Roy Jones Jr. wants TKO loss to Danny Green overturned
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The promotion company of veteran boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. has asked an Australian boxing commission to ‘disqualify’ Danny Green and overturn the Aussie’s surprising first-round TKO victory over Jones earlier this month. Jones’ representatives point to alleged excessive use of wrapping tape and bandages on Green’s hands.
In a letter to an official of the Combat Sports Industry in Sydney, John Wirt, the chief executive of Jones’ Square Ring Promotions, wrote that the wraps ‘contain an adhesive (polyamide substrate with latex coating) that allows the wrapping to be stretched and secured tightly with a hardening effect (similar to an ACE bandage) in a way that is substantially different from the effect obtained by using traditional soft surgical-type gauze bandages.’
A copy of the letter, dated Tuesday, was sent to The Times by Jones’ marketing agent, Mercedes Ganon.
Wirt noted that objections to Green’s wraps were denied on fight night, and that Jones was told to fight or be disqualified. Green proceeded to stun Jones and then called out the man Jones was supposed to fight next, Bernard Hopkins, in a long-awaited rematch that has since been canceled.
Wirt argued that his company’s subsequent inspection of the tape used to secure the bandages showed it was twice the width allowed, and he added that he will take his complaint with the evidence and a photo of Green and the tape to International Boxing Organization President Ed Levine to seek an investigative hearing.
Wirt said a review ‘leads us to only one conclusion: not only was Mr. Green’s hand wrapping clearly in violation of the New South Wales boxing regulations on numerous counts as described ... but also the combination of those violations resulted in a very dangerous weapon ... all boxing hand wrapping regulations are designed to prohibit.’ Wirt requested an independent probe and hearing in an effort to disqualify Green.
Green and the related boxing authorities were not immediately available for comment.
-- Lance Pugmire
