For those of you fortunate to get ESPN Classic, check it out tonight at 8 PM ET. Tonight's ESPN Classic bout features Beltway Boxer Reggie "Showtime" Green of Clinton, MD in his controversial October 1, 1999 10-round bout against "Irish" Mickey Ward in Salem, NH.
This bout took place almost six months after Green made an unsuccessful try for Sharmba Mitchell's WBA Junior Welterweight title in DC during the "Triple Jeopardy" card.
Green lost this bout by TKO in the 10th, despite being ahead on two of the three judges's cards. Green fought well until he let Ward come back in the final round. For Ward, this bout took place prior to his epic trilogy with Arturo Gatti.
Green finished his career two years later by losing to Zab Judah for the IBF title.
watched the fight last night. why reggie green stayed on the inside with ward is beyond me; the only reason i can think of would be to negate micky wards vaunted left hook. green clearly posesssed the superior boxing skills. maybe his conditioning wasn't up to par to box for ten rounds.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Green just didn't fight a very smart fight. And while Ward wasn't the most skilled fighter to ever lace on the gloves, he was one tough S.O.B and always in outstanding shape. But yeah...Green fought right into his strengths. It made for a pretty entertaining fight...But not a very wise one.
ReplyDelete* Chuckles and shakes head in bewilderment...*
I've been closely following the sport for about 30 years (I started as a very little kid) and I can't think of a single fighter that put more guys down to the canvas with a left hook to the BODY as did Ward...Man did he ever have some 'sauce' on that shot there...(!)
* The above being said, it was indeed still a very close fight that Green nearly won.
ReplyDeleteI remember watching that fight live but I didn't catch the end of it until the next day. I was a bachelor in those days and I had the twins over that night! Oh what a beautiful team they were - Kay Kay and KiKi. 'Nuff said. Back to the fight. I thought Green had a comfortable lead and I was very surprised (at the time) to find out the next morning that Ward came back and stopped him late in the fight. That Ward was one tough, tough guy. And Green was a good fighter himself. To me, he had a build that would have been better suited for a lower weight class, but still a good solid pro nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteMemories ya'll. This one goes out to the twins, Kay Kay and KiKi. You know we used to get freaky!
OH EWE to the tiggety, tiggety TEE ya'll!
Billy D, are you the same boxing fan who dated JoJo Mike Williams?
ReplyDeleteIf so, you are one of the coolest guys I have ever met. I personally have nothing againg Gay people, you are alright with me. I will see you at the next local fights. I just returned from North Dakata, this time for good. I will be working at same place in NW.
Damn Billy D, I had no idea about your sexual habits. However, you still alright with me>
ReplyDeleteBilly to the diggetty, diggetty, diggetty D don't get down like that Jack! If that's the way you want to get your freak on, it's all right with me, but slow ya role when it comes to poppin that mess to Billy D! Ya heard young buck. But, I must admit, Billy D is a very handsome, astonishly handsome, I must add - MAN! That means Billy D gets down with the ladies, and the ladies only!
ReplyDelete