Jones demands wrap probe
The Age
Saturday December 26, 2009
ROY JONES jnr has demanded his knockout loss to Danny Green be overturned to a disqualification victory, citing illegal use of hand wraps by the Australian, and comparing the loss to the decision that cost him the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.Jones, who labelled Green a cheat last week, has filed a formal complaint to the NSW Combat Sports Authority demanding an independent investigation and hearing.He claims Green used adhesive wrapping that hardened under the gloves, and other wrapping that contravened the measurements set out in the rules, which became "a dangerous weapon" and was "detrimental" to his performance.Jones was stopped in the first round of the bout at Acer Arena on December 2, having been floored by a right hand above the ear which was followed by a barrage of shots as Jones lay on the ropes, forcing the referee to halt the contest. Green retained the IBO cruiserweight title with the victory.A letter sent to the authority by Jones' company Square Ring Promotions included a photo of Green with the allegedly illegal wraps on his hands as he kissed wife Nina in the changerooms, and another photo of the packaging the wraps were in.The letter sets out a number of perceived breaches of the handwrapping rules.The letter concludes: "Prior to the bout the last time Mr Jones fought outside of the United States he was denied an Olympic gold medal in what has been described as 'the most egregious decision in Olympic boxing history'."Mr Jones should not be subjected to a second similar ignominy in his first professional fight outside of the United States but should instead be accorded the same standards of honesty and fairness aspired to by the rest of society."Jones, 40, spoke of a rematch with Green on neutral soil but given his age and record he would likely suffer a similar fate.
© 2009 The Age
