I quit digging job to fight on Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou undercard – now I've earned British title shot with epic one-punch KO
08/03/2024 18:48
Louis Greene scored an early contender for Knockout of the Night on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou.
'The Medway Mauler' quit his job as a digger to fully concentrate on training for his fight with unbeaten Liverpudlian contender Jack McGann at 'Knockout Chaos' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday night.
It paid off in round one as he landed a massive right hand that dropped his opponent, who got back to his feet but was deemed in no fit state to continue by the referee.
McGann entered the bout in the unique position of already knowing his next opponent due to his status as the mandatory challenger for the British title.
The former MMA fighter backed by actors Tom Hardy and Stephen Graham was slated to compete for the vacant belt against Sam Gilley in July.
However, Greene has ruined his plans with a show-stealing knockout and will now get the chance to avenge the unanimous decision defeat he suffered against Gilley last October.
“I gave up work for this," he told Ariel Helwani in the ring post-fight.
“I jumped from job to job that fit around [my training], provided for my kids, and being able to fight for a living. For this one, I gave up work completely to come here and put on a show.
“I knew I was going to do it. I was confident all week. I'm not a betting man, my brother just won a couple of grand on me because he bet this round.
“I was digging holes, fitting water mains with my pal George, who is sitting there, in the slum we live in – it’s going to be rammed with the beers when I get back, boys.
Greene credited his family for saving him from going down the wrong path before he became a professional boxer with a 17-4 record.
He added: “Me and my dad come from nothing. Absolutely nothing!
“Just a working class background and I was a bad kid. I was on my way to prison and my dad saved me, stuck by me, and my dad is a Postman.
“My dad is here with me now sharing all of this.
“I can’t even put into words how it feels.
“I had a son when I was 16 years old and I feel like I owe my life to him.”
