Williams against Sprott: a preview

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 22 Sep 2003, 09:35

BRITISH and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Danny Williams defends his titles in a surprise but highly-welcome rematch with man of the moment Michael Sprott at the Rivermead Leisure Centre in Reading this Friday (September 26). Hometowner Sprott was due to box another Brixton man in the main event, Keith Long, but Long, who had pulled out of a previous scheduled showdown and has a history of pulling out of fights altogether, did it again, though this time he's given us a far better fight for his actions.
"Sprott's a credible challenge and the best opponent out there for me," said Danny. "I know it'll be a tough fight and while Sprott has raised his game since the last time, he'd do well to remember I under-performed that night, and he hasn't been in there with the real Danny Williams." (Williams entered the fight his heaviest ever up to then at 18st 5lbs).
Sprott, arguably the most improved fighter in the country, took the fight at a week's notice in February 2002 for Danny's British and Commonwealth titles (ironically, after Long had pulled out again!) and, despite performing well, was worn down, floored in the fourth and stopped - on his feet - in the seventh by the defending champion. It was a fifth career defeat for the struggling Reading man, but he's since turned his career around with eight straight wins, including, last time out in August, a convincing 88-second victory over Southampton's previously unbeaten Colin Kenna in defence of his Southern Area heavyweight title.
"It is totally different this time," he stated recently. "This time I am ready and I've improved so much. This time he has to fight the real me."
So both men have something to prove to themselves in this one. Danny, of course, wants to erase the memories of his stunning European title defeat to Sinan Samil Sam in February in Berlin, when, as a 3-1 favourite, he was floored three times and stopped in six shocking rounds by the unheralded champion. "This is exactly what I need to get back on track," he conceded. "People don't realize I had shingles when I lost to Sam in February - I was dead tired all the time and had no energy or strength. Now, the illness is out of my system, and I'll go for the knockout from the first bell. I've got a lot of respect for Sprott and the improvements he's made, but he's my ticket back to the top."
Shingles or otherwise (Danny certainly seemed happy enough in the week leading up to the fight), one thing is true: the Brixton man has indeed struggled to get back on track and has been forced to 'call out' Herbie Hide, Audley Harrison and Sprott in the press - and he's the champion! He was even scheduled to appear on the undercard tonight in a non-title fight, but is now spared the indignity of supporting two men he has already beaten. He outpointed Keith Long a year ago to secure himself a Lonsdale Belt outright.
In all, he's fought just once since the Sam disaster: an unambitious Commonwealth title defence against Australia's Bob Mirovic which he won in four rounds.
Sprott, 24-5 (13), must have been wondering what he had to do to get a big fight again himself. He impressed in stopping the likes of Mike Holden, Pele Reid and Mark Potter over the last 18 months - the latter in a British heavyweight title eliminator - but was still mandated to face Keith Long in a final eliminator. To aggravate the situation, the two were scheduled to meet last June at Sheffield, but Long pulled out at late notice with a rib injury and Sprott made do with a 67-second blowout of the Czech Petr Horacek. His punch power - particularly with the left hook - has really developed under the guidance of Johnny Bloomfield recently.
Still only 27, Michael always had ability, but a disappointing loss to Harry Senior - his first loss after 11 straight wins - was a loss he struggled to come to terms with. He accepted the role of 'good opponent' for a while until a surprise win over Germany's Tino Hoffmann at York Hall, and the worthy title showing against Williams, put the fire back in his belly. He proved it by climbing off the floor twice to outlast a still dangerous Pele Reid in his first fight after Williams. Six of his eight victims since have failed to hear the final bell in fact.
Talking of the Williams setback, he says: "I did better than anyone expected and it made me really dedicate myself to the sport. I thought: 'If I can do well when I was totally out of shape – what would I do if I was fully prepared?'"
But a question mark still hangs over Michael's durability. Danny floored him in their first fight of course, Wayne Llewellyn found the big punches to halt him in three bad-tempered rounds in 2000. Pele Reid downed him twice. Danny Watts stopped him in three in the 1996 ABA super-heavyweight final. And Corrie Sanders and Harry Senior stopped him with body shots.
Head and body, there are chinks in the revitalised Sprott's armour.
