By Brock Ellis
They say it’s not how a fighter loses that shapes him, but how he ultimately responds in the wake of defeat.
If this is truly the case, than a humbled Danny Green took a giant stride to what would be a lucrative rematch with Antonio Tarver by stating that he will fight on - just over a month removed from his ninth round stoppage loss at the hands of future Hall-of-Famer Antonio Tarver, who dethroned the former IBO cruiserweight champion in a momentous upset at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on July 20th.
Green, 38, who has won versions of the world title in three weight divisions from super-middleweight through to cruiserweight - stated his intentions at a rescheduled press conference in his home town of Perth, by firstly admitting that it was “a pretty painful experience” and that he had to “take it on the chin” and “move forward to work out the next step.”
“I probably made it very easy for him (Tarver) in as far as I was very tense, very tight and I just wanted to destroy him… you have to be on your game, you have to be smooth, you have to be relaxed and I wasn't relaxed." admitted refreshing honest Green.
Despite the stoppage defeat, which was the first in Green’s 35-fight career, the big-punching Australian has no shortage of options with current IBF cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (45-2-1) being one amongst many names in the cruiserweight division that are eager to face Green in his return-bout.
The Poland-based Wlodarczyk, 29, has been vocal in his criticism of Green and appears to be more-than-willing to travel Down Under to defend his title against Green.
“He (Green) was, I will say again – was – a good fighter couple of years ago, when he was a light-heavyweight and super-middleweight. He has never fought anybody with the real punching power in the cruiserweight division.”
With a plethora of options at his disposal, it remains unclear as to which path Green will take – but there is no doubting the potential drawing-power a rematch with Tarver would bring, regardless of whether it took place in Australia or which has widely been reported, a return-fight in the US.
“He came here and took my world title, so I'm looking forward to hopefully heading back to his backyard and getting back what's mine.” Green said.
Amidst calls from the boxing fraternity calls for his second-retirement, Green was dismissive and stated that retirement was never an option.
“If I'd lost four or five of my last 10 fights, then you'd like to think that. But coming off a 10-fight winning streak and having a bad night against a future Hall of Famer. I wouldn't suggest that the decision for myself personally was that hard.”
The news of Green wishing to make a return and initiate an immediate rematch with Tarver on US soil would surely have come as music to ears of “The Magic Man”, as he has been vocal of his desire to defend his recently acquired cruiserweight strap in his hometown of Orlando – via the Orlando Sentinel.
“I want to fight here in Orlando, a big fight, before I retire while I am still on top,” said Tarver. “I want to definitely sit down with my manager and see if that’s a possibility. All we need is a network willing to show it and a promoter willing to promote it.”
Green has ruled out a possible tune-up fight ahead of a pending rematch with Tarver.
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