Shadasia Green ‘awake and talkative’ after leaving ring on a stretcher

NEW YORK – Despite the scary scene that transpired on Friday night, there were some positive signs for Shadasia Green’s outlook.

Green was removed from the ring on a stretcher following a ninth-round stoppage loss to Lani Daniels at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, and was taken to the hospital afterwards. Mike Leanardi, Most Valuable Promotions’ director of boxing, shared at the post-fight press conference that Green was conscious in the fight’s aftermath.

“Shadasia is awake and talkative,” said Leanardi, who conducted the post-fight press conference as MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian went to the hospital to check on Green. “It was a scary moment for all of us, but she’s looking much better.”

Green, a native of nearby Paterson, New Jersey, was making her first appearance since unifying the 168lbs belts in her previous fight last July with a split decision over Savannah Marshall. Although the Daniels fight was fought on even terms early on, it became increasingly one-sided as Daniels’ work rate and footwork opened up the holes in Green’s defense. Daniels began to pound away at Green from the moment the ninth began, until referee Eric Dali stepped in to end the fight.

Although Daniels, 12-4-2 (2 KOs), of New Zealand, was elated to become a three-division champion with the high-profile stoppage, her celebration was muted by the sight of Green being removed on a stretcher.

“Best of luck and respect to my opponent,” Daniels said to open her post-fight interview. “I hope that everything is well and I’m just grateful to be here.”

Daniels, whose win snapped a two-fight losing streak, would also make her way to the hospital – but more so for precautionary reasons.

“She has an 18-hour flight home,” Leanardi said of Daniels, “so they wanted to make sure she was tip-top before she flies out tomorrow.”

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.