3 Dec 2009

Green stops idol in brutal first round display

8:14 am on 3 December 2009

Australian boxer Danny Green retained his IBO cruiserweight world title with a brutal first-round stoppage of Roy Jones Jr.

Green, 36, floored Jones inside the first minute with a vicious punch to the side of the head, then continued to pummel the American challenger until the referee stopped the bout after two minutes and two seconds.

It was the quickest defeat Jones had suffered in a long and distinguished career that saw him win eight world titles in four different weight divisions and lay claim to the mythical title of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

The loss may also have cost the 40-year-old the chance of a lucrative fight with his old adversary Bernard Hopkins, who had agreed to a rematch next year on the condition Jones beat the Australian.

Jones' record now stands at 54 wins and six losses from 60 fights.