Danny Williams retires

[Noxy]

There are far more deserving cases.

Yes, there always are though. Imagine if just some of all those fans desperate for him to retire put up a tenner each.

Huge Danny fan.
I’ll defo donate if he promises to retire - how does that work ?

Fair play sir, I think you just go on the GoFundMe site and take it from there.

[skanksta]

A fiver now and another fiver in a years time if he’s still retired!

[jamesmcdonnell]

You're off your nut. Hes not a fornicating charity case!

Right there James, we're back on this. He isn't a charity case as you say. You could look at it as - cheers for the memories champ, have a drink on me and good luck to you (and quit fighting). I stopped following him after the Chisora fight, he had quite a few highlights up till then though. He seemed a decent sort as well.

I already contributed by paying for boxing subscriptions to Sky, allegedly and probably setanta, and buying the PPV for his two most high profile bouts. Those memories were all bought and paid for.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Go Fund Me reaches just $1388

The Go Fund Me page for heavyweight Danny Williams, the Briton who knocked out Mike Tyson in 2004, has struggled to garner any real traction.

Williams fought on September 9th, losing for the 29th time in his career at 47 years old. The defeat prompted a fan to launch a charity campaign to stop Williams from accepting any other offers to compete.

At least four times in the recent past, Williams has retired, only to make a comeback as soon as the next offer came his way.

Speaking to WBN previously, Williams has said he would never fight again and that ‘he’d had enough.’ Sadly, this wasn’t enough to keep him out of the ring.

The potential support arranged for ‘The Brixton Bomber’ wanted to raise £100,000 (around $130,000) for Williams’ financial security over the next few years.

In just under two weeks, a paltry total of £1085 ($1388) remains in the coffers for Williams. Even United States promoter Lou DiBella pledged £250 to the fund.



Beating the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ may have been a curse for Williams. It’s now the primary reason the offers keep on coming.

[Boxerbeetle]

No offence to Danny, but I’m not donating cash just so he can put his kids through private school. There’s a fvcking pandemic on and some people are really struggling financially, that’s just a pisstake of a request.

[Ruthless-RKO]

No offence to Danny, but I’m not donating cash just so he can put his kids through private school. There’s a fvcking pandemic on and some people are really struggling financially, that’s just a pisstake of a request.

TBF, he didn't start the GoFundMe..

I agree though, everyone has got to put their kids first. People chose their professions..

Some chose office jobs, some chose self employment, some chose sports and so on..

Danny chose his profession but didn't know when to go out. Hurt his own legacy some wil say, could have gotten out and done something else ages ago.. Did he have any qualifications? Actually scrap tha, qualifications don't mean anything now days..

You provide for your own family.. I don't want to see Danny in the ring again, but I'm not gonna donate either.. I have my own debts.. God knows what he's going through personally.. If he has the right mind to find work or whatever..

[Fray Bentos]

Danny Williams - I am sure - is probably a lot more astute than we are giving him credit for. I am sure he will have his own house in South London which probably is worth over a million, he has put his kids through a first class education, he has probably sorted out a pension and investments and has a very nice car - the reason he fights is because it's easy to get a few grand for a few minutes work - it's damaging his health but probably the long term effects have been prevalent years ago - it's his choice, it is OK us telling him to stop but he needs to earn money to pay the bills - who are we to tell him to go and work for Uber.

He could have invested some of his ring earnings by getting a trade of some kind or going to university and becoming a health care professional - something Norman Whiteside did when he was retired out of football through injury and it worked out for him very well - you have to make salient, long term choices - being punched around the head as a heavyweight never was that - you're going to get badly damaged if you keep it up too long whoever you are.

[Boxerbeetle]

No offence to Danny, but I’m not donating cash just so he can put his kids through private school. There’s a fvcking pandemic on and some people are really struggling financially, that’s just a pisstake of a request.

TBF, he didn't start the GoFundMe..

