Cassy

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225895317779

* Exclusive by Nick Walshaw
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* July 22, 2010 12:00AM

Glancing blow...Danny Green hits Paul Briggs with a left jab and seconds later the fight is over. Picture: Lincoln Baker Source: The Daily Telegraph

DANNY Green has accused Paul Briggs of taking him to the lowest point in his boxing career - adamant there is "no way" a glancing left jab could've knocked out the brawler whose CV includes streetfighter, standover man and Muay Thai world champion.

In an exclusive interview with (if) The Daily Telegraph (nf), Green says he feels "confused, gutted and dirty" after needing just 29 seconds to ice Briggs - regarded among the toughest fighters in Australian boxing history - in their hyped bout at Challenge Stadium, Perth.

The decision came just hours after TAB Sportsbet suspended all betting on which round Briggs would be stopped - with the Gold Coast brawler firming considerably for a first round knockout to set alarm bells ringing.

Gone in 29 seconds... The story all of Australia is talking about

"I hit him with a jab to the belly, with a jab to the top of the head," Green said, sitting in his Scarborough apartment with a group of close family and friends. "I glanced him. I watched his eyes goggle in his head and fall forward and I could not believe what I was seeing.

"Right now, I'm still in shock. I'm gutted, frustrated , confused. What just happened?''

Asked if the glancing left hand was enough to knock out a man who once fought Tomasz Adamek for two WBC light heavyweight titles, Green continued: "No. No.

"I could knock out a cow the way I'm punching and I prepared for a physical fight against a warrior like Briggsy. But tonight he didn't prove that. I think mentally he's got some issues to deal with.

"And as a father of two, like him, I've gotta be stronger, better, show compasion. But it shits me because I can't do anything to change what happened.

"I prepared for 12 rounds of war and had no idea that this was gunna happen. I'm devastated, mate. For the sport, for me personally, for people who paid to see the the fight . . . it's a shock."

But does Green regret anything he said during a heated post fight spray?

"No, because anyone with a heartbeat, an ounce of dash in them, woudn't regret saying it,'' he continues. "I'm disappointed at what's taken place and I can't control everything.

"But Paul was cleared physically, mentally, emotionally . . . 100% to fight. I can't overrule what a neurosurgeon says. What a doctor says. What a specialist says. What CAT scans or MRIs say.

"I expected Briggs to be a really tough opponent so what happened tonight was a shock. I'm just filthy mate. I feel dirty.

"I've sacrificed eight weeks of training and to have an end result like this, I can't apologise enough on behalf of him. As a man I've gotta show compassion. To a fellow man who I think is struggling."

So who should take responsibility for the result, Paul Briggs or Danny Green?

"Not me," Green continued. "I can't accept responsibility for this. I've gone from the most prestigious victory, some say the greatest victory in Australian boxing history in taking out Roy Jones Jnr to the lowest point in my career."

So you feel dudded? "Yeah, I feel dudded big time. But history shows I alway pop back up from a low point and I ain't gunna lay down now. I've gotta cop this, wear whatever comes my way. I've gotta wear some stuff that other people should be wearing too. It's cool. I'll deal with it."

Matthew A

I was pumped for the fight. Luckily I didn't pay to see it. But Briggs, well I don't have any respect for him any more.

I know he has a lot of brain problems and what not, but if he wasn't right to fight then surely he wouldn't have been cleared to by medical professionals any where in the world. What he did, a dive it seems, was just low and I didn't think he had it in him.

fictitous

You can find one doctor to overrule 10 and its a fight, I don't really know which way to call this but its a huge blow for boxing, Was Briggs fit to fight? I doubt it, Green has quoted that he saw Briggs eyes roll which tells me he didn't dive, he just should not have been allowed in the ring and he's lucky he walk out with his life, the ABC organinisations of world boxing is in a mess and should be held accountable for this shambles.

Matthew A

If it's true that he wasn't fit, given his brain problems that he does have, then whoever let him fight should be punished severely.

fictitous

Fully agree Matt, but putting a finger on who is to blame is hard, a late splurge on Green winning in the first round cancelled all betting on the fight so it does make you wonder if there was rigging involved, I'd like to see a full investigation myself, but they will give it a token looking over at best, unfortunitly this has been happening for a long time and it's the paying customer that suffers, not anymore for me though, I ve had enough of Australian boxing to last me a life time.

I'm off to a tournament in Rockhamton now, got two young fellows having their first fight tomorrow night, who nows I might have the next Danny Green, Go The Moranbah Mongrels....and the Bulldogs of coarse......

Matthew A

haha good stuff fic.

If you ever have a fight down my way give me a call and I'll be happy to do the photography for your fighters free of charge.

fictitous

Well you never know mate...cheers.