Tearfully ending his professional boxing career today, world light heavyweight champion Danny Green said no amount of money could tempt him to reverse a decision to quit made after an early-morning Easter Sunday “epiphany”.
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In a move which will cost Green millions of dollars, the 35 year-old emotionally quit the ring saying his future as a husband, father and grandfather was more important than defending the WBA title he won last December.
And while Green said he felt fitter and sharper than at any time in his 16-year career, he also believed he was making the decision of a wise man to walk out of the sport at his peak.
“I woke up at 1am Sunday morning with my stomach churning, and it was telling me to hang up my gloves basically,” Green said.
“You can imagine I have struggled with the decision as I believe I am at the top of my game and the peak of my career as a professional fighter.
“I have never gone against my gut feelings and I am not about to start doing that now.
“There is going to be questions about whether there is anything wrong with me physically, the answer is categorically no.
“It was almost like I had a premonition, an epiphany – I am not religious by any stretch of the imagination – but I do listen to my stomach and that is what it has told me.
“I have clarity, it was weird but that is the way it is. I leave with my dignity and my health intact.”
Green was in preparation for his mandatory defence against Argentinian Hugo Garay at Challenge Stadium on April 27, having abandoned plans to train in Perth in favour for his usual Sydney surroundings.
But after wrestling with his decision for hours, he said he was happy and content.
“You won’t see me come back. I am turning down millions and millions of dollars,” Green said.
“My decision is not financially based, it is based on myself, my family and friends and what I have to offer the community in the future.
“A lot of people will think I am crazy, but a lot of fighters stay in the game too long and that is not going to be me.”
With the Garay fight off, the much talked about rematch with Anthony Mundine – which would have brought both men monster paydays – also won’t eventuate.
“It would have been nice to go out in front of 20,000 fans at Burswood with a massive rematch but it is not to be,” Green said.
“All I would say to Choc is keep your chin down and look after your health because it is a very tough sport … and thanks for a great rivalry, because you have made the sport so much more exciting.”
Mundine’s manager Khoder Nasser said Green’s retirement would be a loss to boxing, and he hoped he would reconsider.
“Danny is a gentleman who was part of the greatest fight in Australian history, he fought back from adversity to become a world champion again and his retirement is a massive loss to boxing,” Nasser told Radio SEN.
“Every man is entitled to change his mind and we certainly hope he does so he can fight Anthony again.”
But watched by a large group of family and friends, including his wife Nina and two children Chloe and Archie, Green said he would now be pursuing other business interests, as well as staying involved in boxing in an official – and possibly unofficial – capacity.
“Boxing is always going to be part of my life, but instead of dealing with the sharks of the sport out there, I will be dealing with … any prospective boyfriends (for Chloe),” Green said.
“That is why I want to make sure my health is intact, because when I am 60 years old and there are boys knocking on the door I still want to be able to go the knuckle if I have to.”
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