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Briggs' preparation in question

07/30/2010 07:09:40 AM

gym he was training at and mistaking strangers' cars for his own.

Billy Hussein's reputation as a good guy in a sometimes shady industry would have most agreeing that his position in his friend's corner was in the best interests, considering Briggs would surely have fought regardless.

With the clarity of hindsight it should have been more obvious that Briggs was unfit to fight, but past deeds had many clinging to the hope that the former star of world boxing would have enough left to offer Green some resistance.

In 2008, Briggs made an attempt at a comeback. He trained for a week, but when he was unable to react in training both he and his trainer unanimously agreed his time as a fighter had passed.

The old adage that any publicity is good publicity will be put to the test with predictions of the death of boxing coming in the wake of one of the sports saddest nights.

There were no winners in the fight, but the New South Wales Sports Combat Authority who copped criticism for denying Briggs a licence to fight, citing a fear for his neurological well-being, is entitled to say, 'I told you so'.

On the other hand, the WA authorities have been left looking sheepish after granting their favourite son the fight on home soil.

In Green's last two opponents we have had a man who has been in retirement for years and another that had been inactive and irrelevant for years, and so now, for the first time in years, Green is on the precipice of losing his grip on a large sect of Australian sporting fans.

Of course it wouldn't be an Australian boxing drama if Anthony Mundine wasn't receiving some face time and the outspoken anti-Green was always going to weigh in.

Mundine has copped plenty for his cherry-picking from all-quarters, but this time the shoe was on the other foot and 'The Man' couldn't resist a jab at 'The Green Machine', tweeting that he would have been locked up for staging such a fight.

Reports emerged that Briggs had come cap-in-hand and asked Mundine for a fight and a pay day to rescue his financial status.

To their credit, Mundine and his camp are said to have offered the money but turned down the fight out of a fears for Briggs's safety

Without ever fully exposing the full circumstances, the furore over the fight has all but died off. Investigations held by the IBO are hardly likely to indict one of their champions in Green – after all, he pays their sanctioning fees.

Paul Briggs' Facebook page was hugely active immediately after the fight. For the overwhelming majority it was support, well-wishes and respect shown for a truly remarkable career in combat sports.

Others revelled in the anonymity of the internet and enraged Briggs' friends and family with offensive tirades against the former world-title contender.

Like Mike Tyson with Kevin McBride and Muhamad Ali with Leon Spinks, Briggs now has a sad footnote on his career, but his former deeds cannot be undone.

He has left a strong legacy in both Muay Thai and boxing circles and his fights with Tomas Adamek in 2007 were modern epics.

Supporters of Briggs have recognised this will be a time when he most needs their support.

Paul Briggs has the word 'journey' tattooed on his arm, and while it has

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
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