By Mark Vester
The fallout from the Danny Green-Paul Briggs clash is getting bigger by the hour. On Wednesday at Challenge Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Green (30-3, 27KOs) retained his IBO cruiserweight title after stopping Paul Briggs (26-4) in 29-seconds of the first round. Green threw a jab that barely hit Briggs near the top of his head. Briggs stumbled for a few steps and fell for the full count. Several replays showed the punch barely touching the head of Briggs.
Fans the arena went wild and began to pelt Briggs in the ring and showered him with objects as he tried to make his way back to the dressing room. The Western Australian Professional Combat Sports Commission announced on Thursday that it plans to investigate the fight because of the numerous accusations that Briggs took a dive.
It was Briggs' first fight in over three years. There were rumors that he retired in 2007 due to neurological problems. The fight with Green had to be moved from Sydney to Perth after the New South Wales Sports Authority refused to sanction it out of concern for the health and welfare of Briggs.
Several betting outfits are refusing to pay numerous "last minute" bets until the investigation is finished. There were several big bets that were placed, at the late hour, for a first round and a second round knockout win for Green.
Briggs' trainer Billy Hussein told thewest.com.au late last night that his fighter was hospitalized after a doctor took a look at him at the hotel.
"The fight doctor came back to the hotel and checked him out and said it was for the best that he went to hospital," Hussein said. "Paul doesn't know what happened in there - he can't remember. I haven't got a clue what happened in there. I know Paul has had problems in the past but I'm speechless. He shouldn't have been in the ring with Danny Green - now people won't remember him as a great fighter, they'll just remember him for this."
