GL: This is movie premiereweek for you, how has it been? "It's been great man. We're about to wrap this thing up the movie is going to be out and my work will be done there. I'm back to work now and I'd like to make an announcement that I've reunited back with my old trainer Jimmy Williams. He's a 78 year old technician and having him and Buddy McGirt, I feel like I have the best of both worlds right now. I feel good. Buddy has shown a great deal of committment to me, he's traveled to come and work with me and we're not going to wait until I get to camp to get fresh and sharp again, I'm working now and I feel good about it. Everyone is asking me what my motivation is this time around and it's just to prove how truly a great boxer I am. It's not about the money and it's not about the fame, I've looked down into myself and I've challenged me.

"I'm really excited about the upcoming year, I'm tentatively scheduled to fight on February 24 and we should have that secured shortly and I'm ready to rock and roll. We're going to do something that I should have done a long time ago, which is get a tune up fight with someone who is going to be competitive, but someone I could brush the cobwebs off with before I step into a marquee fight. You don't see enough of that now with money being the driving force behind everything. Right now I want to take my time and get back to the old, back to the basics and that's what this whole situation is about."

GL: Your promoter Joe DeGuardia, what can you tell us about the potential opponent, who I will keep under wraps for now?

AT: "I've just been working on me right now and I don't have much knowledge of the opponent but they know what I'm looking for and if they're able to make it happen I'm going to be ready to go. I'm excited about it like I told you, I'm overwhelmed with excitement to get back in the ring on the cusp of this major film Rocky Balboa. I'm thrilled to death and that's what it's all about."

GL: Will you be working through the Holiday?

AT: "I've always worked through Holidays so this will be nothing new. I've been eating right, dieting not pigging out at all. I'm in LA and we've got the premiere tonight and I'm looking forward to it, I don't know if I'm going to make it out to New York because I'm a southern boy and I'm not used to the cold." (laughs)

GL: You want your next fight to be a tune up before you make another marquee fight. What marquee fights do you feel are available to you right now?

AT: "Everyone knows the fights, you've got guys saying they're going to move up to light heavyweight that have just been talking loud and saying nothing and then we have the rematch. The fans know that 07 is going to be a big year for me, I'm looking forward to doing me this year and getting back to the Antonio Tarver of old."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

AT: "I just want to say stay tuned to Rocky Balboa. We all grew up on Rocky and this is another great film from Sylvester Stallone. It was a pleasure working with him and I hope all boxing and sports fans support this movie. Check out your boy Antonio Tarver playing Mason "The Line" Dixon as only I can. My focus on getting in the ring, I realize that boxing is my bread and butter."

B

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