GREEN vs LUCAS HAS POTENTIAL TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING BOUTS OF THE YEAR! By Darren Yates, Down Under

Danny Green and Eric Lucas have one thing in common, both have lost controversial decisions to current WBC Super Middleweight Champion Marcus Beyer, although in very different circumstances. The most difficult factor for anyone fighting a German or German based fighter and the bout is held in Germany is the fact that the promoters over there pressure everyone from judges, referees to sanctioning body officials to make sure their hometown heroes don't lose. Your best chance of winning is by a clean knockout, like what Corrie Sanders achieved because TKOs from cuts usually end up in a points loss to the visitor. I am still at a loss as to how Mr. Julio Gonzalez scored a decision win over Dariusz Michalczewski.

As Marcus Beyer is unfit to make his mandatory title defence against Eric Lucas due to the beating Danny Green gave him in his last bout, the WBC has set up this interim title fight between Green and Lucas. In reality this is for the WBC belt as I feel Danny Green had the title in his grasp and it was stolen from him by corrupt German promoters who pressured the referee and officials to reach an unreasonable decision. Hopefully Danny Green will get fairer treatment in Canada this time round.

How these two gentlemen match up is extremely interesting as both men like to fight and not run and hold. I have seen both men fight and both are fairly impressive. Lucas is tough and experienced and one would have to say he has the edge and should be considered favourite having fought the better opposition in his career, including Roy Jones Jnr. Also the bout is being held in Lucas' home country and it is in the middle of winter, something Danny Green probably hasn't experienced much, having lived most of his life in balmy Perth, Australia. I don't think hometown advantage will worry Green much considering that battering he gave Marcus Beyer at home. However, the cold that Green is not used to may be a factor.

Both men will be hungry for victory and this has me very excited in anticipation of an exciting bout. Most people consider Danny Green to be a slugger, but the fact of the matter is that he is a good sound boxer and he was out boxing Beyer with a beautiful jab as well as out slugging him. Danny Green can win this fight if he doesn't make some of the mistakes he made in Germany. The obvious one is be more careful with your head and roughhouse tactics and the MAIN factor is don't showboat and let your opponent back into the fight when you have him hurt. Green probably could have finished Beyer but he raised his hands a couple of times, shrugged his shoulders and threw in a few other forms of gamesmanship he didn't need to do. If trainer Jeff Fenech didn't kick his butt for this I hope he has made it clear not to do it again as Lucas is going to be a tough fight for Green.

From all reports Danny Green is extremely pumped up for this fight and has worked even harder for this bout. Judging by the media coverage, Green is also looking extremely fit. Jeff Fenech's main concern is getting Green used to the time difference between North America and Australia, he thinks that you can't acclimate so he has Green in Florida at the moment preparing for this bout. Jeff, I hope this strategy pays off mate.

The only other factor here is that I haven't seen Danny Green take a real punch yet, he may well have but he has KO'd all of his opponents so easily that I haven't noticed. Green shows all the signs of possessing a good chin. I think we will find out for sure come fight night as I feel Eric Lucas will not be disposed of as quickly as Green's other victims. We all know Lucas has a GOOD chin, he's proved that in the past.

As for Lucas, not much is known about his preparation or how determined he is for this bout. I can only guess that he is pumped up for this bout too considering his reported work ethic. I agree with the experts that Lucas has to be considered the favourite, but Green could care less what anyone else thinks. He will be focused.

To me this is a real pick-em bout. Lucas' toughness and experience versus Green's desire and power! We could end up seeing a bout that is as action packed and exciting as Jeff Harding-Dennis Andries I (Ring magazine's fight of the year 1989!) and I'm hoping that the Aussie battler is victorious against the odds this time too. This bout could wrap up the end of the year in a real exciting fashion.

12-12-03

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