Green – Briggs Fight Spurs Official Inquiry
The Western Australian Professional Combat Sports Commission announced Thursday it will hold an inquiry into Wednesday's fight between Danny Green and Paul Briggs. The fight ended when Briggs could not recover from a harmless looking left jab 29 seconds into the first round.
The fight, which was for the IBO Cruiserweight title, sparked the investigation after various concerns were raised about the possibility of foul play, or a dive on the part of Briggs.
Doubts were raised when two betting agencies confirmed they received an alarming amount of bets for Green by first round KO just before the fight. In light of the results, the betting agencies came out in favour of the investigation.
“This is the most farcical thing we’ve probably seen in many years in this country,” Centrebet media director Neil Evans exclaimed. “We probably held more individual wagers on a round one knockout in this fight than we have in combined fights in this country in the last 20 years.”
Prior to the fight, concerns were raised about Briggs's neurological state, who had not fought since 2007. The bout was initially scheduled in Sydney, but moved to Perth after the New South Wales State Combat Sports Authority refused to sanction it in the former city.
The Western Australian Commission explained that it would consult the Professional Combat Act, which states: “Where in relation to a contest the commission is of the opinion … that the contest is a sham contest the commission shall inquire into the promotion, arrangement and conduct of the contest.”
Adding to the surprise of the incident, Green, initially furious after the bout and telling the crowd his opponent was “lower than a dog” and didn't deserve pay (for diving), changed his opinion Thursday after watching the tape. He now believes he “legitimately” hurt his opponent and that there was no foul play.
"I viewed the footage this morning and slowed the footage down to an incredibly slow speed and I'm happy I did that, because you can actually see the blow that lands [...] I caught Briggs on the soft part on the skull on top of the head. To the naked eye it appears it hasn’t … (landed) but this is proof he’s been felled by a legitimate blow to the head and actually a brain stem kind of injury has occurred. It’s almost like a collision.”
Billy Hussein, Briggs' trainer, told a news website in Australia that Briggs had to be hospitalised after the fight, and couldn't remember what had happened. The trainer was emphatic in the interview that his fighter was geunuinely hurt by the blow, and lamented his fighter's early round exit.
“I know Paul has had problems in the past but I’m speechless. He shouldn't have been in the ring with Danny Green - now people won't remember him as a great fighter, they'll just remember him for this," Hussein stated.
For now, is the athletic commission that originally rejected the fight reiterated its reasons for having originally rejected it, seemingly pegging Briggs' quick fall to his fragile physical state rather than a dive. In a release, the commision said it “stands by its unanimous decision of 6 July 2010 not to sanction the proposed bout in NSW between Danny Green and Paul Briggs [...] The decision was made because of concerns for the health and welfare of Paul Briggs given his long absence from competitive boxing."
Rumours were long circulating over Briggs, whose last fight was in 2007, and who had previously cited neurological and nervous problems due to past fighting incidents. Scans in 2006 revealed nervous problems, and ultimately led to an early retirement.
Outside of the ring, Briggs frequently provided commentary for Fox Sports and Main Events bouts.
The inquiry is expected to look into the possibility of foul play as well as assess the mental state of Briggs. In the event he is found to have taken a dive, he faces a fine and a revoking of his boxing license. It is unclear if he will attempt to fight again.
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