Green retires to spend more time with family, protect health PERTH, Australia -- WBA light heavyweight world champion Danny Green quit boxing Tuesday, saying he wanted to protect his health and spend more time with his family. The 35-year-old Green (25-3 with 22 knockouts) had been preparing in Sydney for a mandatory defense of his WBA title against Argentina's Hugo Garay on April 27. "I am getting out on my terms, with my dignity and respect intact," Green said. "I have made the decision of an intelligent man -- looking to 25 years in the future." Green turned professional in 2001 after coming to prominence at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and won his first 16 bouts before a fifth-round disqualification against Germany's Markus Beyer in a WBC world title challenge in August 2003. Green won the WBC interim super middleweight belt with a sixth-round stoppage of Canadian Eric Lucas four months later, before a second loss -- this time on points -- to Beyer in March 2005. A long-anticipated bout with fellow Australian Anthony Mundine resulted in a unanimous points decision against Green in front of 30,000 spectators at Sydney in May 2006. Green moved up to the light heavyweight division and won the WBA world title with a convincing win over Croatia's Stipe Drews in his hometown of Perth, Western Australia, last December. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Boxer Danny Green retires March 25, 2008 09:40am WORLD light-heavyweight champion Danny Green has tearfully announced his retirement from the sport - vowing: "I'll never be back". Surrounded by his family, 35-year-old Green said he awoke at 1am on Sunday with a gut feeling that his time as a professional boxer was up. He said he could not get back to sleep and spent the next six hours deliberating over the decision. Green had been due to defend his title in Perth for the first time next month against Argentina's Hugo Garay. “My stomach (was) churning and it was telling me to hang up the gloves,†he said. “My heart and my head said something else, but my stomach rules me. “As you can imagine I struggled with the decision as I believe I am at the top of my game. “Physically I am in the best shape of my life and mentally I am still as hungry as ever. “I have made a decision of an intelligent man and a man who has a lot to offer after boxing. “I am looking 25 years down the track to when I have grandchildren. “I want to protect my family forever. “I am living for tomorrow, not just for today.†Green retires with a record of 25 wins, including 22 by knockout, and three defeats. With his daughter sitting on his lap, he said he was happy to retire as a world champion. He said the decision was not influenced by his family. His wife had urged him to reconsider his retirement. “I am getting out on my terms, when I say, with my dignity and respect in tact,†he said. “No one is going to tap me on the shoulder and tell me when enough is enough.†“I’ve been boxing for 16 years and I have given my heart and soul to this sport. “I have given my all to boxing and it has given me a lot back. “I have had an amazing and memorable career that will stay with me forever. “From the bottom of my heart I think I have had the best supporters that anyone could ever have.†Green's decision to hang up his gloves will mean there will no be no rematch with long-time rival and verbal sparring partner Anthony Mundine, costing both men millions of dollars. Green vowed he would never return to the ring as a boxer. However, he did not rule out returning as a coach or trainer. After first coming to public prominence at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Green turned professional in 2001, winning his first 16 fights before suffering a controversial fifth round disqualification loss to Germany's Markus Beyer in a WBC world title challenge in August 2003 in Nuremberg. Green won the WBC interim super middleweight belt with a sixth round stoppage of Canadian Eric Lucas in Canada four months later. He suffered a second loss to Beyer in March 2005, dropping a majority points decision in Zwickau. Green subsequently severed ties with his trainer and former triple world champion Jeff Fenech and hired Cuban trainer Ismael Salas. His long-awaited domestic clash with Mundine finally eventuated in May 2006 when he suffered a unanimous points loss in a bout at Sydney's Aussie Stadium attended by around 30,000 spectators. Green then decided to move up to the light heavyweight division and scored inside the distance wins over old rival Jason DeLisle, Paul Murdoch and Otis Griffin, before getting a world title crack at Drews. The Australian totally dominated the bout against a surprisingly passive opponent, achieving his world title dream by earning three lopsided scores on the judges' cards. PerthNow
This is, of course, completely implausible. The last four champions I remember retiring with a belt were Halmich, Ottke, Lewis, and Carbajal. All 4 of them were presumably quite well off. Green, unless he is an investor extraordinaire, is not. . I think it is far more likely that there is a real health issue here, not some wishy-washy worry about a future one. Whether it is a disease or a zach padilla-type injury, I wouldn't know. Hell, I could be completely wrong, but it just doesn't make sense to retire when you are in Green's current position. . I'm also very disappointed because I am a fan of Garay and I know this fight would have been televised in the US on TyC. DAMMIT.
I agree mIKE, unless there is something more to the story, then that would be VERY odd. Especially given that he holds a belt AND even has a schedules defense.
That's what my gut said as well upon reading the news. At the very least he could defend vs. Garay then rematch Mundine. It's a loss for us - Green is exciting. BUT if there is a health issue involved, you can't mess with that. If it's not health-related, not sure it will stick as decisions made on the gut don't always last. Hell, even if he truly just wants to retire (he IS 35, after all) - that's his call and I can understand it. Peace.
I think it's pretty classless from Green to retire when he has a defense schedule in a month, makes a lot of people waste time and $$$$$, it especially sucks for Garay. When you make your mind about something, go through it and don't quit beforehand ( unless he really has a medical issue ).
Bad things happen to Australians who decide to one day bring Greek flags into the ring, Danny got what he deserved.
VERY surprising. I would assume there is more to the story. Danny hasn't really been the same since overheating badly in that fight a few years ago. I'd say he has some kind of damage that could be serious if his career continued. All the best I say.
