18.07.07 – By Tony Nobbs: Home town hero Danny Green (24-3, 22 KO’s) closed in on a world title shot in the light heavyweight division by stopping ordinary American Otis Griffin (18-2-2, 7 KO’s) in round three at the Challenge Stadium in Perth, Western Australia last night..
Green, 34, was in control from the get go, with Griffin, 29, from Sacramento, CA, looking flustered when Green attacked and having trouble with his mouthpiece. Griffin had very mild success when he opened up with awkward blows but it was obvious he was stepping way up in class.
In round three he was dropped by a left hook, then again with a right hand and was down a third time after being hit at will along the ropes, with the ringside doctor up on the stairs taking a close look. Referee Gary Dean stopped it on the third knockdown at the 1.31 mark.
Green now looks ahead to a bout with Clinton Woods or Antonio Tarver, but he would need to improve on this performance as he looked quite tense and his timing off.
Prior to the fight there was a minute silence for young Damian Scott, who Danny befriended, and died of cancer recently. Unfortunately it was soured by a group of morons chanting and screaming in the bleachers.
Green retained his WBA-PABA and IBF Pan Pacific belts and also picked up the vacant IBO Asia as well.
Under card action –
In the main support, outstanding Aboriginal prospect “Cool” Wiliam Kickett (6-0, 3 KO’s) won the vacant Australian junior lightweight title by pitching a ten round shut out over Sydney based Filipino trier Junmar Dulog (4-8-1, 2 KO’s). Kickett, 20, described by legend trainer Johnny Lewis as the “next Lionel Rose” gave an excellent boxing exhibition, displaying, fine hand and foot speed, a good defense and a wonderful array of punches, both to the head and body and from both the right and left handed stance. He is trained and managed by Craig Christian at Harry’s Gym in Perth and is due to fight again on stable mate Chris John’ WBA featherweight title under card in Kobe, Japan in August.
A charging Dulog was dropped with a short right hand in the second round as Kickett was on the back foot. Southpaw Junmar, also 20, was also rattled again in the third by another right hand and had a swollen left eye by the middle rounds. He showed great tenacity and is an improving performer but was always a step behind the very promising Perth boxer. All three cards, 100-89, same as ESB.
Going in, Dulog rated number five and Kickett number six, both at the higher lightweight limit.
William had made 130 lb for his previous bout in June and Junmar began his carer as a featherweight.
Kickett was presented with his belt by former ANBF president Brad Vocale, a cousin of Lionel Rose. Brad, by the way also presented Anthony Mundine with his belt after “The Man” won his Australian super middleweight title in 2001.
Adam Wills’ willingness to brawl proved his downfall as under dog New Zealander Brad Milner pounded out a six round unanimous verdict, welterweights. Wills looked increasingly ragged in the final few rounds and was on the verge of being stopped when the final bell rang. A good action fight with Milner too strong. Wills (Aust # 15 at 140 lb) has talent and is a rangy fighter with a big heart but this style will only result in more losses and a very short career. All three cards 59-55, ESB 59-54, giving the sixth by 2 points.
Local Robbie Bryant won a close (and split) four rounder over Indonesian welterweight champ Andreas Seran at jnr middleweight. Bryant was dropped in the first round by a right hand but got up and battled his way back in the second before having a great third round where he landed a number of right hands on the tough Seran who reminded one of a poor man’s Ricardo Mayorga.. Unrated Bryant outworked his foe in the fourth to sneak home. A good win for Bryant, who upset Tyrone Tongia (Aust #6) on a previous Green card. ESB had it 38-37 Bryant.
In the opening six rounder Steven Wills, Adam’s brother won a six round unanimous decision over Melbourne based Malawi string bean Jean Claude, welterweights. Wills dominated the first four rounds before the African came back landing several punches, especially a flicking jab on the always pressing Wills. ESB had it 58-55, a point off Jean Claude for hitting Wills after he’d slipped to the wet canvas near his corner.
An interesting side note is that Steven Wills once beat his brother Adam in the final of the NSW amateur titles.
Crowd: Near Capacity (6,000).
Promoter: Green Machine.
Main Event Commentators: Andy Raymond, Hussein Hussein and Paul Upham.
>Ring Announcer: Rick Powell.