Green to appeal knockout loss to Johnson in Super Six tournament

Super middleweight Allan Green, who was eliminated from Showtime's Super Six tournament following his eighth-round knockout loss to Glen Johnson on Saturday,

Super middleweight Allan Green, who was eliminated from Showtime's Super Six tournament following his eighth-round knockout loss to Glen Johnson on Saturday, announced his intention to file an appeal of the decision with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Green (29-3) is appealing referee Robert Byrd's decision to call a halt to the fight in the eighth. Green contends that after Johnson knocked him down he beat Byrd's 10-count. Green also believes the knockdown came as a result of illegal rabbit punches from Johnson to the back of his head.

"A review of the fight makes it clear that the blow which put Mr. Green to the canvas and led to Mr. Byrd stopping the fight was a rabbit blow," said Green's attorney, Josh Dubin. "There is absolutely no point in having rules in the first place if they are not going to be enforced. Now it is just a matter of asking the Nevada State Athletic Commission to apply its own rules. That is all we ask for. I have full confidence that the Commission will do that."

At the time of the stoppage, Green was leading on two of the three judges scorecards. However Green was wobbled by the knockdown while Johnson (51-14) appeared to be getting stronger as the fight moved into the later rounds.

"The fight was close, no doubt about that, but my guy was winning," said Green's advisor, Greg Leon. "I just want him be able to win or lose within the rules. He was hit in the back of the head at the end of the third round and then again in the eighth. He should have been given time to recover. I just hope the Nevada Commission hears our case fairly. If they do that, I have no doubt they will overturn the referee's decision."

If the decision is not overturned, Green will be out of the Super Six. Johnson, who was added to the tournament following the withdrawl of Andre Dirrell, is scheduled to face either Carl Froch or Arthur Abraham in the semifinals of the tournament. Abraham and Froch are scheduled to fight on November 27th in Helsinki, Finland.

A representative for Showtime could not immediately be reached for comment.