Williams against Sprott: a preview
Posted: 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.
"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.
