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Boxer Paul Briggs was never fit to fight Danny Green when he was knocked out seconds into their July IBO cruiserweight world title bout and deceived doctors, authorities have found.
But Briggs says the West Australian Professional Combat Sports Commission’s finding is a joke and has vowed to take the fight from the ring to the courts.
On Wednesday, the Commission released the findings of its inquiry into the July 21 fight, declaring Briggs had been involved in a ‘sham contest’.
The Commission found Briggs had not disclosed at any time to doctors, Green or WA’s boxing regulatory body the “complete picture of his medical condition”.
Commission chairman Simon Watters said when Briggs stepped into the ring, he knew he wouldn’t be able to put up a genuine defence.
“Mr Briggs knew due to his condition with his nervous system and his physical ability to mount a credible defence, he wasn’t a worthy and genuine competitor,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
He added: “The issue is that the degree of subterfuge involved was that he deceived the treating doctors and he didn’t disclose his full medical condition to them.”
As a result the Commission has forced Briggs to pay $75,000 of the $200,000 purse he was owed for the title bout and been banned from fighting in WA.
But Briggs was fuming after being told of the Commission’s finding, saying he disputed 100 per cent.
“Of course I dispute it, a sham to me is one guy paying another guy to take a dive,” he told AAP.
“I think they’ve just used me as a scapegoat. None of it makes sense, it’s a joke. How can I con medical people? They passed with me with all their exams.
“Every examination and I’ve never been diagnosed with anything.”
He has already discussed with his solicitor about challenging the finding in a court of law.
The 35-year-old’s trainer Billy Hussein was also found to have been involved in the ‘sham contest’, with the Commission ruling he should have known Briggs was not in a condition to engage in a genuine contest.
Hussein stressed he was also prepared to go to court to clear his name.
The trainer felt the Commission had no knowledge of his background or his reputation for putting his boxer’s safety first and vowed to fight the finding.
“I am one of the safest coaches in the world ever, I’m proud of that and every one of my fighters knows that,” Hussein said.
“In regards to Briggs, he had the attitude to go in there and fight and unfortunately got caught early and got knocked out.”
While he is a registered trainer in NSW, Hussein stressed he wanted to clear his name so he could get a licence in WA, as he looked after fighters from that state, including female world champion Erin McGowan.
Due to the finding, the Commission said it would not look favourably on any application by Hussein.
The Commission cleared Green of any involvement.
Fans were furious after the bout ended 29 seconds into the first round when Briggs hit the canvas after a punch by Green appeared to glance the top of his opponent’s head.
Green could not be reached for comment.
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