I agree though, everyone has got to put their kids first. People chose their professions..

Some chose office jobs, some chose self employment, some chose sports and so on..

Danny chose his profession but didn't know when to go out. Hurt his own legacy some wil say, could have gotten out and done something else ages ago.. Did he have any qualifications? Actually scrap tha, qualifications don't mean anything now days..

You provide for your own family.. I don't want to see Danny in the ring again, but I'm not gonna donate either.. I have my own debts.. God knows what he's going through personally.. If he has the right mind to find work or whatever..

Yeah I know he didn’t set it up, I meant it’s a pisstake from whoever did. It’s not like he’s about to become homeless or destitute, it’s to pay for bloody private schooling.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Danny Williams - I am sure - is probably a lot more astute than we are giving him credit for. I am sure he will have his own house in South London which probably is worth over a million, he has put his kids through a first class education, he has probably sorted out a pension and investments and has a very nice car - the reason he fights is because it's easy to get a few grand for a few minutes work - it's damaging his health but probably the long term effects have been prevalent years ago - it's his choice, it is OK us telling him to stop but he needs to earn money to pay the bills - who are we to tell him to go and work for Uber.

He could have invested some of his ring earnings by getting a trade of some kind or going to university and becoming a health care professional - something Norman Whiteside did when he was retired out of football through injury and it worked out for him very well - you have to make salient, long term choices - being punched around the head as a heavyweight never was that - you're going to get badly damaged if you keep it up too long whoever you are.

Danny did his training for close protection security work. It's on his LinkedIn page.

[skanksta]

You're off your nut. Hes not a fornicating charity case!

I gave my one of my all time favourites a fiver for his retirement !

He's probably got more money than me but still, hardly "off my nut".

[jamesmcdonnell]

Why don't you donate me 5 quid - I need the money much more than Danny, and I've contributed plenty of lasting memories!

[Frostieballs]

This reminds me of when our popular long time MP lost his seat a few years back.

Some misguided locals started a campaign to pay off his mortgage.

Firstly he was already better off than most of the people being asked to donate. Second, he couldn’t accept anyway given ethical concerns. Thirdly, ousted MPs get paid their salary for another 6 months anyway.

It’s well intentioned but has no perspective.

6000 children die every day because they don’t have access to clean water.

[skanksta]

Yes, it's entirely sentimental and illogical.

I coulda/shoulda given it to starving children or Jimbo.
Both are more deserving..., but I didn't.

[Frostieballs]

To be honest, if you start bringing logIc into these things there’s no end to it.

We’d all be eating beans and rice and sharing out any unnecessary wealth!

I buy things I don’t need all the time, even though I know 6000 kids a day are dying. Keeps me up at night!

[jamesmcdonnell]

I just cancelled my charitable donations as I cant really afford it. Just had to go to an agency to renegotiate all my debts.

[skanksta]

Ok I’ll send you a fiver too..

[Frostieballs]

I just cancelled my charitable donations as I cant really afford it. Just had to go to an agency to renegotiate all my debts.

Sorry to hear that mate.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ok I’ll send you a fiver too..

Hahaha. Its not that bad.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I just cancelled my charitable donations as I cant really afford it. Just had to go to an agency to renegotiate all my debts.

Sorry to hear that mate.

Its partly due to my own stupidity so dont feel too sorry for me, but a 40% drop in wages sure hasn't helped.

[Coco]

I just cancelled my charitable donations as I cant really afford it. Just had to go to an agency to renegotiate all my debts.

Sorry to hear that mate.

Its partly due to my own stupidity so dont feel too sorry for me, but a 40% drop in wages sure hasn't helped.

Move to Portugal! You can prob leave the debt in the UK too, viva Brexit!

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'd love to, but not feasible right now.

[TheGman]

You're off your nut. Hes not a fornicating charity case!

