Danny Williams vs. Oleg Maskaev

[n1ebf]

Russian ten rounder, November 4th, according to Boxing News. I suppose if they offer you a few thousand it's going to be difficult to turn down. Danny's phone still rings a lot by the sounds of it, but would he be better looking at some form of employment that offers greater long-term security? He's 40 now. Maskaev, a former WBC champion, is 44.

[TheCobra]

I do wonder how much he gets paid for these fights? What price your own health and well-being?

[n1ebf]

I do wonder how much he gets paid for these fights? What price your own health and well-being?

less that 10k and a weekend in a nice hotel somewhere in Russia probably, although it's a complete guess. I do cynically wonder if some less than well-informed Russians are having this served up as a fight between a dangerous Brit who stopped Mike Tyson, but, in these days of the internet, I'm probably wide of the mark there.

[polecateddy]

I wonder how a boxer loses all punch resistence like Danny appears to have done? Is it neurological or psychological, or a combination of both? There must be some heavy damage hiding away in that brain box of his, which I guess is why he can't get a licence in the uk now.

[HomicideHenry]

I dont know why you guys are bitching cus its not like they are fighting 20 year olds. This is a senior circuit bout. I love these kind of matches. Anyone remember back in the day when they had the 'Legends of Boxing' championship? They seriously need to do some 40+ year old tournaments in boxing.

[SAPFO]

No desire to be in there too long. He knows the score, he's there to get paid, and get out. Sad really, but true. I wonder how much he got paid for losing to Kelvin Price, a man he would of put away very quickly in his prime. He may of lost his durability, but what about the skill? You don't lose that so badly surely? ...unless your paid to..

[Benelio]

I think I've said this before, but if Danny keeps fighting, he's going to get to the stage where his legs will turn to jelly if he steps out into rain. He still sounds fine in interviews though, judging by one I saw a year ago.

[fatcity69]

skills go along with reflexes and speed, unfortunately... Danny hasnt even much power these days as his legs and balance are shot....

[jamesmcdonnell]

I wonder how a boxer loses all punch resistence like Danny appears to have done? Is it neurological or psychological, or a combination of both? There must be some heavy damage hiding away in that brain box of his, which I guess is why he can't get a licence in the uk now.

Neurological, no doubt.

Danny took a hell of a lot of punishment against Tyson, and was never the same again. In his next fight, against Vitali, every single flush shot he took hurt him, and Vitali is a stiff, but not murderous puncher. Danny never had the greatest chin, but prior to the Vitali fight, he took a decent shot before he got hurt.

[Superheavy]

Isn't there a story about these two sparring back in the day and Danny schooling Maskaev, who at the time was very highly rated?

Apparently Danny often looked world class in sparring away from the lights and cameras.

[lefty]

See he's fighting again http://www.BS.com/photo-oleg-m ... tle--71284

[crusader]

Maskeav needed to find someone who is even more shot than he is.

Incidentally, Danny looks relatively good for a 6'2/6'3" guy at 275.

[Tykemania]

Apparently Danny often looked world class in sparring away from the lights and cameras.

I reckon - within the narrow requirements of the heavyweight division nowadays - Danny was pretty close to world class for a good period in the last decade. His performance against Tyson and willingness against Klitschko put alongside wins in his first bouts against Harrison and Skelton (both then unbeaten) and performances against supposed future stars Airich and Platov showed some good skills.

But...

...he never did quite enough conditioning wise, and could have been more sensibly managed as well (for example, his corner could have given him somewhat less opportunity to show his cojones against Vladimir...)

[polecateddy]

Apparently Danny often looked world class in sparring away from the lights and cameras.

I reckon - within the narrow requirements of the heavyweight division nowadays - Danny was pretty close to world class for a good period in the last decade. His performance against Tyson and willingness against Klitschko put alongside wins in his first bouts against Harrison and Skelton (both then unbeaten) and performances against supposed future stars Airich and Platov showed some good skills.

But...

...he never did quite enough conditioning wise, and could have been more sensibly managed as well (for example, his corner could have given him somewhat less opportunity to show his cojones against Vladimir...)

Was he heck. He was good domestic level who couldn't hold it together to win a euro title. Julius Francis with a bit more punch basically!

[stujones]

I wonder how a boxer loses all punch resistence like Danny appears to have done? Is it neurological or psychological, or a combination of both? There must be some heavy damage hiding away in that brain box of his, which I guess is why he can't get a licence in the uk now.

Neurological, no doubt.

Danny took a hell of a lot of punishment against Tyson, and was never the same again. In his next fight, against Vitali, every single flush shot he took hurt him, and Vitali is a stiff, but not murderous puncher. Danny never had the greatest chin, but prior to the Vitali fight, he took a decent shot before he got hurt.

Agree, mind you.... he was bouncing up and down to jabs against Samil Sam.... one of the stangest fighters I have seen with regards to his punch resistance even in his pomp. He sometimes could show a great chin....except for the time Tyson rocked him in the first, Danny took Tyson's shots well.... albeit a Tyson who was injured.... he could fight the best in Britain, switch off and take shots he need not have with no effect (okay, not big punchers, but still solid fighters like Skelton, Francis). Fight 1 against Harrison he wasn't seriously hurt in 12 rounds, fight 2 he couldn't take a jab.... but the Samil Sam fight was just odd.