Danny's chinks are more mental. Currently, 28-2 (23), the 30-year-old is a deep-thinking, mentally-complicated fighter, who needs confidence and a clear head to perform well. Any of his growing number of trainers (Jimmy Tibbs, Winston Spencer, Jim McDonnell, Hector Rocca and now Adam Booth) will tell you he is superb in sparring, i.e., in the relaxed atmosphere of the gym, but sometimes tenses up in the real thing, as he showed against Sam, early on against Mirovic and more obviously, in the first fight with Francis, which he lost on points. The unsung Mirovic actually rocked him in the third round of their Commonwealth title scrap in April, though Danny's response in the fourth was typically brilliant as he pinned the big Aussie on the ropes with a frightening barrage and prompted a welcome intervention It was a fight that epitomised the Brixton man's career to date: flashes of brilliance after periods of meniality. But his fighting heart is unquestioned. We all remember his heroics against Mark Potter. And, for a big man, Danny's hand speed can also be exceptional.
He's under no illusions about his task this Friday night. "I know Sprott is a vastly improved fighter. But I know I'm the better fighter, regardless. As soon as I land my big shots he'll have flashbacks to me stopping him last time and I'll stop him again."
But Sprott, in front of his home fans and in the form he's shown of late, poses a real threat to the champion. The Reading equation could be a vital one in fact. Earlier this year, Michael fought at the same Reading venue he faces Williams in and roared on by a 2000-strong crowd cut up and ended the career of Mark Potter in three impressive rounds. If another big crowd turns up it could inspire the challenger to something very special indeed and opportunities for the winner are equally glorious, including a big-money showdown with Herbie Hide later in the year. No doubt Audley Harrison will also be tuning in from his Big Bear training camp in California.
Sprott should fare better this time, but the key to the fight depends on whether he can take Danny's big left uppercuts (forget Danny's right hand: despite his 30-second blastout of Kali Meehan, the punch has been far less effective since the Potter dislocation). Yes, Michael has shrugged off the punches of several big heavies to earn his shot, but the likes of Holden and Potter were not as big as Williams, not as powerful and certainly not as fast.
And Pele Reid, as we know, floored Sprott twice.
Sprott has shown he can bang himself of course. He will have taken heart from the three heavy knockdowns forced by the underrated Sam, not to mention the wobbly third round Danny had against Mirovic. But there's no doubt the greater firepower lies with the champion.
And yet, for all his power, Danny is not the busiest fighter in the world. Sprott's higher workrate could pay real dividends this time. He's told us time and again that he would have beaten Danny if he'd been in proper shape last year and, if he keeps his hands pumping and grits his teeth if he is hurt or even floored, he might just do that. He outlasted Pele Reid that way.
Danny was tipped off some time ago that Long was going to pull out and has been in hard training under the highly capable Adam Booth, but Sprott has been fighting constantly since their first fight and thus training constantly. He looked in magnificent condition for the Kenna blowout just a month ago.
How much the Sam thrashing knocked Danny's confidence also remains to be seen. The Mirovic fight didn't really answer that question, and probably raised the question even more, given Danny's soporifically-slow start that night. Danny, always a 'confidence' fighter, really fancied the rematch with Julius Francis and got the job done in style in four rounds, but otherwise he's used his physical tools to win but not always win in style. There are some that say Danny only feels confident at domestic level anyway and will never have the mindset to get beyond that stage. Cruel, perhaps, but he certainly looked out of sorts against Sam and needs to get a move on if he's to show otherwise. Danny isn't 24 or 25 any more.
A win over Sprott would do nicely in that regard of course. Then he could move on to Hide and, who knows!, possibly even a rematch with Sam. But first things first. At some point, I expect Danny to be stung into action and that's when his greater firepower will make the difference, though I doubt it will end abruptly. Instead, I see this fight developing into a long, hard one, with both men having their moments but Danny's greater power forcing a couple of knockdowns. Ultimately, I see the champion retaining his titles with a points win.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 22 Sep 2003, 10:10

Good preview bennie - I'd generally pick Danny to repeat the knockout, but like you say, in front of Spott's homecrowd it could well go the 12 rounds.
Hope it's a war, because there'll be a few million watching on Grand Stand.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 22 Sep 2003, 13:07

Sprott will be in better shape this time round, coupled with stronger self-belief I can see him offering a little more resistance and lasting the course, perhaps even providing a few hairy moments for Williams along the way.