Right there James, we're back on this. He isn't a charity case as you say. You could look at it as - cheers for the memories champ, have a drink on me and good luck to you (and quit fighting). I stopped following him after the Chisora fight, he had quite a few highlights up till then though. He seemed a decent sort as well.

I already contributed by paying for boxing subscriptions to Sky, allegedly and probably setanta, and buying the PPV for his two most high profile bouts. Those memories were all bought and paid for.

Exactly James,if it worked like this then every circus act we all went to see we should give them a tenner each then so they can stop working,while we are at it can all on here pay me a tenner for some of the argumemts iv had on here cause they where entertaining, think of it like this "cheers for the memories chump" lol

[TheGman]

Danny can fornicate off he got paid handsomely for his fights,the tyson win alone would of set him up for life with all his sponsors and meet and greet for about 12months after the fight then the vitali fight,high profile british title fights commonwealth title fights against Sprott,Harrison and Skelton must of made him £100,000 in old money at least for the 5 or 6 fights he had with them,it will take me about 11 years to earn that type of money in todays currency. Iv paid my way with Danny Williams,greatest memory of him was him winning (think it was the WBU heavyweight title) with one arm,knocking out harrison in the 12th round and him k.oing Mike Tyson. I remember being in the gym before that fight and people laughed when i said dont be suprised if Danny Williams knocks out Tyson.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Danny can fornicate off he got paid handsomely for his fights,the tyson win alone would of set him up for life with all his sponsors and meet and greet for about 12months after the fight then the vitali fight,high profile british title fights commonwealth title fights against Sprott,Harrison and Skelton must of made him £100,000 in old money at least for the 5 or 6 fights he had with them,it will take me about 11 years to earn that type of money in todays currency. Iv paid my way with Danny Williams,greatest memory of him was him winning (think it was the WBU heavyweight title) with one arm,knocking out harrison in the 12th round and him k.oing Mike Tyson. I remember being in the gym before that fight and people laughed when i said dont be suprised if Danny Williams knocks out Tyson.

Actually not true.

Danny in the end got 50,000 for the Tyson fight, allegedly paid it out of his pocket as the promoter didnt cough up.

I won 300 quid on danny knocking mike out. I'd I'd also bet on round 4 ko, I'd have made a lot more.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Promoters suspiciously list Danny Williams' purse as only $300,000! - 2004

By Scott Shaffer and G. Leon

As the WBC heavyweight title bout between Vitali Klitschko and Danny Williams approaches, it appears that there is a four-way conspiracy between Williams and three boxing promoters, Klitschko’s K2 Promotions, Bob Arum’s Top Rank and allegedly’s Sports Network Limited to make it appear that Danny Williams will receive only $300,000 to face Klitschko, when, according to evidence obtained by Boxingtalk, his purse is much closer to $2 million.

According to documents submitted to the Nevada Athletic Commission, Williams will be paid just $300,000. On face value alone, the reported figure is not credible. Williams is fighting for a recognized heavyweight championship of the world and he is one of the hottest commodities in the sport after knocking out Mike Tyson, the world’s most famous boxer this summer. Appearances aside, Boxingtalk is in possession of credible evidence that the $300,000 figure that has been submitted to the Nevada Athletic Commission and the Internal Revenue Service is bogus. That evidence consists of a September 1, 2004 letter written by Warren to Williams on Sports Network stationery stating that Sports Network would pay Williams 1 million British pounds to challenge Klitschko. At current exchange rates, that figure works out to more than $1.9 million. The version obtained by Boxingtalk was not signed by Williams, but Williams would have to be a pretty poor negotiator to start with an offer of $1.9 million and wind up signing for $300,000.

Warren's letter also states that Williams “has agreed to enter into a Management Agreement with allegedly to be his exclusive manager from today’s date.” It is illegal under United States law for one person to serve as both manager and promoter to a boxer.

