Danny Green Returns: Collides with Antonio Tarver on July 20th
By Mike Plunkett
Having successfully rebounded from recent surgery to remove his appendix and a large abscess, IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green will defend his world title against former light heavyweight champion Antonio ‘Magic Man’ Tarver on July 20th.
“This has been a long process, but I’m elated today to announce that Green Machine Promotions is bringing another big name in world boxing to our shores for what is certain to be the biggest boxing event of the year” Green said at today’s press conference.
“Antonio Tarver has been a dominant force in the light heavyweight and heavyweight division for more than decade and has fought the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Glen Johnson, Chad Dawson and Roy Jones Jr.
“He is a big guy with an impressive knock out ratio and I’m not changing my style so I think fans are in for one hell of a show” Green said.
Green’s trainer, Angelo Hyder said that Green was now hitting his peak as a boxer as shown in his win over BJ Flores in November, but Tarver was going to be Green’s toughest opponent to prepare for.
Tarver is a three or four-time (depending on your view) world champion at light heavyweight, having won his first major world titles in April 2003 against Montell Griffin, then later losing and regaining variants of them against Roy Jones JR, and Glen Johnson. In 2006 he lost the IBO light heavyweight title to former World middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins. He returned in 2007 to regain the vacated IBO title against Elvir Muriqi. Tarver last fought in October 2010, making his heavyweight debut at 221lbs. He will have to scale back down to the cruiserweight division limit of 200lbs to challenge Green
Like Jones JR this will be Tarver’s first professional contest outside the United States, however the 42 year-old is confident he is the power and skill to do what no man has done before, knock out Danny Green.
“Danny is a knock-out specialist, but he has to remember that I was the first person to knock out Roy Jones JR way back in 2004.” Tarver said via satellite from Orlando at today’s press conference.
“I think a lot of people over here underestimate Danny, but you can all rest assured that come July I’m not only going to finish Danny Green but I’m gonna put on a show that you won’t forget”.
“He’s gonna bring it, I’m gonna bring it … Danny’s bringing the pain, I’m bringing the pain.”