I had a chance to catch up with former IBO champion, Antonio ‘Magic Man’ Tarver, following his recent KO victory over Johnathon Banks. A former champion in both the light heavyweight and cruiserweight division, Tarver now has his sights set on becoming the heavyweight champion of the world.

In this interview, Antonio shares his thoughts on his recent win over heavyweight, Johnathon Banks and what he feels he got from that win. Tarver also expresses his desire to fight David Haye soon. Lastly, Antonio Tarver speaks about the possibility of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and what it could do for the sport. Here is what Antonio Tarver had to say.

(Listen to the full 45 minute interview below)

Robert Brown: I want to congratulate you your win over Johnathon Banks, how do you feel after getting that win?

Antonio Tarver: We’re looking good man. It was one of those things where I really had a tough training camp, we had good work in sparring, a lot of rounds. We really got ourselves in great shape and normally when I’m in great shape like that, we usually get those types of results.

It was a compliment to my training camp and the fact that I stayed focused throughout even when I was facing some injuries. We had to overcome some things but overall we just worked hard and we really focused in on not only winning, but looking good doing it. I think my mission as accomplished.

Robert Brown: You had a very comprehensive victory over Banks, do you think you got enough out of that fight?

Antonio Tarver: Yeah I really did, I got some rounds in. I had to think my way through it, I wasn’t gonna take Johnathon Banks lightly, that’s why I went and got in great shape. The last time I saw Johnathon Banks in the ring, it looked like he could have done a lot more in that Seth Mitchell fight but the fight before that, he came in with one loss to Adamek and he came in and he upset one of the guys that everybody had pegged to be the next heavyweight guy from the US, Seth Mitchell.

Banks fought and undefeated Seth Mitchell and he derailed Seth Mitchell’s case for being the big US heavyweight, he knocked him out. I’m not gonna sit here and say, “Okay, he was timid.” If you’re in front of me in a fight, you better be timid too, everybody better be timid! There’s a reason to be timid because you’re in there with a dangerous, calculated assassin. If I was him, I would be timid too, that’s the bottom line.

These guys don’t understand, they can’t show you on paper where you’ve seen a fighter dominate me in a boxing ring, they haven’t seen it yet. I’m still here after all these years and I’m ready to win the heavyweight championship. I’m focused on that and I’m gonna do it. It’s gonna take a hell of a fighter to beat me right now because I’m too close right now, I’m locked in.

I’m getting ready to go back in training camp right after the first of the year. Whoever they say I’m fighting next, I’m gonna see them wherever I’m at and I’m gonna put on the type of show and I’m gonna fight the type of fight that these people are gonna understand that I’m a serious threat to the heavyweight division right now.

I’m forty six years old, that’s a story right there that’s worth everybody following and paying attention to because if I do what I say I’m gonna do against Wladimir Klitschko, you’re talking to one of the greatest that ever did it. That’s the type of legacy that I’m trying to leave.

Robert Brown: You have said you want to face David Haye next. Why do you want to fight a guy who’s hasn’t fought in two years?

Antonio Tarver: You all know that Tarver vs. Haye is a big fight. Come on man, you got two worldwide personalities with David Haye and myself, it’s synonymous with boxing. That’s a big fight man and I know if I win that fight, there’s no way that they can deny me, I’ll be the biggest fight for Wladimir Klitschko.

I’m always about doing something big in order to get to something big. Like I said, if I’m willing to take that risk against David Haye, then he should be willing enough to step up and fight me. He’s claiming to be a heavyweight, let’s do something big. He’s never fought in America, he’s never fought a legend, he’s never fought a star, so let’s do something big.

Let’s fight a real fight that everybody wants to see and when I do what I do against David Haye, then there’s no way that they can deny me a showdown against the man, the king of the heavyweights, Wladimir Klitschko. That’s gonna be my swan song right there. That’s it, I’m not trying to say, “Oh give me a title shot Klitschko,” I’m trying to say, “When I beat David Haye’s ass, you ain’t got nobody else to fight but me!”

Robert Brown: I want to ask you about a popular topic in boxing today, Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. Do you think the fight will actually happen?

Antonio Tarver: When both of them get ready to fight, it’s gonna happen. You never really know what’s going on behind the scenes but it’s definitely a fight that boxing needs and those two guys need. Regardless of how much money Mayweather and Pacquiao have made, they should do that for the game, just for boxing alone. Boxing is gonna be healthy from it because everybody’s been anticipating that fight, not only fight fans but sports fans alike.

I think it’s a big feather in just boxing in general and I think everybody can benefit from that mega showdown and just put boxing on everybody’s mind and allow everybody to mark that day in their calendar and witness two of the best fighters in our time go toe to toe, finally. Hopefully it happens next year, hopefully in 2015 we’re able to see that fight.

Robert Brown: Do you think Amir Khan will get the fight with Mayweather first?

Antonio Tarver: I’m not sure. Mayweather came out and said some things that he feels Khan really doesn’t have the type of presence that the other guys have had over the years. Mayweather is about Pay-Per-View dollars man, that’s what he’s all about. He’s trying to make the big fights. I hear that the numbers aren’t as satisfactory as they’ve been over the years, so they’re looking to make the big fights to boost those numbers up.

Somewhere along the line you have to be justified and the only way to justify it is to give the people what they want. Him and Pacquiao understand that the time is right now to go and get that fight in the books.