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Danny Green has blasted the trainers of Paul Briggs, saying they failed in their duty of care in allowing the Queenslander to fight on Wednesday night.
During the IBO cruiserweight title bout in Perth, Briggs was knocked to the canvas 29 seconds into the first round after a Green punch appeared to glance off the top of his opponent’s head.
Fans were left fuming and Western Australia’s boxing authority has launched an inquiry into whether the contest was a sham.
The fight was originally slated to be held in Sydney, but the NSW Combat Sports Authority refused to sanction the bout due concerns for Briggs’ health and welfare given his long absence from competitive boxing.
On Friday Green hit out at the Briggs camp, saying he should have been told about concerns over the boxer’s fitness.
“His camp has a lot to answer for. They have a duty of care to Paul Briggs,” he told Fairfax Radio.
“Why wasn’t I told this before the fight by Paul Briggs or his trainer or anyone else that was close to him, saying `Greeny he’s not where he should be. He’s not right.”
Green said Briggs’ trainer Billy Hussein had told him two weeks ago that he had knocked out two sparring partners, was heavy handed and he “better watch out”.
“If I was told all about the things that are now coming out, there was no chance I would have fought Paul Briggs,” he said.
“But as far as we knew Paul Briggs was coming to take my head off.”
Green said Briggs had been medically cleared by a neurosurgeon and his CAT and MRI scans had all been in check prior to the fight.
After the fight, a doctor examined Briggs and recommended he be taken to hospital however he flew back to the east coast on Thursday to be with his family.
Green has been criticised for going ahead with the fight and his initial reaction to knocking down Briggs in which he declared him a “canine” and wouldn’t be paid a cent.
The 37-year-old said the Briggs camp, which has gone to ground since the fight, should publicly face the questions he’s had thrown at him.
“I’m bearing the brunt but as an Aussie I’ll stand up and wear it on the chin,” he said.
“Unfortunately I’m wearing questions and wearing a fair bit of the blame that’s got to lie with those guys.”
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