Antonio Tarver Counts Down To Roy Jones...Bring On The So Called "Ass Whipping!"

07.10 - Antonio Tarver, a bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games and current WBC and IBF Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, has entered hard-core training camp with Buddy McGirt in Vero Beach, FL, for his highly anticipated bout against Roy Jones on November 8th in the HBO PPV televised event at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. This fight promises to be HBO's biggest commercial and celebrity draw since the controversial Mosley-De La Hoya fight, only we can promise there will be no indecision among the judges...if it even comes to that.

Tarver is ready for the fight. He knows the outcome. "I was born for this. All of my struggles have prepared me for this. It's time for a new superstar in boxing. Fighting Roy Jones is not going to be easy, but I'm up for the task. I don't talk about it. I work at it." When asked what role his trainer Buddy McGirt plays in the march to victory, Tarver emphatically states, "Buddy plays a significant role in everything I do. I never say I, I say we. It's a team effort. His knowledge and experience in the game will be the difference in the fight. I know we are going to out-coach them and I am going to match Roy with strength and power." When you ask McGirt about the outcome of the fight and why he thinks Tarver will be victorious he has two reasons, "First, Antonio will win because in his heart he believes he can beat Roy Jones and second, Antonio will win because the world doesn't think he can beat Roy Jones."

At the September 12th press conference in Las Vegas, Roy Jones repeatedly spoke of the "ass whipping" he was going to give Tarver. The only reply Tarver has to that today is, "I don't take ass whippings. I give them. This is my time. Roy Jones has his hands full. November 8th will be a great day for boxing, the fans and Antonio Tarver."

**Elite Boxing was founded by two-time world champion Buddy McGirt and his business partner, former professional body builder Cindee Pugliese-Gurny in early 2001. Buddy McGirt was named boxings' "Trainer of the Year 2002" by the Boxing Writers Association of America. His career not only as a boxer, but the unique approach he brings to training the champions of today and tomorrow are what set him and Elite Boxing apart from the competition. His roster of champions and protégés include: Arturo Gatti, Antonio Tarver, Fernando Vargas, Jameel McCline, Sharmba Mitchell, Jimmy Lange and more.

By day McGirt trains the pros and by night he opens his gym to host the Elite Youth Program. The program offers daily activities for underprivileged, youth and guides them toward positive living and physical and mental well-being through the power and discipline of boxing.