All Or Nothing: Danny Green’s Light Heavyweight Boxing Gamble

Tonight at Challenge Stadium in Perth, Australia former WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion Danny Green takes a dangerous risk by stepping up to light heavyweight in order to tangle with longtime nemesis Jason DeLisle for what very well could be the right to challenge for both the IBF and WBA world titles. Officially at stake are the IBF Pan Pacific title belt and the PABA’s number one ranking but in concrete terms, both fighters are aware that a loss likely means an end to their chances at genuine world honors.

Green, 21-3 (19), whose firm Green Machine is promoting tonight’s fight card, has faced DeLisle, 18-5-2 (9), twice before and has no illusions of what lies ahead. “I’m looking forward to this fight and DeLisle is hungry, he has a lot to prove in this one,” said Green. “We’re both coming off big losses and are looking for big victories against each other. It’s one apiece as he beat me in the amateurs, but I knocked him out as a professional and I’m looking to do that again in this fight.”

The Perth puncher’s move into the light heavyweight division is borne partly out of the opportunities that lay in wait to the winner of tonight’s contest but also due to the realities of Green’s own physiology. “I was on a very, very strict diet for four months before my last fight against Anthony Mundine and I was at less than 3% body fat, which is basically unhealthy,” he recalled.

“That’s lower than what Lance Armstrong does when he’s cooking up the hills in the Tour De France. I haven’t been soaking in hot baths at 10:30 at night to lose a kilo and a half in a steaming hot tub every night just so I can wake up and have breakfast everyday. I’m not fighting the scales like I was before. Light heavyweight has been a little more comfortable for me and I’m looking forward to this fight against Jason and I’m going to see how I feel at this weight and take it from there.”

While DeLisle has come up short in his last two bouts against current IBF Champion Clinton Woods and ex-WBO titlist Julio Gonzalez, “The Nailer” brings to this contest the well earned reputation as a determined hard man. Green isn’t shy about giving DeLisle his due but is counting on his own qualities to carry him through to the winner’s circle. “I pay Jason a lot of respect,” says Green.

“He’s a tough guy and a warrior who deserves a lot of respect but when I look back about saying things like that, I think to myself, ‘Hang on, I’m tougher than Jason DeLisle; I punch harder and I’m faster.’ I realize it’s going to be an extremely hard fight but if I remain confident and believe in what I have, and I believe that I have an edge over Jason in all areas, then I’m confident of victory. I’m not looking at anything else other than a victory in this fight.”

Whatever happens in the main event tonight at Challenge Stadium, the repercussions are sure to be felt at the highest level of the light heavyweight division. But Danny Green won’t allow what the future may hold to impact upon the focus he must retain if he is to emerge a winner from his clash with Jason DeLisle. “This fight isn’t for a world title, but it’s going to get rankings in the WBA and IBF in the light heavyweight division, so it’s a very important in that respect but that’s as far as I’m looking,” said Green.

“The next day, after I’m victorious in the DeLisle fight, I’ll sit down with my manager and we’ll look at where we go from there. Right now, I look forward to repaying the loyalty and the faith that my loyal fans have shown to me by winning the fight on September 20 against Jason DeLisle.”

Green Machine Promotions’ Danny Green vs. Jason DeLisle IBF Pan Pacific Championship/PABA Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator clash will be held on Wednesday, September 20 at Challenge Stadium in Perth, Australia. First bout begins at 5.15PM with the main event expected to be at 7.15PM. Tickets are available for the event through Ticketmaster on 136100 or the following link http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/. This card will also be shown live on MainEvent and Foxtel, click on http://www.mainevent.com.au/home.asp to learn more.