BoxRec

Plotting an assault on the IBO light-heavyweight title, Danny Green has set his sights on one of Anthony Mundine's conquerors before a planned title shot against Rocky Balboa's final opponent.

Green announced on Wednesday his next fight, in Perth on May 30, would be against Puerto Rican Manny Siaca, best known in Australia for his triumph over Mundine in Sydney three years ago.

What could follow for Green is a championship bout against American Antonio Tarver, whose comeback to the real-life ring is due on April 22 after his recent appearance in the final instalment of the Rocky series.

woe31 wrote:How does Siaca do it?! He just lost a fight for the vacant WBA strap and gets another eliminator straight away and if he manages to win, it'll be his 6th crack at a title in his 28th pro fight! Best managment team ever!

This should be a decent scrap if Siaca hasn't faded too much since the Mundine fight. He's big and strong, but doesn't do anything exceptionally well. I favour Green to win a reasonably wide decision, but am hoping for a confidence boosting stoppage win.

Any idea which organisation it's an eliminator for? I would assume the WBA as Siaca appears to be their love-child and that Green/Branco has been rumoured for some time.

Marlin wrote:This all seems like very good news for Danny. The big question now is how he will go against Taver? Or should I not look past Siaca just yet???

Ben Keilty wrote:

Marlin wrote:This all seems like very good news for Danny. The big question now is how he will go against Taver? Or should I not look past Siaca just yet???

It would be foolish to look past Siaca, Siaca is a very underated fighter and has been in with better competition than Green. I see this being competitive early until Danny's power makes the diffrence in the late rounds.

ryan711 wrote:danny should stop him before the 5th, Green has been sparring with Julio Gonzales and cruiserweight Vadim Tokarev.Vadim had 15kgs on him but didnt go 2 hard on him so danny says.

ryan711 wrote:www.dannygreen.com.au lol i;m in the know lol

GM #1 wrote:A mate just bought his tix and tells me this fight has less than 100 tix left which shows there should be good interest in this bout!!

Whole undercard looks well matched. Anyone know who helps these guys in Perth put it all together?

Green faces Siaca for light heavyweight legitimacy

By Paul Upham: Australian former super middleweight title-holder Danny Green faces Puerto Rican Manny Siaca in Perth on May 30 in an attempt to confirm himself as a genuine light heavyweight world title contender. The 34 year-old has had two knockout wins at 175lbs since his loss to arch rival Anthony Mundine one year ago. The “Green Machine” wants to beat the man who beat “The Man” three years ago to win the WBA super middleweight world title.

“It is pretty exciting,” Green said of facing Siaca. “Australia wide, I think it is going to have a pretty big impact because of his history here on our shores, taking the WBA title from Mundine back home.”

31 year-old Siaca took Mundine’s WBA belt from him at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, knocking him down in round 2 and winning on the judge’s cards over the distance.

“I remember when he dropped Mundine in the second round and he just applied constant aggression and pressure,” recalled Green. “It was an awkward fight for both guys. No one really landed shots consistently. Both were tentative. Manny let the punches go more and he won a very close decision. It was hard to split them, because there wasn’t a lot of action during the fight. I have watched him in other fights and he is all out aggression. He can really punch and he has a strong hook and a strong jab. He has got a good right hand as well, so he has got a full package. With his father (Manny Siaca Sr.) having trained 23 world champions, you have got to respect that. His father has got the ability to change things in the corner and adapt if things aren’t going their way. My trainer (Ismael) Salas and I are excited about the prospect of not just fighting Manny Siaca, but coming up against a very strong team in the Siaca’s.”

This fight will be for the regional IBO Asia Pacific and IBF Pan Pacific titles with the winner a step closer to a world title fight. Siaca 20-6 (18) is currently rated WBA No.9 and IBF No.15, while Green is rated WBC No.9, WBA No.6, IBF No.7 and WBO No.12. After beating Mundine, Siaca lost the WBA world title in his next fight to Mikkel Kessler in November 2004. Green 23-3 (21) won the WBC interim super middleweight world title against Canadian Eric Lucas in December 2003, before losing his rematch with then WBC world champion Markus Beyer in March 2005.

“You have two former world champs fighting off in a new weight division,” said Green. “The winner of our fight could be fighting for the IBO world title. I will be very hungry to get a fight with Antonio Tarver, but I have to get through Siaca first. He has had 18 knockouts in 20 wins and I seriously can’t afford to look ahead of someone the calibre of Manny Siaca. We have had 30 knockout wins between us in 43 wins. We have only had four fights go the distance where we have won, so I think that for whoever wins, it is going to be a hell of a fight. I think that makes it exciting for the fans.”

After his points loss to Mundine last year, in one of the biggest fights in Australia’s history, Green realises that he must make the most of this opportunity against Siaca so that he can continue towards his dream of becoming a true world champion recognised around the world.

“I haven’t got that many fights left in my career,” he admitted. “I don’t want to be fighting forever. I want to be retired before I pass my best. I think I have a limited time left. I mentally give myself a picture of where I want to be in a couple of years time. I only want to take the big fights, the fights that mean a lot. Siaca has got a big name in Australia after beating Mundine and it is going to be a great battle while it lasts.”


Paul Upham
Contributing Editor