Rocky had Mickey. Daniel had Mr. Miyagi. And now Laila Ali has a wise mentor to guide her if she squares off with Ronda Rousey ... with ex-champ Antonio Tarver formally offering to train Muhammad's baby girl.

Tarver -- a former 5-time boxing champ -- tells TMZ Sports he's been friends with Laila for years and strongly believes he could train her up to beat the UFC star in a boxing match.

"She knows I got her back and front," Tarver says.

In fact, he's even got a game plan for Ali, who hasn't stepped in the ring in 8 years -- "[Laila] needs a serious training camp and a tune up fight."

"I think it's time to dust off [the gloves] and you got my services."

Tarver says Rousey is an "amazing athlete" -- but he's 100% confident he could train the 37-year-old back into face-bashing shape and get the biggest victory in female fight history.