Is Roman Greenberg too green, too berg, or too much?

We get loads of press releases daily from PR types and are happy to receive them, as they clue us in to the latest goings-on in the fight game. Often, the phrasing is hyperbolic, but that’s understandable, the publicists are paid to hype their guy. Occasionally, though, we get a release that oversteps the bounds, going from hyperbolic to ludicrous.

Exhibit A: We got a release from the fine folks at Warriors Boxing, telling us about a Dec. 9 fight featuring Roman Greenberg (23-0, 16 kayoes), a Russian-born Israeli heavy, against Steve Pannell (34-10, 28 kayoes).

“I’ve paid my dues and fought my way here,� said Greenberg in the release, about his fight at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena. “Now I’m ready to make my move on the top fighters in the division in 2007, and I’m going to end the year with a bold statement by knocking out Steve Pannell.�

Now, I don’t know Steve Pannell personally, perhaps he’s a fine fellow who’s a joy to chat with at a backyard BBQ, but if you knock him out, you are not making a particularly bold statement. Of his 10 losses, every one has come by KO. He’s won once in his last eight fights.

I’m not necessarily trying to single out Warriors or Greenberg here, but this boxer hasn’t been shy about boasting of his virtues, and he’s received tons of hype from his backers in England, so he’s under the microscope.

If Roman Greenberg really wants to make a statement, he should sign on to fight one of the Eastern Euro prospects, like Dimitrenko, Bidenko or Virchis, or try and knock off Matt Skelton.

Steve Pannell, at this point, is a person who sadly has been reduced to hire himself out as a human punching bag—–beating up on him, Roman Greenberg, is no great feat.