The discrepancy of over $1.6 million in Williams’ purse opens the door to speculation that Williams and the three promoters are defrauding the IRS and William’s ex-manager Dwight Yarde by reporting the artificially deflated purse figure. Ron DiNicola, an attorney representing K2 said on Thursday, “Sports Network has indicated to us and other authorities, including the IRS that Williams’ will receive $300,000. It is my understanding that Sports Network has provided documentation of this to the authorities. We relied on Sports Network and Danny Williams to tell us what their arrangement is.”

To complicate matters further, because Klitschko owns an interest in K2 and is the person fighting Williams, and Nevada Athletic Commission regulations forbid a boxer from paying his opponent, a co-promoter had to be brought in to pay Williams. That co-promoter is Top Rank, who filed a bout agreement with the Nevada Athletic Commission saying that it will pay Williams a purse of $300,000. According to the commission’s executive director Marc Ratner, his duty of inquiry ends there. “As long as I have a bout agreement for $300,000 and a check for $300,000, then I have done my fiduciary duty.” The IRS, which seems to be taking a more active interest in the Nevada boxing scene lately may not be satisfied as easily as Ratner. The IRS, which seized Marco Antonio Barrera’s million-dollar purse last month for unpaid taxes, has assigned a senior tax advisor named Cecille Glunt to this matter. Glunt had not yet returned Boxingtalk’s telephone call at the time this story was posted.

Following the money trail backwards, the source is HBO, who pays what is known as licensing fees to promoters in order to secure the rights to televise the boxing matches. HBO will broadcast the bout on a pay-per-view basis. According to DiNicola, HBO paid Top Rank directly for Williams’ purse. However, HBO also paid licensing fees to K2 and DiNicola said that part of the HBO licensing fee K2 received went to secure Williams’ appearance.

Surprisingly, DiNicola said K2 secured William’s rights not from Warren and the Sports Network, but from Sportfive, a German company who had previously done business with the Klitschko Brothers. DiNicola said that Sportfive acquired the rights to Williams from the Sports Network.

According to its own website, Sportfive GmbH, formerly, is the German subsidiary of Sportfive S.A., an international marketing group founded in 2001 when the sports rights operations of the RTL Group, Groupe Canal+ and Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon were merged. Listed on Euronex in Paris and with more than 20 subsidiaries in thirteen countries, the group’s offerings include an extensive range of international television and sports marketing rights. Interestingly, Warren apparently sold Williams’ rights to a company specializing in foreign television rights at a time when Chris Webb, who promoted the Williams-Tyson bout, has asserted a claim against Warren in a Kentucky federal court alleging that Warren promised to pay Webb’s Straight Out Promotions a portion of the foreign television rights on Williams’ future fights. More importantly, Webb is suing Warren over co-promotional rights on Williams for three fights, this Saturday night's bout with Klitschko being the first.

Meanwhile, Williams has been sued this week by manager, Dwight Yarde, who has a contract giving him the rights to 20% of Williams’ ring earnings. Arum was reportedly served with a copy of the lawsuit, meaning he and his company had notice of Williams’ obligation to pay Yarde at the time the Top Rank bout agreement was submitted to the commission.

Putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and several pieces are still missing as of Thursday night, it seems that if the stated purse for Williams is accepted by the commission and the IRS, then 1) the IRS will only collect taxes on $300,000 instead of the $1.9 million; 2) a large portion of the licensing fee will be funneled to Sportfive in Germany, under a deal which Warren presumably profited from to the detriment of Webb; 3) Warren may be making money off the promotional and managerial ends of Williams’ contracts in violation of United States law; 4) Yarde’s 20% share, if upheld by in court, will only amount to $60,000 instead of $380,000; and 5) Top Rank and K2 may have assisted Williams and Warren in committing fraud by submitting documents to governmental authorities that turned out to be untrue. Although Boxingtalk has no evidence that Top Rank and K2 did so knowingly, as experienced participants in the boxing industry, they had every reason to know that the reported purse of $300,000 to Williams was not credible.