Underdog

‘Danny Green is a world champion boxer but in the period approaching his world title fight with Roy Jones Junior in November 2009, when this portrait was painted, he was an underdog,’ says artist Peter Kendall. ‘Roy Jones Junior was considered one of the greatest fighters of all time but in the fight, Danny took just 122 seconds to deliver a knockout and end the contest. As befits the underdog, I have portrayed Danny in the counter-attack stance, prepared to defend, avoid and retaliate.’

Kendall wanted to portray Green – the Green Machine to his fans – in peak physical condition. He envisaged a painting that captured Green’s energy, strength and fierce training regime, which he achieved watching Green in a gym in Sydney during the boxer’s final workout before the fight after months of preparation. The resulting portrait was a finalist in the Archibald Prize 2010.