TAMPA, FL, July 6th – 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.
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.
But before he steps on to the plane to go to the land down under to challenge Green for the International Boxing Organization (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.”
Huck v Garay on July 16
Inside and outside the ring, July will be a special month for World Boxing Organization (WBO) Cruiserweight Champion Marco “Captain” Huck. The 26-year-old power puncher (32-1, 23 KOs) will make the seventh defence of his title against Hugo Hernan Garay (34-5, 18 KO´s) in Munich on July 16 before getting married two weeks later. “The next weeks will be huge for me,” he said. “Of course I want to get married as world champion. That´s why I have to take care of business against Garay.”
Asked whether the fight or the wedding would make him more nervous, he replied: “That´s tough to tell. I must confess that both events make me a little nervous. In boxing, that´s nothing new – everybody is nervous ahead of a world title fight. But my experience will help me. Even though I am just 26, this will already be my seventh title defence. I am getting stronger every day. I have not reached my peak yet. The best is yet to come.”
Huck claimed the wedding has not affected his preparations for the big clash in Munich. “I let my family handle the organization. I only have to make sure I bring the belt,” he stated. “Right now, there is only Garay on my mind. I know he is tough and will be pushing the action, but there is no way he can keep up with my power and explosiveness. He will go down on July 16, just as all the other fighters who have tried to take my belt away from me.”
Garay, who is shaping up in training camp in Cordoba, believes he will be the last man standing in Munich. “Huck is a great champion and he has proven his class in his title defences, but I have a bigger heart than he has and I am much faster. I will be the champion on July 16.”
McAleese vs. Toms on July 23
Light Middleweight prospect ‘Phat’ Pat McAleese (12-1-1) gets his first shot at a domestic title, when he challenges Southern Area Champion Ryan Toms for his title, at Wembley Arena on Saturday 23rd July.
The McAleese-Toms battle will be the main support bout for the headlining Dereck Chisora versus Tyson Fury British and Commonwealth Heavyweight title clash and the co-feature Ashley Theophane’s British Light Welterweight title defense against Jason Cook.
Earlier today, following a training session at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, McAleese spoke briefly about the upcoming bout, “Yeah, originally we were having Phil Fury, but the board wouldn’t let us fight for the Irish title, so one door closes and another opens and I’ve got Ryan Toms for the Southern Area belt.
It’s going to be a tough test, I’m more than capable of dealing with it as you’ll see on the 23rd.
Ryan’s an awkward southpaw. I know him, we’ve met at shows and are friends outside of boxing, as in seeing each other at shows not good friends, but we wont be friends in the ring come the 23rd and I’ve got the tools to take away the attributes he’ll bring.
We’ve got the best sparring in London here at the TRAD TKO. I’ve been sparring Billy Joe Saunders, he’s one of the best southpaws in the world.
I’ve also been sparring Amro (Ezzat), he’s another really good southpaw, he’s a very experienced international amateur that’s just about to turn pro, and the excellent Freddie Turner, who’s very sharp. So I’ve had great southpaw sparring, the best.
It’s all coming together, me and Brian O’Shaughnessy have been working together well. Working on lots of things so I feel really confident going into my training camp.”
Pat McAleese versus Ryan Toms, for the Southern Area Light Middleweight title, is a feature fight on the undercard of Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury’s British and Commonwealth Heavyweight title clash at the Wembley Arena on Saturday 23rd July 2011.
Tickets priced £40, £50and £150 are available from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or call Pat McAleese on 07852 980593