he gets beaten on Saturday night. When Clinton's people called and asked to come to my gym, I said it was no problem. Whatever information Clinton needs, I don't mind giving him that. This sort of thing is the nature of the business."
Woods told the BBC that he's enjoying the experience and grabbing as much info on Tarver as he can.
"It's funny that we ended up at Tarver's first amateur gym but it's perfect and I've been getting as much information as I can out of coach Harris while I'm here," Woods said. "I'm shut away from any distractions like screaming kids and I couldn't really have had a better camp out here, apart from the heat. I'm ready to go and I can't wait to defend my title in style."
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