Greene’s Time Has Come

For a while, “Mean” Joe Greene was fine making his way in boxing unattached. He had just a few years as a pro in the sport, and was learning the ins and outs of the sweet science.
But eventually, frustration took over. He was tired of seeing other local prospects pushed ahead as he missed out on opportunities. Too often, fighters were ducking him, avoiding the knockout artist from Jamaica.
“It was hard to get good fights going solo,” said Greene, 21, who joined Gallagher Boxing Gym in Jamaica at the age of eight to thwart local bullies. “I had to get a promoter to get the fights I wanted.”
It was only a matter of time until he found a home. Besides his quick start in the pro ranks, Greene was impressive as an amateur. Twice at 165 pounds, he won the New York Golden Gloves crown in addition to the 2004 National Golden Gloves. He lost in the 2004 Olympic trials to the eventual bronze medalist, Andre Dirrell, before turning pro in March of 2005 with a 165-5 record.
Just two fights after signing with Seminole Warriors Boxing, based in Davie, FL, he has his first belt, the NABA middleweight title, and has twice appeared on national television, which included headlining ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights a few weeks ago.
“I work hard,” Greene said, “so I knew it was coming one day.”
His new team is just as confident. Leon Margules, the executive director of Warriors Boxing, had been following Greene’s career for quite some time. He saw the southpaw power-puncher at a few local fights in New York, and the two parties began to talk late in 2006. They inked the deal in April.
“They are good people and they can help me further my career,” Greene said. “That’s one of the main reasons I signed with them.”
Greene (16-0, 12 KOs) and his father and trainer, Joe Greene Sr., like everything about Warriors Boxing so far. They have taken to the accessibility - Greene Sr. said he can call Margules at any time of the day to chat - and most of all the publicity and notoriety that has included Greene’s picture in a lengthy story in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and his image across the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino marquee in Hollywood, Florida for his last fight.
“I don’t think we could have gotten that attention in New York,” Greene Sr. said. “When we go down there, they knew us. They took to us right away.”
“He cannot only be a world champion, but a superstar because of his style,” Margules said. “In today’s market, fighters need to be more than just fighters; they have to be exciting, and he’s that.
“Skills, power, work ethic, a good body puncher, left-handed, he has all of the tools to be a great middleweight.”
Greene proved as much when he took out Darryl Salmon (16-2, 4 KOs) in his first legit main event. He certainly made the most of his chance. The 21-year-old rebounded nicely from the first knockdown of his career to send Salmon down for good at 2:59 of the first round with a series of sharp left hands.
“I’m not surprised. I knew going in that I had a real guy,” said Margules, who promotes WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov, former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson, and super bantamweight titleholder Celestino Caballero, among others. “Our theory is to build a stable of champions. I have about 20 fighters and all of them are special.
“I am not interested in signing a fighter who I don’t believe can be a world champion,” he continued. “I must get 20 offers a week from fighters who want to be with us.”
Instead, Margules targeted Greene.