Allan Green to appeal knockout loss
Allan Green will appeal his eighth-round knockout loss to friend Glen Johnson last Saturday, Sports Illustrated and others report.
As Green struggled to get off the canvas from a huge right inflicted by his opponent, the Oklahoma fighter was already allegedly complaining to the referee about punches landed behind the head, which are illegal in the sport.
On these grounds it comes as little surprise that Green will be appealing the knockout ruling.
Green’s attorney, Josh Dubin, said: “A review of the fight makes it clear that the blow which put Mr. Green to the canvas and led to Mr. Byrd stopping the fight was a rabbit blow. There is absolutely no point in having rules in the first place if they are
not going to be enforced. Now it is just a matter of asking the Nevada State Athletic Commission to apply its own rules. That is all we ask for. I have full confidence that the Commission will do that."
Though many believe that Johnson was winning the fight at the time of the knockout, Green was officially winning on two of the judges’ scorecards (68-65 Johnson, 67-66 Green, 67-66 Green).
Johnson seemed to be rallying up more points as later rounds came on.
"The fight was close, no doubt about that, but my guy was winning," Greg Leon, Green’s advisor testified. “I just want him be able to win or lose within the rules. He was hit in the back of the head at the end of the third round and then again in the eighth.
He should have been given time to recover. I just hope the Nevada Commission hears our case fairly. If they do that, I have no doubt they will overturn the referee's decision."
With the loss, Green is effectively eliminated from the Super Six tournament. He failed to rally a win in two bouts, the first being against WBA champion Andre Ward.
Green was a late addition to the tournament after Jermain Taylor withdrew following a spectacular knockout loss to Arthur Abraham.
Should his appeal be upheld it will have larger consequences on the Super Six tournament, which has already been ravaged with unforeseeable injuries and logistical conflicts.
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