Danny Williams "I'm a shot fighter"

[Chambers2]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 958065.ece

Danny Williams, the Londoner who defeated Mike Tyson, has admitted candidly that he is a “shot fighter” as he prepares for a February final hurrah.

The British heavyweight champion defends his title against Sam Sexton, the Commonwealth champion, at Wembley Arena on February 13 and, win or lose, he promises it will be his final bout, although he understands how some people will not believe him.

“I’m a shot fighter,” he insisted. “Others have been saying that about me for years, but when I say it, people think I am joking.

“This will be it, this will be the last time the ring announcer introduces Danny Williams — unless another guy called Danny Williams comes along, which is always possible.”

Williams, 36, seems to have been around for ever. The undoubted highlight of his career was the four-round knockout of Tyson in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2004, a win that set up a WBC title shot against Vitali Klitschko in Las Vegas. That night Williams was knocked down four times in a painfully one-sided bout.

Another highlight was when he first won the British title in 2000, as he boxed on one-armed to stop Mark Potter after dislocating a shoulder.

But Williams has shrugged off calls to retire in recent years, as his punch resistance seems to have been ebbing away. The clearest call that the end was near came in October when he was knocked down twice in the first round against the unheralded Carl Baker in Prizefighter in October, although he came back and nearly won in the third round.

“I don’t think I’ve been the same since the Klitschko fight,” he said. “I’ve just been fighting with heart for too long. I’m going to train hard for this fight for one last time. I’m going to do a course to become a bodyguard for celebrities. I’ve got to get completely away from boxing or I’ll just get dragged back in.”

The Wembley bill will be headlined by Kevin Mitchell, who put himself in line for a shot at the WBO lightweight title by beating Breidis Prescott this month. Kell Brook, the British welterweight champion and young boxer of the year, will also be on the bill in what allegedly, the promoter, hopes will be a world-title eliminator.

Danny being bluntly honest. Glad to see he's hanging them up after this one, he's provided some great excitement over the years and his win over Tyson was one of my fave boxing moments.

Good Luck for the future Danny

[alexpaterson]

Good to see him being honest about it im glad he's hanging up the gloves he doesnt have it anymore as he says

[kevo]

I really hope Danny can go out with a win. He's one of my favourite fighters of recent times.

[Rocky Balboa]

Danny being bluntly honest. Glad to see he's hanging them up after this one, he's provided some great excitement over the years and his win over Tyson was one of my fave boxing moments.

Good Luck for the future Danny

If Williams thinks he is a shot fighter, then it begs the question, why he even having one last fight? But I understand its a mental thing as well as physical. Danny is a smashing bloke, I met him at Bethnal Green some years ago, when Johnny Tapia topped the bill. After talking to him for a bit, he came & sat next to me & started another conversation. Total class!

Without question, the highlight of his career was his victory over Tyson! Tyson was shot, but Danny survived a torrid first to come through! How Danny managed to saty after getting with that left uppercut I will never know? Williams was on queer street at that moment! If he did not mamange to hold on to Tyson like he did, he would have gone, but he showed good ring savy!

Clearly, from the punches he took against Tyson, his punch resistance is most definitely not the same!

Top guy is Danny & I wish him nothing but the best! Just don't eat too many Bakwells , Danny!

[bigjack]

Danny being bluntly honest. Glad to see he's hanging them up after this one, he's provided some great excitement over the years and his win over Tyson was one of my fave boxing moments.

Good Luck for the future Danny

If Williams thinks he is a shot fighter, then it begs the question, why he even having one last fight? But I understand its a mental thing as well as physical. Danny is a smashing bloke, I met him at Bethnal Green some years ago, when Johnny Tapia topped the bill. After talking to him for a bit, he came & sat next to me & started another conversation. Total class!

Without question, the highlight of his career was his victory over Tyson! Tyson was shot, but Danny survived a torrid first to come through! How Danny managed to saty after getting with that left uppercut I will never know? Williams was on queer street at that moment! If he did not mamange to hold on to Tyson like he did, he would have gone, but he showed good ring savy!

Clearly, from the punches he took against Tyson, his punch resistance is most definitely not the same!

Top guy is Danny & I wish him nothing but the best! Just don't eat too many Bakwells , Danny!

Yes tyson was past his best no doubt,but danny did take a lot of bombs in the first round but survived which many of his title challengers didn't,that and the potter win were for me his two best performances

[HomicideHenry]

The time has come! The British HW title is wide open, its anyone's chance now! Can't wait, the excitement is just about to begin!

[Des1]

Maybe by Williams coming out with this statement he's trying to get Sexton into a false sense of security? ;;-)

[Londonirish]

I really hope Danny can go out with a win. He's one of my favourite fighters of recent times.

Would never happen, if he won there's No way he would Retire ....
Think Des could be Right

[terrez]

Maybe by Williams coming out with this statement he's trying to get Sexton into a false sense of security? ;;-)

Danny isn't making excuses for himself is he? That's a bit unsportsmanlike to announce so - even if it does appear to be true, I never thought Danny himself would loose such belief in himself and still get in the ring.

I agree Danny could be using this statement as an attempt to perter Sexton, but surely Danny must have some belief left in himself if he's going to step into the ring again at this level, even if it is for 'one more time'.

