I was told I would be back in 90 days. If I listened to people, I would be back where I came from -- the penitentiary. |
I wouldn't take any fight or do anything that I think I can't win. |
I'll be in New York Monday to talk about that with HBO. Then you can stick a fork in me. I have one fight left in me. |
I'm lining up my troops to go to battle with. |
I'm lining up my troops to go to battle with. Tarver is the man at light heavyweight. He has the credibility of the fans and media, and that's what counts. That's why I am taking this risk, but I am taking it by preparing myself with good people. |
If I'm in a situation where Duane Ford is one of the judges, I have to pick it up. |
It's going to be a challenge, I understand that. But I don't fear it. |
John said he was there for me and that he could tell me a lot about Tarver. I said, 'Are you serious?' He said he would even get in the ring with me and spar some if I wanted. He said he could still go 15 rounds. He was one of my defenses and he could have had an attitude about it, but he respects my longevity in the game. He understands because we trained so hard in the gym together all those years. |
That's the only thing that I say to myself that I need to work on. |
The thing that most people don't understand is that I don't believe I lost the last two fights, which is why I am coming in a confident fighter. Tarver says I am fighting him for one more payday, but what Tarver don't realize is that I could have picked anyone to fight and still gone out making millions of dollars. But I chose to fight Antonio Tarver because, like I have said many times, I want to do what my boxing idol, Sugar Ray Robinson, couldn't do, and that's win the light heavyweight championship. |
There is no better way to introduce our company to the area than to have a Philadelphia fighter like Demetrius represent us. |
This is my last fight of meaningful significance, ... This is my last fight, outside and in the ring, for what I've always stood up for. |
Understand that I'm at my best when it comes to proving a point, not only to show that I'm a better fighter and a better athlete at 40½ years old, but I'm at my best when I know I've got to beat the system again. |