Lean, Mean Green Says He's Using Brain And Brawn
Sun Herald
Sunday December 11, 2005
DANNY Green has delivered a brutally honest self-assessment, saying he is "nowhere near the world's best fighter", but believes his punishing training regimen compensates for any lack of ability.
Green, who insists he trains harder than any other fighter, today tackles Mexican veteran Kirino Garcia in Perth, where arch rival Anthony Mundine opposes New Zealander Rico Chong Nee.At 32, Green believes he is still improving under the tutelage of new trainer Ismael Salas, who has been concentrating on his footwork.Green, renowned for the punching power that has secured 19 of 20 wins inside the distance, bristles at suggestions he relies on his strength alone. He says he is using his brains more and not just jumping on opponents and can now fight inside and outside."I can fight in a phone box, or I can fight in a paddock, but at one stage I was more concentrated on just the phone booth," he said. "I'm nowhere near the world's best fighter, but I believe I'm the hardest trainer. "I don't think there's any other fighter that puts in as much as I do."That fitness and strength makes up for the lack of ability I have, but my boxing ability isn't that bad."I didn't represent my country at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and win an interim world title and beat very good fighters just by being strong. You've got to have some skill and ability and instinct."My power comes from technique and it takes a lot of skill to punch with the correct technique. "A lot of guys are fast and flashy and they slap a lot, and that's not technique."Although he lives in Sydney, Green is arguably the most popular sportsperson in his home city of Perth.His Perth-based manager, Wayne Loxley, said: "In a state that prides itself on tradition with a lot of great sportsmen, he's been touted as the most popular West Australian sportsman at present. "That's some accolade, because you've got [Test cricketer] Justin Langer and a lot of other top-level sportsmen."What Danny has done is transform a sport that has probably had a lull in recent years . . . he's taken the sport to another level in terms of his profile."While Mundine visited schools and hospitals in Perth during the week, Green deliberately stayed away from such activities. But there will be nothing low-key about the response he receives at Challenge Stadium today."I've been to a lot of sporting events, but it is as chilling an atmosphere as I've ever experienced when Danny walks out," Loxley said. "He's got that huge level of support and people just go crazy."
© 2005 Sun Herald