By Ian S Palmer
There’s an intriguing domestic bout down under this Wednesday, August 3rd as fellow Australian cruiserweights Danny Green and Kane Watts will battle it out for the national title at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne. This is Green’s first contest against a fellow countryman since meeting Paul Briggs back in 2010. Green last fought in August of 2015 when he beat Roberto Bolonti by 10-round unanimous decision. His previous outing came back in November of 2012 with a unanimous decision over Shane Cameron. Watts’ last bout took place on May 21st when he stopped Javier Dario Lardapide in the first round.
The 43-year-old Green will climb into the ring with a record of 34-5 with Kos. The 34-year-old Watts enters the fight with a mark of 18-2 and has 11 Kos to his name. Green is hoping to get into the ring with his old nemesis Anthony Mundine before he retires, which means he more or less has to beat Watts rather impressively. Green has been quite inactive though with just three fights since 2012 and when you combine that with his age he’s going to have some ring rust to get through. Watts is nine years his junior and has fought on 10 occasions over the last three years. Watts has also won his last nine outings.
Green is a two-time world champion who stands 6-feet-1-inch tall and has a 73-inch reach. He turned pro back in 2001 and has 215 rounds under his belt since then. He’s got better-than-average power as his knockout ratio currently stands at 72 percent. Green’s five losses have come against Markus Beyer by disqualification in 2003, Beyer by 12-round majority decision two years later, Anthony Mundine by 12-round unanimous decision in 2006, Antonio Tarver by ninth-round stoppage in 2011 and to Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in his very next fight just four months later.
Green’s chin is now questionable with his last two losses coming by way of stoppage. He’s also beaten a slew of good boxers during his career such as Eric Lucas, Manny Siaca, Otis Griffin, Roy Jones Jr., Paul Briggs, BJ Flores and Danny Santiago. These were all good opponents, but none of them were really the cream of the crop other than Jones, and he was well past his prime when they met. Green did manage to win the vacant IBO Cruiserweight Championship and defended it four times before running into Tarver. He then won the vacant title again in 2012 with his win over Shane Cameron. Green also beat Stipe Drews in 2007 for the WBA Light Heavyweight crown. He was also the interim WBC Super Middleweight titleholder, but lost in title fights to Beyer.
Watts has fought 88 rounds since turning pro in 2009 and at 6-foot-1-inch tall with a 73-inch reach he’s the same size as Green. Watts has decent power and his knockout ratio is currently 55 per cent. Watts has fought his entire career in Australia against mainly unheard of opponents. He’s a former Australian Cruiserweight Champion, but just 10 of his 20 opponents have had winning records. Watts’ losses were to Daniel Ammann by 10-round unanimous decision in 2013 and a six-round unanimous decision to Oscar Siale a year earlier.
Prediction…
Green’s age and inactivity won’t help him, but he’s miles ahead of Watts when it comes to experience. Watts has a puncher’s chance in this fight if he can catch Green cleanly. However if Green can use his experience to stay out of range, he should take a decision. This is a tossup and it all depends on Green’s chin. Let’s give him the benefit of doubt and go with Green by decision.