Sexton is too focused and professional to take his foot off the gas, especially when it's his first shot for the Lonsdale regardless of who his opponent for it is or what he says.

[leforge]

Fight should not be allowed after these words have been said!

[CheckHook]

Honest words from Danny who has been a great servant of British boxing. However, like others have said, I'd question his state of mind and personally wouldn't allow him to box if he truely believes he is shot. Entering a fight with that mentality can't be healthy.

[NutCracker]

Maybe by Williams coming out with this statement he's trying to get Sexton into a false sense of security? ;;-)

My thoughts exactly, why would any fighter claim to be shot to bits prior to a fight unless he was playing mind games, cue Danny coming in at 17 stone and battering Sexton all over

[JDC]

Danny is expected to win without issue v Sexton imo.

Is Danny covering all bases incase he's exposed?

Or(and mpre probably) is Danny trying to gey everyone who's ever seen him fight watch him, for what they believe is his last fight?

A big fan base could get Danny into a big money fight. This is a very good ploy from Williams IMO and I'd love to see his last fight being against a big name in the sport.

Playong the Hollywood card very well

[15829]

Fight should not be allowed after these words have been said!

X2

[JDC]

Fight should not be allowed after these words have been said!

X2

Unless its bull sh*t

[oliverfennell]

He said he'd retire if he lost in Prizefighter, so should we believe him now?

Then again, even if he loses and DOES retire, the BBBC will probably find a way for him to come back. They've shown him startling favouritism at times.

[martin_g91]

Danny is totally out of line here.

The British Title is something very few boxers get to even challenge for. It's a fantastic belt with a great history. I am pleased for Williams that he got hugh nights against Tyson and challenging for the WBC belt but to make such a stupid comment going into a British Title fight shows a HUGH lack of respect for every British Champion or challenger before him, not to mention every British boxer who never got the chance.

We all know the division is not in the best shape at the moment but Williams should remember that it is only because of its current low level that he has been able to extend career recently by having rematches, second chances and paydays he would NEVER have goten if he were born 10 years earlier.

But all of the above is to say nothing compaired to the issue of saftey in the sport of boxing. Dedicated boxers who give 110% to the sport of boxing have been hurt or worse in the ring. Every new pro should be taught that you have to be 100 % everytime you step in the ring (I saw the post on here yesterday about John McDermotts trainers parting ways with him for this very reason and was impressed) this is not a sport to be taken lightly. The British Champion should set a better example.

[Adamj1987]

He said he'd retire if he lost in Prizefighter, so should we believe him now?

Then again, even if he loses and DOES retire, the BBBC will probably find a way for him to come back. They've shown him startling favouritism at times.

he said that because he said he would retire if he lost and lost his title he didnt lose his title

[Chambers2]

Danny is totally out of line here.

The British Title is something very few boxers get to even challenge for. It's a fantastic belt with a great history. I am pleased for Williams that he got hugh nights against Tyson and challenging for the WBC belt but to make such a stupid comment going into a British Title fight shows a HUGH lack of respect for every British Champion or challenger before him, not to mention every British boxer who never got the chance.

We all know the division is not in the best shape at the moment but Williams should remember that it is only because of its current low level that he has been able to extend career recently by having rematches, second chances and paydays he would NEVER have goten if he were born 10 years earlier.

But all of the above is to say nothing compaired to the issue of saftey in the sport of boxing. Dedicated boxers who give 110% to the sport of boxing have been hurt or worse in the ring. Every new pro should be taught that you have to be 100 % everytime you step in the ring (I saw the post on here yesterday about John McDermotts trainers parting ways with him for this very reason and was impressed) this is not a sport to be taken lightly. The British Champion should set a better example.

Dannys just being honest. He's been past his best for a good few years. We know it, he knows it and after seeing his loss to Carl Baker in Prizefighter every fecker knows it.

I'm not buying into the conspiracy theory that this is a Danny Williams wind-up (although stranger things have happened) I reckon Danny hangs em up after this one.

[martin_g91]

I know that "We know it, he knows it and everybody knows it". My point is that Danny coming out with that to the press is stupid, disrespectful and can in NO way be good for boxing. There are enough people outside the sport making stupid un-informed statements without our own British Champion helping them.

[Wales]

Classic line

“This will be it, this will be the last time the ring announcer introduces Danny Williams — unless another guy called Danny Williams comes along, which is always possible.”

[Adamj1987]

Classic line

“This will be it, this will be the last time the ring announcer introduces Danny Williams — unless another guy called Danny Williams comes along, which is always possible.”

classic danny he knows the truth D

[bad mamma jamma]

I dont want Danny to fight big head sexton, Danny is finished and I wouldnt want sexton gobbing off saying he is this and that after beating a shell of a once credible fighter

[Priff]

Classic line

“This will be it, this will be the last time the ring announcer introduces Danny Williams — unless another guy called Danny Williams comes along, which is always possible.”

It's just like how I imagine Will Ferrell's 'Ricky Bobby' from Taladega Nights would announce his retirement.

[stujones]

Nice for him to be open and honest - makes a bit of a change. It must be very frustrating to be one of the fans who spends the dough going to his fights - believing all the shit he said before about "being in the best shape of my life" - even in October he said he still believed he could be a geniune world champion.