madjack
23-01-2003, 04:55 AM
Kostya goes Green
By Grantlee Kieza and James Hooper
January 22, 2003
WORLD champion Kostya Tszyu believes Danny Green may have too much punching power for Anthony Mundine if the best two Australian super-middleweights agree to a multi-million dollar fight.
Green - a very good chance.
But Tszyu has warned the bout would be no means a breeze with the raw speed of Mundine bound to test the reflexes of hard-hitting former Olympian Green.
"With the performances Danny has been putting in lately you would have to say he is a very good chance," Tszyu said.
"But Anthony is a good fighter as well and he is improving himself so it's going to be a good fight.
"Danny has good got power – how much Anthony can hold it for will be interesting."
Green's trainer Jeff Fenech is hoping to reopen negotiations with Team Mundine about the all-Australian super fight this week.
Discussions have stalled because Mundine and Green have been unable to agree about the size of their pay cheques.
If the bout does go ahead it would be expected to generate more than $2 million through TV rights, sponsorship and gate takings.
Fenech believes that if Mundine is serious about becoming a world champion he should pay Green what he is worth and sign a contract to fight him.
"I don't think Anthony Mundine has the heart for it," Fenech said.
"Danny has the power to knock Mundine cold and Mundine knows it. That's why he won't fight Danny.
"We don't underestimate Mundine; he's got amazing reflexes and throws combinations very fast.
"But Danny is rugged enough to take anything Mundine throws, he has a great jab of his own to keep Mundine off balance and once Danny lands with a big punch it's goodnight."
Other Australian boxing legends are divided about who would win what shapes as one of the most-anticipated fights in Australia for years.
Barry Michael, the former world junior lightweight champion, believes it is too hard to split the pair.
"It's a ****-up. Green looked devastating the other day and he has real power," Michael said.
"Whoever he hits, they're going to get hurt.
"But until he landed the big one against Brad Mayo he had hardly landed a punch, and don't forget Mundine is so explosive and puts six and eight punches together so well."
Bradley Mayo – the man Green knocked cold at Melbourne's Telstra Dome on Sunday and who has also fought Mundine – is in not doubt about the result.
"Danny Green definitely has the power to beat Mundine," said Mayo, who went 10 rounds with Mundine last year.
Experienced Australian boxing trainer Noel Thornberry, who prepared his son Ricky for his loss to Mundine late last year, is in the former rugby league player's corner.
Thornberry feels Mundine's speed would be too much for Green to handle.
"Forget the hype, Mundine will eat Danny Green alive," Thornberry said.
"Speed will make all the difference and Danny is very hittable.
"Danny landed a nice left hook on the temple to stop Mayo but I don't think the fight should have been stopped.
"It was really a nothing fight for Danny because it was over so quick we couldn't really assess his level of improvement."
World-rated light-heavyweight Paul Briggs is another boxer who subscribes to the theory about Green's raw power overcoming Mundine's fast hands.
So too is IBF vice-president and the man who set up Mundine's world title fight with Sven Ottke in 2001, Ray Wheatley.
"Danny Green will knock Mundine out," Wheatley said.
"Anthony looks tremendous when he's on top and when he's fighting opponents who don't have the firepower to back him up.
"But he can't expect to go 12 rounds with Danny Green and not get tagged by a big punch. When he does Green will overwhelm him on the ropes and stop him."
By Grantlee Kieza and James Hooper
January 22, 2003
WORLD champion Kostya Tszyu believes Danny Green may have too much punching power for Anthony Mundine if the best two Australian super-middleweights agree to a multi-million dollar fight.
Green - a very good chance.
But Tszyu has warned the bout would be no means a breeze with the raw speed of Mundine bound to test the reflexes of hard-hitting former Olympian Green.
"With the performances Danny has been putting in lately you would have to say he is a very good chance," Tszyu said.
"But Anthony is a good fighter as well and he is improving himself so it's going to be a good fight.
"Danny has good got power – how much Anthony can hold it for will be interesting."
Green's trainer Jeff Fenech is hoping to reopen negotiations with Team Mundine about the all-Australian super fight this week.
Discussions have stalled because Mundine and Green have been unable to agree about the size of their pay cheques.
If the bout does go ahead it would be expected to generate more than $2 million through TV rights, sponsorship and gate takings.
Fenech believes that if Mundine is serious about becoming a world champion he should pay Green what he is worth and sign a contract to fight him.
"I don't think Anthony Mundine has the heart for it," Fenech said.
"Danny has the power to knock Mundine cold and Mundine knows it. That's why he won't fight Danny.
"We don't underestimate Mundine; he's got amazing reflexes and throws combinations very fast.
"But Danny is rugged enough to take anything Mundine throws, he has a great jab of his own to keep Mundine off balance and once Danny lands with a big punch it's goodnight."
Other Australian boxing legends are divided about who would win what shapes as one of the most-anticipated fights in Australia for years.
Barry Michael, the former world junior lightweight champion, believes it is too hard to split the pair.
"It's a ****-up. Green looked devastating the other day and he has real power," Michael said.
"Whoever he hits, they're going to get hurt.
"But until he landed the big one against Brad Mayo he had hardly landed a punch, and don't forget Mundine is so explosive and puts six and eight punches together so well."
Bradley Mayo – the man Green knocked cold at Melbourne's Telstra Dome on Sunday and who has also fought Mundine – is in not doubt about the result.
"Danny Green definitely has the power to beat Mundine," said Mayo, who went 10 rounds with Mundine last year.
Experienced Australian boxing trainer Noel Thornberry, who prepared his son Ricky for his loss to Mundine late last year, is in the former rugby league player's corner.
Thornberry feels Mundine's speed would be too much for Green to handle.
"Forget the hype, Mundine will eat Danny Green alive," Thornberry said.
"Speed will make all the difference and Danny is very hittable.
"Danny landed a nice left hook on the temple to stop Mayo but I don't think the fight should have been stopped.
"It was really a nothing fight for Danny because it was over so quick we couldn't really assess his level of improvement."
World-rated light-heavyweight Paul Briggs is another boxer who subscribes to the theory about Green's raw power overcoming Mundine's fast hands.
So too is IBF vice-president and the man who set up Mundine's world title fight with Sven Ottke in 2001, Ray Wheatley.
"Danny Green will knock Mundine out," Wheatley said.
"Anthony looks tremendous when he's on top and when he's fighting opponents who don't have the firepower to back him up.
"But he can't expect to go 12 rounds with Danny Green and not get tagged by a big punch. When he does Green will overwhelm him on the ropes and stop him."