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.

I felt a sense of urgency, ... I wasn't sure if I was winning or not.

Everything rides on Dec. 3. This fight is important because that's where Bernard Hopkins will show that anyone who went through the minefield again with him is in trouble. I've beaten everyone who got into the ring with me a second time, and some of them I sent into retirement. I have to deal with the clouds and the storm. You think you got me down and I rise up.

That's the only thing that I say to myself that I need to work on.

I got my butt kicked.

Come Sunday morning, somebody's going to be asked questions (like) 'What happened?' ... And guess what? I don't want to be that person. So I'm going to do my best, by any means legally and clean, to let Howard Eastman know (what went wrong).