Tarver interview

**BIGPOPPAPUMP** · 07-28-2005, 01:11 PM

Light heavyweight king Antonio Tarver told **********, "It's the Magic Man versus Roy Jones Jr. RJ. It's on! This is the fight the fans were deprived of last year. Now we've come full circle and I just want to put the boxing world on notice and let all of the fans know that it was Roy Jones Jr who contacted HBO about this fight. It wasn't Team Tarver tracking Roy down and that tells me that Roy Jones Jr understands the magnitude of this fight. He understands what he must bring to this fight and he wants to use me to go out with a ****. I'm on top of the game right now and he could have come back to fight any lesser opponent, but Roy Jones really stepped up and showed the heart of a champion.

"Roy Jones Jr realizes that a win over Antonio Tarver puts him right back on the top of the pound for pound list. The man is looking for redemption and vindication. He wants to right the wrong that he feels took place with his two knockout losses.

"If he took me lightly the first time and he took Glen; Johnson lightly, that tells me I got to get back to work and get dedicated and focused because this could be the biggest challenge of my career. A desperate fighter goes through great lengths for victory. For Roy this is do or die, no excuses, this is it.

GL: After Glen Johnson saw you knock Jones out he jumped on him from the opening bell when they fought. Can we expect to see you implement the same kind of strategy?

Antonio Tarver: "My strategy is going to be win at all costs and come in the best shape of my life. A lot of fighters have turned back the hands of time when they have their backs against the wall. And if that kind of Roy Jones Jr. shows up, I'm going to be prepared. I'm preparing for that. I'm not going in there thinking this guy is anything less than the great champion he is.

"That's what they want, they want me to take him lightly. After a big win they're expecting a let-down. But I'm committed and dedicated and Buddy McGirt will be in my camp next week and the only time we're breaking camp is to go on this media tour. I think we're going to hit New York, Vegas and Los Angeles.

"Other than that we're going to be blood brothers, we're going to be together all the time and there's no way in the world we're taking Roy Jones Jr lightly. This guy came looking for me and you have to commend him. To me it tells me that he has to be seeing something differently in the ring. Either he's been training, he's feeling differently or he's seen something differently. I"m not going to leave any stones unturned for this fight, I'm going to make sure I'm right and I'm coming to fight in the best shape of my career on October 1."

"With a year lay-off to really think about his future and then come back to face Antonio Tarver? That tells me that Roy is ready and he feels rejuvenated right now. He's got fresh legs and I've heard he's already been training. Maybe his speed is back, maybe he's feeling strong, but I know he's believing that he could come in here and steal a victory with me.

"The roles have been reversed now. In the rematch, I was the hungry fighter, the desperate man. I knew if I lost that fight I'd be on ESPN. Roy understands that if he loses this fight it's over for him, so this is a different animal we're dealing with. I know he's going to come in at 110% looking to shock the world by trying to knock me out."

GL: At the same time though Antonio don't you still feel like a desperate man based on the fact that you feel like you have to do more than most fighters to get a decision?

Antonio Tarver: "Believe me I got that hunger G, and I know politically they would like nothing more than to see Roy Jones shock the world and upset Antonio Tarver. I cannot afford to take a backwards, I'm going to be the best Antonio Tarver I could be to make sure that I'm the one with his hand raised no matter how it gets done.

GL: I know we're going to be hearing a lot more from you so let's keep it short is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

AT: "I want to let the fans know that I'm proud to be bringing them another big fights, I've always told my fans that's what I'm looking to make and I think my track record speaks for itself. October 1 is no excuses, do or die for both Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones Jr. This is the biggest fight of the year as far as I'm concerned and there's going to be some real fireworks come October 1.

**cvt** · 07-28-2005, 01:19 PM

roy better be up for this...it seems antonio will be prepared and not get caught up in the 'roy is a washed out fighter' thing.

Tarver interview