By Tony Nobbs: In the best display of boxing in his career, a patient and strong Danny Green, ranked number seven going in, captured the World Boxing Association’s light heavyweight championship with a unanimous decision over the very disappointing Stipe Drew’s at a capacity full Challenge Stadium in Perth, West Australia last night (Sunday).
Hometown boy Green (age 34, 79.20 kg, record now 25-3,22 KO’s, 5’11, trained by Ismael Salas, wearing lime green shorts with gold band and piping) entered the ring to the inspirational “Man From Down Under” from Aussie band Men At Work. Drews, Croatian born, German based (also 34, 79.20, record now 32-2, 13 KO’s, 6’5 , wearing red trunks with blue piping and white spiderman print) came into ACDC’s heavy rock Thunderstruck. It was about as pumped up as things got.
If there was ever a less inspiring world title defense – I’m grateful I never had to sit through it. Perhaps Drew’s was training for the Berlin Marathon because he would have covered more ground than Rob De Castella would have in any morning jog. For the entire contest it was Green stalking forward, missing often but “making the fight” and winning the rounds by connecting with stiff jabs to the belly, chest and head, right hands and short left hooks to the side of Drew’s’ face. On more than one occasion, Drew’s turned out of the way of a rushing Green, and the Australian did stumble into the ropes in round seven but Drew’s never even looked to counter. “In round five I noted that SD was cocking the left trying to time a fight changing bomb”. It never came. Rounds nine and ten were particularly sad with the frustration in the crowd resulting in loud boos and jeers. The tenth, I scored 10-8 for the challenger as defending “champ” Drews’ effort was so poor. I put in my notes after ten that “SD must be trying to bore DG to sleep”.
After Drew’s’ only previous loss, also in Australia, to Paul Briggs, in a WBC eliminator in 2004, he resorted to foul tactics, even kneeing Paul in the groin after crumbling heavily from a left hook. We didn’t know really what to expect from Drew’s, only that he’d be awkward at best. In round three it got untidy with both falling through ropes s Green pressured and Drew’s held. Green was hit behind the head in the fourth. In round six the Japanese referee Mr Takeshi Shimakawa Cautioned Drew’s to punch. He did not listen. For the first seconds of the final minute of the eleventh round Drew’s “fought” orthodox but quickly turned back lefty after eating a stiff jab.
The only round that you could possibly have given Drew’s was the twelveth and final as he did throw more punches than Green. I hate giving even rounds but that was a three minute period where Green mainly boxed cautiously and Drews did not land anything significant and after his lack of work for the first thirty three minutes of “action” he deserved nothing short of a shut out over the route.
Official scores read 118-110, 119-109 and 120 – 108.
My score: 11-0-1 in rounds or 120-108 (a 2 point round in the 10th
With the win, Green erases the heart ache of the first Markus Beyer fight and his subsequent points losses to Beyer and Anhony Mundine. He also becomes Australia’s second only 175 world champion, following two time WBC champ Jeff “Hitman” Harding. He also has a revenge match with WBA” regular” super middleweight titlist Mundine, which most likely will happen in Perth next year.
“I promised that Green Machine Promotions would bring a world title to Perth, bring it down under and I promised I’d win it! I’ve been interim champion, you can shove it up your ass. I’m the official world champion!. I’m just so happy. My wife Nina, I love you” said a perhaps over excited Green, who even before the decision was announced paraded ringside celebrating with his family and supporters.
When questioned by Ring Announcer Matt Campbell, about “That Rematch” he replied “I’m the real world champion. He’s the interim champion. This time we fight for my title in my town and we are talking turkey!”
Green then thanked his entire team, trainer Salas, brother Brendan, cutman – agent Angelo Hyder, manager Justin Manolikos, corner man Dave Birchell and long time sponsor Steve Bowden, ex rugby league hard man for the Newtown Jets. He also gave special thanks to former trainer Jeff Fenech. “He doesn’t talk to me now but if I didn’t start boxing (pro) with him I wouldn’t be here.”
“I’ve had so much support from Australia and I’m proud to represent this country”.
Green’s wife Nina was officially expecting the birth of the couple’s second child on the day of the fight.
Having done a page on Cuban Salas for The Fist Magazine in 2003, I was particularly pleased to see the great little man steer Danny to world glory after he took criticism following the Mundine defeat in May of last year. Green is certainly a better all round fighter than before, this also has a lot to do with him not having to sweat those extra seven pounds.
Perhaps in the coming days or weeks we’ll find out that Stipe had carried some sort of injury or illness in the ring but from his performance he should be removed from the top ten.
In the main under card bout, William Kickett, the “YAMATJI WARRIOR” formerly known as “Cool Willie” won a unanimous eight round decision over two time world featherweight (WBC & WBA) title challenger Tommy Browne at the junior welterweight limit.
