Clinton Woods says he is in the rare position of being injury-free ahead of his IBF light-heavyweight defence against Antonio Tarver on 12 April.

Sheffield's Woods, who faces Tarver in his hometown of Tampa, Florida, has made just four defences since claiming the vacant crown in March 2005.

"This is the first training I've had since winning the title when I've had no elbow problems," said Woods.....

"There have been no problems at all. Touch wood, the elbow's perfect now."

Woods, 35, won a world title at the fourth attempt in 2005 when he defeated American Rico Hoye in Rotherham.

That followed unsuccessful challenges against legendary American Roy Jones in 2002 and Jamaica's Glen Johnson twice, in 2003 and 2004.

He is now understandably keen to make up for lost time, starting with this month's top-of-the-bill clash in front of a huge crowd at the St Pete Times Forum and television audiences both sides of the Atlantic.

"Obviously I'd like to win this fight and fight again this year, probably September, which would be a big fight no matter what," said Woods.

"I don't want to waste time with warm-up fights, not now. As a thirty-something now I want to get this fight over with and get another big fight on.

"As long as I'm training like I am and feeling like I am, I feel as fit as I ever have. I think a boxer knows when it's time. Some boxers know but deny it. I'll know when to pack it in."

Tarver, 39, is a former undisputed champion with two wins over Jones on his record, including a sensational second-round stoppage in 2004.

However, he is better known to many as Rocky Balboa's opponent in the latest instalment of Sylvester Stallone's film franchise, and blamed his defeat to Bernard Hopkins in 2006 on having to lose weight so quickly following filming.

But Woods says of Tarver's big-screen exploits: "I think Tarver thinks he is a bigger movie star than he actually is.

"He played a bad guy in Rocky and he thinks he is a massive star from that. But to me, he is just another boxer. A big-mouth boxer. That's all I'm looking at.

"There's no script in professional fighting. No-one knows what's going to happen and I think that is what's intriguing about the night."

Also on the Tampa bill is a clash between Johnson and America's Chad Dawson for the WBC light-heavyweight crown.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7327239.stm