Riddick Bowie · Post by **Riddick Bowie** » 22 Sep 2003, 14:23

it would be greatly amusing to watch sprott knockout danny williams.

dannys such a waste of everything, lets throw this stiff on the scrap heap where he belongs and move on.

maybe sprotts gonna have an indian summer like jules did in 1999 lol. hell he deserves it i guess.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 22 Sep 2003, 15:15

Neil (The Bounty) Hunter wrote:it would be greatly amusing to watch sprott knockout danny williams.

dannys such a waste of everything, lets throw this stiff on the scrap heap where he belongs and move on.

maybe sprotts gonna have an indian summer like jules did in 1999 lol. hell he deserves it i guess.

You are one disrespectful pudendum, Neil. Get the fornicate of Williams' case. He's a great bloke, as is Michael Sprott for that matter.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 22 Sep 2003, 17:12

Neil (The Bounty) Hunter wrote:it would be greatly amusing to watch sprott knockout danny williams.

dannys such a waste of everything, lets throw this stiff on the scrap heap where he belongs and move on.

maybe sprotts gonna have an indian summer like jules did in 1999 lol. hell he deserves it i guess.

Firstly, I just thought you were having digs at me cause of what I said about Tyson - post 1990.

However, it seems perfectly clear that you hate Williams with a passion and even if I came on here and predicted Williams would beat Derrick McCafferty, you'd shoot me down.

Example - it the Night of the young heavies.

You say Sam is an untalented Bum who aint fought nobody and then say TOS is a fighter who carries power. WHO THE HELL has Williamson fought of note for you to make that judgment.

I feel sorry for Michael Sprott, because a victory here (which won't happen) obviously won't mean nothing to you.

Are you Audley Harrison? Or maybe Keith Long.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 23 Sep 2003, 03:26

If Williams beats Sprott, he wont be fighting Herbie Hide next.

Look out for Williams v Golota in February with Roman Greenberg tackling Julius Francis, on the undercard, at the Royal Albert Hall in February 2004.

You heard it here first.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 23 Sep 2003, 06:56

It's quite an exciting fight this.

Looking forward to it, but I really can't see anything other than a Willimas win.

Danny Willimas has more class, but as in his fight with Long, he may well get dragged into something he really shouldn't be. Williams hasn't loooked great in his last 3-4 fights, and he is at a stage in his career where he really does need to start making some serious inroads towards a title shot.

Sprot on the other hand has nothing to lose. I think his last 7-8 wins do look a little flattering, and maybe its clouding our opinions a little, but he should be in good shape to put up a good performance. I can't see it being good enough though.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 23 Sep 2003, 07:43

well, i'm back and had to comment on this, sorry if i say everything in the exceedingly long post at the top, but i haven't read it yet.

firstly overhand good to see you back.

secondly Michael Sprott will BEAT Danny Williams. Sprott is a fighter bristling with confidence after improving superbly. Danny is a fighter with zero confidence and no real, genuinely respected, names on his record. first time he stepped up he got annihilated. Steve Bunce will tell you 'that wasn't danny williams in there' but for some reason he never entertained the idea that danny was going into uncharted territory and had never fought that level of fighter before.

Another thing, in their first fight Sprott showed that he can handle danny's power. it was more an accumulation stoppage than anything. no way danny gets that 'accumulation' this time.

sprott by mid round KO.

