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Super middleweight contender Danny Green returned to form after his disappointing majority decision loss to WBC champion Markus Beyer with a devastating 5th round TKO of rugged journeyman James Crawford on Sunday night.
In front of a parochial crowd at Challenge Stadium in his hometown of Perth, Western Australia, Green dominated the former world title challenger with stiff jabs, crisp left hooks and deadly right hands before sending the 36-year-old American to the canvas three times in the 5th.
With the three knockdown rule in effect, referee Brad Vocale had no choice but to wave off the fight at 2:08 of the round.
"This is what Salas and I trained to do," said Green in the ring after the bout. It was Green’s first fight under the auspices of new trainer Ismael Salas, who replaced his former trainer Jeff Fenech.
"I am very happy and content with my performance."
Crawford came out aggressively in the first round, but Green boxed effectively off the back foot and landed some jarring shots on the wild-swinging American. Whenever Green landed a shot Crawford would drop his hands and mug the 32-year-old Australian, a pattern that would be repeated throughout the fight.
In the second round Green took control with his sharp, accurate jab which he landed frequently to the head and body. Crawford found himself on the canvas midway through the round but referee Vocale ruled it to be a slip. By the time the bell sounded to end the round Crawford was sporting an abrasion under his right eye courtesy of Green’s piston-like lead left.
Crawford started to tire in the third as Green began to open up with hooks to the head and body and right hands that couldn’t miss. A left hook opened up a small but nasty cut in the corner of Crawford’s right eye and a booming right hand rocked Crawford just before the bell to end the third.
Green continued the assault in the fourth, snapping back Crawford’s head regularly with hooks and crosses. A minute into the fifth a solid left hook sent Crawford to the deck. After surviving the count, Crawford waded in only to be caught by a counter left hook from Green. Rising on rubbery legs, Crawford did his best to rally back but Green overwhelmed the outgunned visitor with a flood hooks and crosses that left Crawford crumpled in the corner.
After the fight Green reaffirmed his desire to set up a big money fight with domestic rival Anthony Mundine. "When you're ready Choc, let’s do the deal and let’s do it now."
Almost immediately television commentator Andy Raymond received a phone call from Mundine, who asked to speak to Green. The two world ranked super middleweights agreed to start negotiations during the week about this highly anticipated match-up.
"It's easy work for me," Mundine then told Raymond on the phone. "I'm happy to do it, let’s bring it on. All he has to do is sign the contract."
With the win Green moves to 20-2 (19) and looks forward to either a third crack at Beyer’s WBC title or a big money fight with Mundine. Crawford, who for once had the privilege of not taking a fight on short notice, drops to 40-11-2 (17).
In the main support bout junior middleweight Daniel ‘The Rock’ Dawson, 20-0 (14), was impressive in dismantling rangy Paraguayan Jorge Perez, 14-7-1 (13), on points over eight rounds by scores of 80-71, 80-71 and 80-70. Perez had difficulty finding grip on the canvas but this handicap didn’t impact the result.
22-year-old super middleweight Daniel ‘Porky’ Lovett upped his record to 9-2 (6) with an entertaining eight round unanimous decision win over Saiseelek Sakseepeung from Thailand. Sakseepeung was an awkward customer who made Lovett work for the win. Scores were 79-72, 79-1 and 79-71. World rated Gairy ‘Superman’ St. Clair, 37-3-2 (17), stopped rugged Chuwan Sor Vorapin by 4th round TKO at 2:58 in a battle of junior lightweights. At welterweight Albert Howell and Nagin Gurumu fought to a four round majority draw by scores of 38-38, 38-38 and 39-37 for Howell. Junior welterweight Ryan Langham put away Thailand’s Singsamut Eausampan at 2:36 of the 4th and final round.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2005
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By Anthony Cocks, Site Editor (July 4, 2005) 
