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Tarver Vs. Rocky And Iron Mike?
TAMPA - -- Light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver of Tampa has a knack for landing hard punches in the ring but now is hoping to become a box-office hit.
Tarver announced he will be featured in the sixth Rocky movie, titled "Rocky Balboa" which will star actor Sylvester Stallone, who is also writing and directing the series that began in 1976. The original "Rocky," which Stallone wrote and starred in, won three Academy Awards and received 10 Oscar nominations.
Tarver and sources close to the project said he is in serious talks to play the role of boxer "Mason Dixon," who will have a major role in the film.
In addition to fighting the biggest boxing screen legend, Tarver said he is currently preparing to fight former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, one of boxing's biggest ring legends. Tarver weighs 175 pounds and needs to be at least 200 for his movie role, weight he does not intend to lose.
Tarver plans to stay at that heavyweight classification and said HBO and his promoter are working on a possible Tyson fight in February or March. He plans to fight Tyson, James Toney and Vitali Klitschko before retiring within the next two years.
St. Petersburg super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy has recently challenged Tarver to a bout, but the soon-to-be-actor does not believe that fight will give him the guaranteed millions and international fame he is seeking.
"I am after the big killers in the heavyweight division. I want to retire as the heavyweight champion of the world," Tarver said. "I know when Tarver-Tyson is mentioned everybody gets excited because there is that unknown there. The unknown is can I beat a legitimate heavyweight? Can I take that punch? If I can, you're watching greatness in the making.
"The fight will give me what I want. It brings about the luster of boxing our sport is missing. If I can't beat Mike Tyson, I can't run with the big boys."
Before Tarver gets off the porch to run with the heavyweights, he will start working on "Rocky Balboa" in Las Vegas on Dec. 2, the weekend of Jermain Taylor's title fight against Bernard Hopkins.
"I met Sylvester Stallone back in 1995. He flew me from Atlanta to Orlando and my entire family met him and his wife at Planet Hollywood. We sat down and talked boxing. He loved boxing and all the things I had overcome. He really took a liking to me," Tarver said. "He had my number for years and every time I fought, he supported me.
"His words to me were: 'I wrote the script with you in mind.' I am truly excited about the possibility of playing Mason Dixon, and we're getting ready to work an entirely different stage, baby."
Paige Taylor, MGM Studios' Director of Corporate Communications, could not confirm any roles any other than Stallone's, and said no information about the film's actors has been officially released.
According to MGM Studios, the new movie is based on former Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa, who retired years ago but is drawn back into the ring for one more fight. A description of the film adds: "On the way he is challenged by a powerful new champion, by personal tragedy and ultimately by himself."
"Rocky is coming back. [The movie] is going to be on a big stage in boxing. [Rocky] has never fought a real champion, and I'm not going to tell you the outcome [of the movie], but I ain't used to losing," Tarver jokingly said.
TAMPA - -- Light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver of Tampa has a knack for landing hard punches in the ring but now is hoping to become a box-office hit.
Tarver announced he will be featured in the sixth Rocky movie, titled "Rocky Balboa" which will star actor Sylvester Stallone, who is also writing and directing the series that began in 1976. The original "Rocky," which Stallone wrote and starred in, won three Academy Awards and received 10 Oscar nominations.
Tarver and sources close to the project said he is in serious talks to play the role of boxer "Mason Dixon," who will have a major role in the film.
In addition to fighting the biggest boxing screen legend, Tarver said he is currently preparing to fight former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, one of boxing's biggest ring legends. Tarver weighs 175 pounds and needs to be at least 200 for his movie role, weight he does not intend to lose.
Tarver plans to stay at that heavyweight classification and said HBO and his promoter are working on a possible Tyson fight in February or March. He plans to fight Tyson, James Toney and Vitali Klitschko before retiring within the next two years.
St. Petersburg super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy has recently challenged Tarver to a bout, but the soon-to-be-actor does not believe that fight will give him the guaranteed millions and international fame he is seeking.
"I am after the big killers in the heavyweight division. I want to retire as the heavyweight champion of the world," Tarver said. "I know when Tarver-Tyson is mentioned everybody gets excited because there is that unknown there. The unknown is can I beat a legitimate heavyweight? Can I take that punch? If I can, you're watching greatness in the making.
"The fight will give me what I want. It brings about the luster of boxing our sport is missing. If I can't beat Mike Tyson, I can't run with the big boys."
Before Tarver gets off the porch to run with the heavyweights, he will start working on "Rocky Balboa" in Las Vegas on Dec. 2, the weekend of Jermain Taylor's title fight against Bernard Hopkins.
"I met Sylvester Stallone back in 1995. He flew me from Atlanta to Orlando and my entire family met him and his wife at Planet Hollywood. We sat down and talked boxing. He loved boxing and all the things I had overcome. He really took a liking to me," Tarver said. "He had my number for years and every time I fought, he supported me.
"His words to me were: 'I wrote the script with you in mind.' I am truly excited about the possibility of playing Mason Dixon, and we're getting ready to work an entirely different stage, baby."
Paige Taylor, MGM Studios' Director of Corporate Communications, could not confirm any roles any other than Stallone's, and said no information about the film's actors has been officially released.
According to MGM Studios, the new movie is based on former Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa, who retired years ago but is drawn back into the ring for one more fight. A description of the film adds: "On the way he is challenged by a powerful new champion, by personal tragedy and ultimately by himself."
"Rocky is coming back. [The movie] is going to be on a big stage in boxing. [Rocky] has never fought a real champion, and I'm not going to tell you the outcome [of the movie], but I ain't used to losing," Tarver jokingly said.
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