Middleweight Ian Green hopes to bring the WBA middleweight title back to Paterson, New Jersey, but first, he will be awarded the keys to the city on July 16.
Green, 30, is a top-rated middleweight according to the WBA who rank him at No. 3. Despite struggling to secure a title fight, he is currently targeting WBA titleholder Erislandy Lara. Green, promoted by Don King, is hopeful that King’s ability to win the purse bid for Trevor Bryan against Daniel Dubois will help in securing a fight with Lara if the bout is ordered by the sanctioning body.
Yet Green’s in-ring achievements pale compared to the adversity he has faced outside the ring. His mother, Lorie Brown, supported him through his father’s death from cancer, but she tragically died in a car accident in 2019. From 2017 to 2020, Green was inactive and had two losses, and was written off by most. He returned to the ring in Mexico on Halloween 2020, rebuilding his career with undefeated performances against top contenders and regional journeymen after learning he would no longer get “A-side fights.”
He defeated Tyler “Herc” Howard on a Top Rank card in 2021, overcame a head clash to win against undefeated Alexander Castro, and most recently won a 10-round unanimous decision against Roy Barringer on the undercard of Adrien Broner-Blair Cobbs, despite battling back from a nearly shut eye caused by an elbow in round three.
“My mother told me before she died that I would never lose again,” Green said. “I want to prove her right.”
Green also reflected on the timing of receiving the keys to the city, explaining it will happen five years to the day he last spoke to his mother. “My mom passed July 17th, but exactly five years ago on the 16th was the last time me and her had a conversation,” Green said.
Green is somber in reflection. He knows his blemished record has stalled his career. He lost two fights in the developmental phase of his career and has found it hard to gain interviews or major traction as he moves toward a title. His division is stagnant. Jermall Charlo recently lost his title outside of the ring, and current titleholders like Lara, Carlos Adames (WBC) and unified IBF and WBO titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly have not generated significant attention.
“Those losses cost me,” Green said. “I look at Conor Coyle, who is ranked above me—he hasn’t fought anybody, but he is undefeated. If I had pushed a little bit harder when I know I should have, I would still be undefeated right now.”
Green found himself with Don King Promotions, a promoter he speaks highly of, since King wanted to work with Green. “I want to work with people who want to work with me,” Green said regarding his partnership with King. Green signed with the promoter after his win over Howard.
Now, as the world turns to Alimkhanuly’s next title defense against undefeated Andrei Mikhailovich on Saturday, Green hopes his name can emerge as a new contender. His life has been filled with tragedy outside of the ring and anguish inside of it. He is now confident that no matter what comes next—a key to the city, a title shot—he believes he can handle it because he has been tested every step of the way.
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