Riddick Bowie · Post by **Riddick Bowie** » 23 Sep 2003, 07:57

riddick mate good to see you back too fella hows leeds uni treating ya?

good to hear a more rational opinion.

i dont hate danny willaims i dont even know the fella. seems like a genuinely good guy. i used to be a fan late 2001 but he stagnated badly in 2002 and was exposed for what he was in 2002- a stiff.

thats not hatred fella. the guy has a glass chin and zero confidence as riddick said.

i just feel we should stop pinning hopes on a guy who has proven beyond doubt he is not going to make it at world level so lets move on to roman greenberg and audley harrison. (i do feel audley would KO danny)

difficult fight to predict. i just want sprott to win so we can throw danny on the scrapheap where he belongs, with derek williams and pele reid and the crew.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 23 Sep 2003, 07:58

The Enigma Code that is Danny Williams eh? It's a tough one to crack that's for sure. With Danny. Maybe deep down he just hasn't got the mental fortitude to accompany the undoubted skills he has. That certain 'something' – you could call it a swagger, or maybe inner confidence – that separates good fighters from the best.

What I am sure of is that going into this fight, Williams has his back to the wall. People are saying Sprott is going to beat him and that Danny's reached his level, so if there's a time for the Brixton bomber to make a statement, this is just about as big as it gets. There will be nowhere for Danny to go if he loses this one. He has to go out there, impose his will and strength on Sprott from the off and hammer him. If Danny plods along and Sprott picks him off, that's it for Danny, even if he wins.

Nothing more than a comprehensive blowout will do this time and I, like Bennie, have no doubt we'll see a Williams, motivated by working with a new trainer and training alongside David Haye, will come out and do the business.

If he fails to do so, it's time for Danny to hang up his gloves.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 23 Sep 2003, 09:52

Sprott's confidence will be high until he get's hit with a big shot. When this happens his mind will go back to the first fight, and he will unravel psycologically.

A fired up Williams gives the best performance of his career and KO's Sprott inside of four rounds.

This is my opinion.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 23 Sep 2003, 10:01

Exactly, Sprott's new-found confidence and the homecrowd, IMO could lead him into charging Danny and paying for it.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 23 Sep 2003, 10:18

I can't help but notice the sudden increase in psychologist posters on these boxing sites. Give me a break boys please! The main reason Sprott got stopped last time is because he was KNACKERED not because he couldn't handle the champions power. Their first meeting was not a match between a champion and a challenger, it was a match between a champion and a guy who was over a stone overweight and who'd just arrived back from holiday.

I'm not rooting either way as I love both these guys but Sprott is getting a raw deal on the run up to this rematch. The prospect of squaring up to Williams would scare the shit out of most of us here - but let's not all pretend we know exactly how Michael Sprott himself is feeling and how he will react when Williams lands his "killer punch".

Different night and a very different fighter.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 23 Sep 2003, 10:44

Yeah so what, you could say that Sprott's recent run has been slightly overrated.

I mean from most recent going back:

Colin Kenna - overmatched, untested
Petr Horacek - journeyman
Mark Potter - well on the way down
Michael Holden see Mark Potter
Tamas Feheri - total joke, blob
Garing Lane - tough old blob
Pele Reid - life and death struggle against chinny former prospect

Obviously the Potter and Holden fights stand out as they were good domestic opponents, but both guys had seen better days. Holden had had his 15 minutes and Potter looked all at sea the night he faced Potter and IMO was a shot fighter.

So you could ask what all the fuss is about Sprott's recent run of form when you look at it on paper.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 23 Sep 2003, 11:45

I don't know why you felt the need to come out with all that Dirt. It's not like I've said Sprott is going to go out there and blow Williams away like all the others.

I just get tired of hearing about how this 1 punch of Williams, despite only stopping a tired, out of shape Sprott on his feet last time, is going to completely wipe out all of the confidence and obvious improvements that Sprott has gathered over the last few months. People are assuming they know what goes on in this fighters mind when they know sh!t.

And Williams own record hardly makes the jaw drop does it?

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 23 Sep 2003, 11:58

Kilburn, I respect your opinion, you obviously know your stuff.

You say different night and very different fighter. But who will be different, Williams or Sprott?