Perth’s Kickett (age 20, weight 62.80 kg, record now 8-0, 4 KO’s, trained at Harry’s Gym, wearing black Everlast shorts with white band and piping and Aboriginal Flag) was extended by Browne ( age 24, weight 62.90 kg, record now 23-5-1, 8 KO’s, trained by Dave Browne Snr at Campbelltown, Sydney, NSW,wearing blue trunks with white band and piping), with the rangy Browne taking the first round walking Kickett back behind a stiff left hand. Browne got too close in the second round and Kickett got home with blinding counters, finishing the round big. Kickett followed suit in rounds three and four, landing right hand leads, hooks and uppercuts and getting of to the side. Browne’s nose was bleeding at the end of the fourth. Tommy’s grit and experience then showed and he worked hard to do well in round five and win the sixth, before Kickett had a huge seventh. A right hand down the pipe sent Browne into the ropes whee he was caught by another. Two left hooks closed the round which I gave 10-8. The eighth was a good action round with Browne continuing to make the prospect work. Trainer Craig Christian said Kickett, ranked number three by the ANBF at lightweight will fight on the Darchynian – Gorres show from Cebu City , beamed back here before chasing the likes of Gairy St Clair and other Aussie “names” next year.
Kickett won the Australian super featherweight title this year and is coming off an impressive one round KO of ex PABA champ Jun Paderna in October. A regular sparing partner of WBA featherweight king Chris John, who worked his corner last night and also stopped Browne in a WBA title fight in 2005, William’s definitely a star in the making with legend trainer Johnny Lewis describing him as the next Lionel Rose. Official scores: 78-74 x 3. My tally 78-73.
Adelaide, South Australia resident Jackson Asiku (age 27 weight 56.90, record now 22-3, 12 KO, Harry’s Gym, Perth, wearing black with white Everlast shorts) retained the Commonwealth featherweight title with a predictably easy TKO of Australian title holder Matt Powell ( age 30, weight 57.00 kg, record 10-4-2, 3 KO’s ,trainer Daryl Ford in Ivanhoe, Victoria, wearing blue with white shorts).
Former Queenslander Powell dropped by a right hand with fifty seconds left in round four and then complained of ankle injury. Fight resumed, officially stopped at 2.26 mark. Powell given time to recover after being hit low in he second, and Powell warned in the third for holding. Asiku simply hit too hard. “Action” Jackson, a two time Aussie featherweight champ has won both his previous Commonwealth title contests in Britian in by first round KO’s and had his first outing since June, also a one round job. He looked a little off. A Ugandan Olympian and the best performed of the “African Kings” who based themselves here after Sydney Games, he can expect to get big fights now he is fighting out of the Craig Christian camp. He is currently rated number 39 by the WBC – way to low if you ask me. Powell’s best “W” came in 2004, a points decision over eight against Rwandan born Frank De Milo, in what was quite frankly, the worst officiated “fight” I have witnessed in 24 years in this sport. In the rematch, in ’05, Powell was DQ’d for continually faking low blows. Matt is a three time Australian amateur champion who won 83 bouts wearing a singlet.
In a pedestrian type heavyweight six rounder, late substitute Pieter Cronje (age 25, weight 101.40 kg, South Africa, record now 6-2, 2 KO’s, wearing Navy shorts with red trim) outpointed former Aussie champ Col Wilson (age 35, 116.90 kg, Emerald, Queensland, record now 33-22-1 NC , 20 KO’s, wearing solid white shorts). Col, who injured ribs when lost the national belt to Bob Mirovic last month, looked quite lethargic but there is no way the visitor won four rounds! Wilson landed the more telling blows. Wilson boxed fourteen rounds with Danny Green in the lead up and was expected to face fellow southpaw Alexander Gurov in this one.
In four rounders the popular Wills boys were in action and didn’t disappoint.
Steve Wills (age 23, weight 63.40, record now 5-0-1, 3 KO’s, living in Perth, WA, cornered by Angelo Hyder, wearing solid black shorts) drew with Thomas Yakuba (age 22, weight 62.90 kg, record now 2-0-2, 1 KO, formerly from Nigeria, now trained by Rod Davis, Adelaide, South Aust, wearing blue, red, yellow and white shorts). A cracker of a fight. Non stop and in close. Southpaw Steve, the stronger, Thomas, the faster and more precise. Wills, ANBF number six wore a (right) knee brace. Wills ridicously warned for spinning Yakuba and punching. Yakuba, ANBF number seven lightweight reportedly a winner of 125 amateur bouts against 11 losses.
Official scores : 38-38 x 2 and 39-37 Wills. My score 38-38.
Older brother Adam Wills (age 26, weight 65.50, record now 9-3, 2 KO living in Perth, cornered by Angelo Hyder, wearing black Cleto Reyes shorts) outpointed Rob Sanders (age 23, weight 65.00 kg, record now 0-2, from the Barossa Boxing club, SA ,wearing red, blue and white shorts) over four two minute rounds. Wills applied too much pressure, Sanders capable enough but too inexperienced as a pro, after being announced as a previous South Australian Amateur Boxer Of The Year. A gutsy win for Wills, ANBF number eight who reportedly dropped five pounds after the weigh in due to a severe virus. Official scores: 40-36 x 2 and 38-38. My score: 39-37 Wills.
Promoter: Green Machine Promotions
Match Maker: Angelo Hyder
Main Event PPV Commentators: Andy Raymond, Barry Michael, Paul Upham
Ring Announcer: Matt Campbell.