On December second, 42-year-old Danny Green will climb into the ring for his second fight after a 33-month lay off to fight German-based Montenegrin garbage man Konni Konrad.
Green has a long list of questionable opponents and Konrad is no exception. Konrad has a world ranking of 129 on the boxrec non-biased computerised rankings system. His record currently stands at 22 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, not to bad you might say? A closer look at Konrad’s record tells the real story, of his 22 wins 15 have come from fighting fighters who have lost more then 50 per cent of their fights, with the other 7 wins coming against fighters with less then impressive records.
In Konrad’s last bout he was was completely outclassed and stopped in seven rounds by WBA regular ‘champion’ Juergen Braehmer – Sergey Kovalev is the actual champion.
Green states that Konrad “is definitely going to be a very stern test.” and that “He’s a hungry young bloke who’s coming to take what I’ve got. We’ve chosen a guy who’s going to test me.” Perhaps Green’s looking for the stern type of test he got from South African club fighter Anthony van Niekerk when he made his first comeback in 2009, or when he fought Argentinean plumber Julio Cesar Dominguez for the farcical and largely unrecognised vacant IBO cruiserweight world title. And how could we forget Green’s ‘world title’ defence against a very ill Paul Briggs who had retired three years prior due to neurological problems.
One must question what Green’s intentions are this stage of his career. If his shameless calling out of Anthony Mundine is to truly try and get his longtime rival into the ring, why is he not fighting at light heavyweight, a weight that Mundine recently said he would consider to fight Green at?
Since 2009 Green has campaigned as a cruiserweight with 9 of his 11 fights being fought at a catchweight, bringing super middleweights and light heavyweights up to his catchweight and even a heavyweight down to fight in what has become known as the ‘Danny division’.
Green touched the scales at 84.93kg for his last fight against the limited Roberto Bolonti. Assuming he weighs in the same for his next bout he will still be 5.56kg over the light heavyweight limit of 79.378kg. Does Green really think a fight with Mundine will happen or is he simply trying to milk their rivalry to the very last drop?
TAZZ
Roar Rookie
this is a perfect sum up of Danny Green's career, a fair fighter but not elite and a real disappointment. The only time that he should in the ring with real champs he got KO, Tarver, Beyer and Wlodkarzyk. He got lucky with Roy Jones Jr and then completely shot his reputation down in the next fight, Manny Siaca really??? Paul Briggs even worse and then a nobody in BJ Flores. The worst thing about Green is the one and only time that he actaully won a legit world title (WBA Light-heavyweight) he retired a month before defending it against Hugo Garay and i never understood why, probably becuase he would of gotten beat. Excellent article.
Derek Glaubitz
Guest
Interesting article
jerry
Guest
The fact is that Mundine beat Green when they were both in their primes and both fighting in the same division, that's what made the first fight memorable and worthwhile. Both good fighters, not great, with Mundine better than Green. If they fight now, and whoever wins, it is irrelevant. Does anyone truly, really want this fight to happen, other than Danny?
Robert
Guest
Best article ever!!!!
Robert
Guest
Best article ever!!!!
Samuel Waller
Roar Rookie
Well said in regards to bringing in lower ranked international fighters. Their appears to be a marketing ploy that an international fighter has more value and brings creditability to these so called pay per view events. The Australian medias research of these international fighters and events is cringe worthy at best. Im yet to read an article written by a major Australian news source regarding this upcoming fight that has reported anything more then what Green has told them at the press conference. Known journalist Melissa Woods wrote in her article about the upcoming bout “Konrad, 30, will present a much tougher opponent than Bolonti”. I would like know what Melissa based this on? Is it Konrad’s significantly lower ranking then Greens last opponent thats going to make it a tougher fight?
KingKongBundy
Guest
Its typical Danny green.Its getting quite embarrassing how desperate he is to get a payday from Mundine all his press conferences r about Mundine more than the dude he's fighting! the fact is he does not deserve a rematch he got absolutely dominated in there first fight and if Mundine wasto give him another chance he would be well and truly within his rights to demand 60/40 even 70/30 Green has conned the public into believing he was robbed because he had to loose to much weight he fought 90% of his fights at super middleweight prior to getting flogged by Mundine then all of a sudden he has trouble making the weight haha please excuses excuses the fact is go and watch the fight on youtube and see if he looked drained He looked as fit as man can be he was full of beans and threw a hell of a lot of punches the only differance in the fight was Mundines punches landed and Greens didn't,it wasn't due to lack of trying or lack of energy from green he just isn't as skilful as Mundine he even admits he isn't blessed with the best skills he rely's on hard work he just isn't as slick as Mundine and that's the fact of the matter no amount of excuses and bulldust lies will ever change that.but the weight excuses is pathetic real boxing fans no that. Its the causal sporting fans that get conned by greens lies because they read it in the paper or heard it on the radio but as someone said its all about money and Green is desperate for it obviously.As far as this guy he is fighting what other sport can you get away with choosing a much weaker opponent than you and then get cheered on when you beat them? Its like Hawthorn playing a team from a regional competition belting them by 40 goals then being cheered on by there fans telling them they are hero's.Its very sneaky that Green can tell his fans that this guy is 22 wins with 2 loses and he fought for a title in his last fight yes but go on boxrec and look up the records of the guys Konni Konrad has fought and judge for yourself and yes he fought for a regular title but was brutally beaten in the process and I shall rest my case on that note.
Casey
Guest
I doubt the rematch will go ahead, all the signs point to that, Green's reluctance to drop weight or talk about a fight weight. It's all speculation to create interest in the Konrad (if that's his real name) fight. This is a classic Green opponent, low ranked exotic foreigner, for some reason Australians think anything from the U.S or Europe is better than us. Reality is there are 21 Australian boxers from cruiser, lightheavy and supermiddleweight divisions that are ranked higher than Konrad, so why bring him over. At least Mundine always proved he was the best Australian in his division he beat McLeod, Bargero, Soliman and Green then dropped down beat Geale, Taylor and Medley dropped again and beat Aussie # 1 Ryan Waters. Like to see Green fight Sakio Bika, Blake Caparello, Anthony McCracken or David Aloua, all far better than Konrad. Expect Konrad to weigh in and enter the ring at about 83kg while Green will rehydrate to 90plus kilos.
Richard
Guest
I think Danny thinks he s still important in boxing. There s only one reason why he s calling out Mundine. $$$. What's the point. It's not like their fighting in same weight category. Assuming Green wins. So. Then it's one each. Neither of them have fought anyone that's worth mentioning. Why does nt Green call out Daniel Geale for a warm up.
The Grafter
Guest
Well written Sam. Its pretty hard to get excited about either Green or Mundine (who is fighting the No 11 light middleweight in the US Nov 11) these days, and to be honest as a purist of the sweet science, I wouldn't pay to watch either. Theres plenty of good, young fighters in Australia going somewhere (ie Jeff Horne) the media should be giving exposure to rather than the two old blokes.