Executioner gives Green's reputation a pummelling -- Sydney Morning Herald

By DANIEL LANE, The Sydney Morning Herald

IF WORLD champion Danny Green needed proof his reputation has been tarnished by Roy Jones Jnr's claim he wore illegal wraps into the ring during the ''greatest victory in Australia's boxing history'', an online interview with Bernard Hopkins has provided it.

Jones and Hopkins fight in Las Vegas on Sunday (Sydney time). It is Jones's first outing since he was stopped in the opening round of his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) cruiserweight challenge in Sydney last December.

After defeating Jones, a world champion in four divisions and an eight-time world champion, Green attempted to lure another all-time great, Hopkins, to Australia. While Hopkins initially said he liked the language Green spoke - a lot of money - he subsequently rejected the offer, deciding to fight a rematch with Jones, although that bout has failed to capture the public's attention.

Green was initially angered by Jones's claim because it suggested he had cheated. Now he could argue Hopkins has proven the accusation has cost him professionally and financially after the fighter nicknamed ''The Executioner'' took a swipe at the Australian during an interview with Craven Online.

''The Danny Green thing to me was a fluke,'' said Hopkins of the win over Jones. ''The Danny Green thing - I mean I don't think you even knew who Danny Green was [before the fight].''

Hopkins then turned his attention to the issue of the hand wraps and also the action of the English referee, Howard Foster, who stepped in quickly to save Jones from further harm after he'd hit the canvas and took 46 unanswered punches.

''When I think of Danny Green and take the alleged hand wraps and all that stuff that Roy has protested, filed petitions,'' he said. ''[I've] seen YouTube. I've seen the clippings of it. My opinion, 'Should they let Roy Jones get killed?' - no. But they should have gave [sic] Roy Jones the benefit of the doubt and see if he gets knocked down again or takes some punches where he's not protecting himself. I didn't see that.''

Green stunned the boxing world with the ease in which he destroyed Jones. It took him 122 brutal seconds, and while the American said immediately after the bout he was beaten by the better man on the night he has since been far from gracious in defeat. Apart from alleging Green wore illegal wraps (strapping) under his gloves he has made other excuses, including that the gloves he wore against Green were substandard.

That claim amuses the Green camp as Jones provided his own gloves.

The local boxing authority, which approved the manner in which Green's fists were strapped, the NSW Combat Sports Authority, gave Jones's complaint about the hand wraps credence by proposing an inquiry into the matter.

Green has said that not only were his wraps inspected on two occasions before the bout, but they were wrapped the same way as his previous five world title bouts.

Source: smh.com.au