Tarver Will Give Green His Chance

TAMPA - According to Tampa light heavyweight Antonio Tarver, Australian boxer Danny Green is getting the opportunity of a lifetime.

The only problem is, Tarver (25-4, 18 KOs) won't be willing to let the Aussie be successful in their Dec. 1 title match at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn. The fight is scheduled to air on Showtime.

'It's a chance of a lifetime. That's why these guys come and they give their all,' Tarver said Thursday between training sessions. 'If they can beat Antonio Tarver, it makes them famous, and at the same time it gives them the opportunity to be rich. Who can blame a guy?'

Tarver's IBO light heavyweight title will be on the line. He won the vacant title against Elvir Muriqi on June 9, taking the 12-round affair with a majority decision.

This will be Tarver's second bout in Connecticut in six months (the Muriqi fight was in Hartford). That was his first fight following the June 10, 2006 unanimous decision loss to Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City, N.J.

In July, Green knocked out Otis Griffin in the third round to retain his IBF Pan Pacific and PABA light heavyweight titles and to earn the vacant IBO Asia Pacific light heavyweight title.

According to Australian newspaper The West Australian, Green (24-3, 22 KOs) is looking to leave Connecticut with Tarver's belt.

'... I'm going to his back yard and I've got to get the eye of the tiger and adopt the 'Rocky' approach,' Green told the paper. 'When you break down the 'Rocky' movie, it's about the underdog going in there and taking a title from a superstar.'

The 'Rocky' comments were a jab at Tarver's role as Mason Dixon in the 2006 'Rocky Balboa' film. From Tarver's tone, this won't end like the fight in the movie.

'Hopefully, he comes and gives it his best shot, and then I'll have to step up and do my thing.

'Like I said, I'm on a mission right now. The mission is, on this last chapter of my career, to go out a champion and to go out on top, and that means to not allow anyone to stand in my way. Danny Green is next.'

TARVER AT RAYS: Tarver will throw out the first pitch before tonight's Devil Rays game against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.