By Mark Vester
The investigation by the Western Australian Professional Sports Commission is over. IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green was cleared of any possible wrongdoing for his July 29-second knockout win of Paul Briggs at the Challenge Stadium in Perth. The same can't be said about Briggs. Fans and local writers were screaming that Briggs took a clear dive after Green knocked him out with a left jab that barely connected to the top of the head.
The fight had trouble getting approved and was forced to do a last minute switch to Perth. The reason for the trouble was because Briggs had retired over three years ago and there were rumors that he was suffering from serious neurological issues.
During the investigation, Briggs came clean and made admissions that he was still suffering from numerous health issues. The Western Australian Professional Sports Commission has ordered him to pay a fine of $75,000 for failing to reveal he had health issues prior to the contest. Briggs made $200,000 for the fight.
"Paul Briggs, by not disclosing at any time to the examining doctors, his opponent or the professional sports combat commission the complete picture of his medical condition in relation to his nervous system... has participated in a sham contest," AAP reported a commission spokesman as saying.
The commission also passed on details of a number of unusually high bets on a first round knockout win for Green to local police.
"That material has been referred to the Commissioner of Police, as the police are the appropriate body to deal with any issues that, in their opinion may arise from that documentation," the commission's report said.
Green defends the title against undefeated BJ Flores on November 17.