Are you going to the fight?

nasty · Post by **nasty** » 23 Sep 2003, 12:27

When is this fight on in Britain?

Its on this friday but someone mentioned grandstand which I beleive is on saturday?

Surely the fight is gonna be on friday delayed viewing?

When is the damien kelly fight on than?

and when are they going to fit the NIGHT OF THE YOUNG HEAVYWEIGHTS?

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 23 Sep 2003, 12:32

I'm not saying Sprott will definately win but it is clear he will be a much fitter, sharper and more confident fighter on friday night than he was for the first fight. If people want to say it'll make no difference in the end then that's up to them, maybe it won't. But if anyone is expecting me to believe Williams is going to look electric when he's failed to deliver on his promises so many times before then they're mistaken. For all we know it could be the champions mind that breaks down after tasting a few clean hard punches. In his last fight Williams looked as mentally fragile as he's ever been. He even admitted afterwards that the anxiety had completely drained him.

No knockout artist I hadn't planned on going to the fight, got something semi-important to do on friday night. How about you?

nasty · Post by **nasty** » 23 Sep 2003, 12:39

If the williams/sprott fight isn't on FRIDAY than this is absolute BULLSHIT!

Its one of the fights of the year and the BBC are SHOWING IT THE NEXT DAY!

WHAT THE FU~K IS THIS SHIT ALL ABOUT!

WILL IT BE ON RADIO ON BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE SPORT or SOMETHING?

Man, just when i was really digging the BBC, they make such a bad scheduling error like this!

FU#K THE BBC!

THIS FIGHT COULD BE FU~KING SENSATIONAL. ITS GONNA GET LOST ON GRANDSTAND AMONST THE CROWN GREEN BOWLING AND THE OTHER SHIT THEY SHOW ON GRNASTAND!

FU~K, I'M SO FU~KING ANGRY ABOUT THIS!

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 23 Sep 2003, 12:44

Er yeah the rest of us aren't too happy about it either..

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 23 Sep 2003, 12:51

Kilburn, I understand what you say about Danny not looking electric. But I have a funny feeling that he will. Whatever happens it is a very interesting fight, worthy of the Lonsdale Belt.

I think the atmosphere will be great and have managed to pick up a couple of cheap tickets.

The only downside is that I'm going with a mate who would'nt know the difference between a boxing ring and a bullring, so i'll have to put up with loads of stupid questions. On top of that I'm driving.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 23 Sep 2003, 15:19

Neil - the second post you did with your actual prediction was fine and you stance with Williams - I know cause I'm much in the same position of you (by the sounds of it) I've been eating some serious humble by following the Sprott, Long (which I didn't think was too bad and showed some positive), Sam and Mivrovic displays.

Saying that any fighter who has won the lonsdale belt belongs to the Scrap heap is a bit much though - its frustrating, but like Dirt Sugar I'm prepared to give him one last chance.

I see a similar fight to the initial one, I don't think that much of Sprotts 'great' form, was he expected to lose any of those fights. Beating Holden, Potter and Reid isn't that great.

Williams Ko 8.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 24 Sep 2003, 09:29

Kilburn wrote:I don't know why you felt the need to come out with all that Dirt. It's not like I've said Sprott is going to go out there and blow Williams away like all the others.

I just get tired of hearing about how this 1 punch of Williams, despite only stopping a tired, out of shape Sprott on his feet last time, is going to completely wipe out all of the confidence and obvious improvements that Sprott has gathered over the last few months. People are assuming they know what goes on in this fighters mind when they know sh!t.

And Williams own record hardly makes the jaw drop does it?

Not getting shirty Kilburn and I know what you mean, but I think people are jumping on the Sprott bandwagon and that his new-found form is partly down to good matchmaking not a massive jump in skill level. However, a rusty Williams just walked through him last time and even though Sprott will be better prepared, I think Williams, in his first outing with a trainer, will also be in some kind of shape and will do a job on Sprott this time around. Danny's not a future great I know, but he's a better fighter than Sprott will ever be.

Sprott's only chance is to jump on Danny and get him out of there early, but then again, he tried that the last time and it didn't work