IBO cruiserweight champion and former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver is continuing his pursuit of a heavyweight championship. Tarver recently won his latest title by going to Australia and knocking out former champion Danny Green. With Green not accepting his rematch clause, Tarver is setting his sights back on the heavyweight division. "I want the heavyweight title...Wladimir Klitschko called me out last year and now he's fighting Mormeck? I'm right here. These guys know I got skills and know I can fight. I ain't gonna be a target for nobody," stated an animated Tarver. "I wanna shake and turn the boxing world upside-down. They can hear me loud and clear but nobody is stepping up."
Tarver called out his most recent opponent, Danny Green, for not stepping up and taking the rematch. "I kinda resent the way Danny Green went about his business. The only clause (in the rematch) was we go where the most money was to be made," he continued, feeling that other than a heavyweight title shot, the rematch with Green would have been the best financial option for him. "I don't think anybody in America would have been interested in that fight. I don't know how we could have made more money in America, in Orlando, than over in his hometown where the fans were looking for redemption, and they support him. I was not in negotiations with any other cruiserweights. Danny Green just chickened out. Plain and simple."
Tarver, who is never at a loss for words, also gave a prediction on the upcoming light heavyweight title clash between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson. "I've been in the ring with both guys...I think Dawson is gonna win the fight going away. Speed kills. Dawson had Pascal beat in the 11th round. With me, he won a close decision the first fight, and I beat him the 2nd time...He will beat Hopkins."
Tarver says he is willing to come down to light heavyweight for a shot with Hopkins, though his focus is clear. "Tell Povetkin and tell the Klitschkos to give me my shot...Wladimir, if you wanna get beat, fight me. I got the recipe to beat him. I'm a southpaw. His right hand won't touch me. Povetkin can get some too," he added. "These guys are eating because they are fighting guys they know they'll beat easy. When I get my shot, dinner is over with. I'm bringing the title back to America. I'm not gonna walk around with T-shirts with decapitated heads on them. I'm not gonna talk shit I can't back up, like David Haye."
Tarver went on to say that his adviser, Al Haymon, is working hard to announce a big fight in the next week or two. Stay tuned for that announcement.
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