Former ABA champion Danny Watts died of a heart attack last night at the horribly young age of 45.
The 6ft 7ins Londoner won two ABA super-heavyweight titles while serving in the army in the 1990s but never made it as a pro, losing an early crossroads fight with Mark Potter for the Southern Area heavyweight title at York Hall in 2000 and drifting away a couple of years later with a record of 10-2 (7). In truth, he was too nice to be a boxer and would help anyone out, as David Haye discovered when he sparred countless rounds with Danny in preparation for his WBA title win over Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in 2009 in Germany.
Don't believe it. I remember seeing him box Mark Potter--it was on Sky, on the undercard of Julius Francis' surprise loss to Mike Holden. Shocked that he's died.
bennie wrote: ↑05 Jun 2018, 09:23
Former ABA champion Danny Watts died of a heart attack last night at the horribly young age of 45.
The 6ft 7ins Londoner won two ABA super-heavyweight titles while serving in the army in the 1990s but never made it as a pro, losing an early crossroads fight with Mark Potter for the Southern Area heavyweight title at York Hall in 2000 and drifting away a couple of years later with a record of 10-2 (7). In truth, he was too nice to be a boxer and would help anyone out, as David Haye discovered when he sparred countless rounds with Danny in preparation for his WBA title win over Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in 2009 in Germany.
That is sad news. He clearly had all the physical attributes to be a great heavyweight, but I did get the feeling his heart wasn't really in the game from what I've heard. Certainly remember him being involved in the David Haye camp back in the day.
bennie wrote: ↑05 Jun 2018, 09:23
Former ABA champion Danny Watts died of a heart attack last night at the horribly young age of 45.
The 6ft 7ins Londoner won two ABA super-heavyweight titles while serving in the army in the 1990s but never made it as a pro, losing an early crossroads fight with Mark Potter for the Southern Area heavyweight title at York Hall in 2000 and drifting away a couple of years later with a record of 10-2 (7). In truth, he was too nice to be a boxer and would help anyone out, as David Haye discovered when he sparred countless rounds with Danny in preparation for his WBA title win over Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in 2009 in Germany.
a sad loss, very young.
To become an elite boxer you need a number of characteristics, its a lonely existence and not everyone likes that solitude and selfishness and not everyones has that spitefulness and "killer instinct". Like you say Danny was a nice guy and didnt have it is in character to turn on that nasty side.
He did a good job killing Davids Mercedes SL though, which i am sure he was still getting a ribbing for, poor guy
I don't think Danny suffered from a heart condition (although I honestly don't know). I read of his death on facebook by way of the LEBA group. Looking at Danny's own facebook page, everyone is really shocked at his death, some saying they only saw him a few days ago and so on and so forth, so it looks like one of those horribly unexpected deaths.
Crikey, they're dropping like flies at the moment.
Very sad. RIP
Enjoyed watching him in the amateurs. Giant of a man. Shame Danny couldn't work his way into some good pay days in the pros and win a title along the way. I remember the Potter bout for the Southern Area title. Mark used his head a lot in that fight.
I met Danny back in March, we were at the same hotel in Mauritius.
He was a really good nice fella, had a chat about the boxing with him and the Valuev fight. Just a really nice genuine fella, condolences to his family.
