Antonio Tarver Promises Knockout!

By Dan Rafael of ESPN

Former light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver said he is going for a knockout when he faces Australian star Danny Green on July 20 in Sydney.

Green (31-3) has never been stopped, but Tarver is aiming to change that.

“He’s a good fighter. He’s a very tough guy and he has a lot of power. I know he’ll be trying to knock me out — something that’s never been done before — and vice versa,” Tarver said. “I’m going to try to knock him out, too, so I think with our personalities, it’s like two locomotives heading on one course. We’re looking to collide, and that’s the type of fight that people are going to see.”

After Tarver, 42, lost his second decision in a row to Chad Dawson in May 2009, he left the ring for 17 months before returning to earn a lopsided decision in against Nagy Aguilera in October.

But Tarver is coming down to cruiserweight to face Green, who knocked out a badly faded Roy Jones Jr. in the first round in December 2009. Tarver, of course, was the first to knock out Jones, crushing him in the second round of their 2004 rematch and then easily outpointing him in their 2005 rubber match.

“I know in the past, I’ve been an elusive boxer/puncher, counterpuncher, but I’m 42 years old, so right now I feel like this: I’m too old to be running,” Tarver said. “I don’t have time to be running around the ring and all that. I’m going to stand my ground. I’m going to punch with him. I know I’m an accurate sharpshooter. I’m looking to break him down to the body, hurt him to the body and really bust him up.

“I’m going to trust my defense, and if I get hit on the whiskers, I’m going to trust my chin. I’ve got to open him up. I’m not going to be playing around. I mean, I’m going to his backyard and that puts me in a situation where, to me, it’s like I’ve got to do more. So I’m coming to fight. Danny Green: Look out, Antonio Tarver is coming.”