[fatcity69]

Have to worry for Williams, especially when you see what has happened elsewhere recently. I actually think Williams was never the same after the Vitali fight, he took a terrible pounding in that fight and Vitali is a punishing puncher. I remember FW saying after the Vitali fight that Williams should probably consider his future after taking such a beating, that itself is quite frightening when you think of the punches and punishment he has taken since the Vitali fight.

[Lenny]

Williams' career was one of expectation. We kept hearing about the sparring stories, saw the combinations against the likes of Shaun Robinson, reminded ourselves that Williams stopped him in a round when we saw Kali Meehan fighting for world titles.

The fact is he very rarely put everything together. For as great as the Tyson performance was, he had to take a battering in those first couple of rounds to finish a Tyson who had shot his load - I was more impressed that he held it together mentally that night more than anything.

I dunno whether he had shingles or whatever the excuse at the time was, but for me Danny's career will be summed up by looking second best in every department to Sam - any realistic hope that he might be able to make it onto the world scene ended that night.

The merry-go-round with Sprott, Harrison and Skelton was depressing. These latest fights hold next to no interest for me. Unlike HomicideHenry, I don't want to see fighters who were once decent and are now shot to pieces, knock each other about for my enjoyment for a shoddy pay day

[stujones]

Williams' career was one of expectation. We kept hearing about the sparring stories, saw the combinations against the likes of Shaun Robinson, reminded ourselves that Williams stopped him in a round when we saw Kali Meehan fighting for world titles.

The fact is he very rarely put everything together. For as great as the Tyson performance was, he had to take a battering in those first couple of rounds to finish a Tyson who had shot his load - I was more impressed that he held it together mentally that night more than anything.

I dunno whether he had shingles or whatever the excuse at the time was, but for me Danny's career will be summed up by looking second best in every department to Sam - any realistic hope that he might be able to make it onto the world scene ended that night.

The merry-go-round with Sprott, Harrison and Skelton was depressing. These latest fights hold next to no interest for me. Unlike HomicideHenry, I don't want to see fighters who were once decent and are now shot to pieces, knock each other about for my enjoyment for a shoddy pay day

Aye and if I remember rightly didn't Kali Meehan get robbed in his world title fight? That run from Meehan to Long he did "look" world class, albeit in this day when the heavyweight world scene was pretty poor. But the opposition wasn't near world level so hard to judge.

Then came Samil Sam and he was never the same fighter, lost all confidence in his chin and came with the silly conclusion that the only way he could take a shot was to bulk up.

[polecateddy]

Williams' career was one of expectation. We kept hearing about the sparring stories, saw the combinations against the likes of Shaun Robinson, reminded ourselves that Williams stopped him in a round when we saw Kali Meehan fighting for world titles.

The fact is he very rarely put everything together. For as great as the Tyson performance was, he had to take a battering in those first couple of rounds to finish a Tyson who had shot his load - I was more impressed that he held it together mentally that night more than anything.

I dunno whether he had shingles or whatever the excuse at the time was, but for me Danny's career will be summed up by looking second best in every department to Sam - any realistic hope that he might be able to make it onto the world scene ended that night.

The merry-go-round with Sprott, Harrison and Skelton was depressing. These latest fights hold next to no interest for me. Unlike HomicideHenry, I don't want to see fighters who were once decent and are now shot to pieces, knock each other about for my enjoyment for a shoddy pay day

Aye and if I remember rightly didn't Kali Meehan get robbed in his world title fight? That run from Meehan to Long he did "look" world class, albeit in this day when the heavyweight world scene was pretty poor. But the opposition wasn't near world level so hard to judge.

Then came Samil Sam and he was never the same fighter, lost all confidence in his chin and came with the silly conclusion that the only way he could take a shot was to bulk up.

All his best wins were domestic level. Kali was poor, and very inexperienced when he fought Danny. Tyson just ran out if gas really, as it regularly did moving into that final stage. There were very few euro fights he would have won, so could never really be seen as anywhere approaching world class.

[DavidPayne]

Apparently Danny often looked world class in sparring away from the lights and cameras.

I reckon - within the narrow requirements of the heavyweight division nowadays - Danny was pretty close to world class for a good period in the last decade. His performance against Tyson and willingness against Klitschko put alongside wins in his first bouts against Harrison and Skelton (both then unbeaten) and performances against supposed future stars Airich and Platov showed some good skills.

But...

...he never did quite enough conditioning wise, and could have been more sensibly managed as well (for example, his corner could have given him somewhat less opportunity to show his cojones against Vladimir...)

Technically Danny was better than Brewster. But he lacked in other areas and while the Tyson fight was right place, right time with tonnes of guts and often elusive self-belief he is all at sea everytime he's clipped. John McDermott had him rolling around like a drunk and that is a good few years ago. But I don't begrudge Danny making a living, unlike Julius before him, he doesn't have the sense to sit down in the second.

As for Maskaev - he looks like an old man.

[Pipette]

A depressing spectacle by any standards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjxw5wcHlRs