BoxRec

Interesting article on the Boxing News website, Danny Williams admitting he shouldn't be fighting anymore. In some ways, his awareness of the situation just makes the whole thing even sadder:

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/exclusi ... -to-fight/

I really feel for the guy, some pretty harrowing comments about himself.

MrJasonM wrote:I really feel for the guy, some pretty harrowing comments about himself.

"I've got two girls in private school and it's costing me a bomb to keep them there." Life just doesn't get any more harrowing than that.

Teddy's Toupee wrote:

MrJasonM wrote:I really feel for the guy, some pretty harrowing comments about himself.

"I've got two girls in private school and it's costing me a bomb to keep them there." Life just doesn't get any more harrowing than that.

Sarcasm I assume?

But I do find this modern habit of vicarious grief and sorrow for people in the media to be rather odd and self congratulating....

Williams is not doing that bad considered to the rest of the world.

Yeah what an idiot, a guy who is trying to give his kids a good start in life.

I think you guys are a being a bit harsh on him, he is obviously pretty down about his career. I wish him the best and hope that everything works out for him.

MrJasonM wrote:Yeah what an idiot, a guy who is trying to give his kids a good start in life.

I think you guys are a being a bit harsh on him, he is obviously pretty down about his career. I wish him the best and hope that everything works out for him.

Balls, get them out of private education and in a normal school like most of the rest of us. It really isn't that bad. Then get a regular job and stop whinging.

That was honest of danny .

Shambles wrote: Balls, get them out of private education and in a normal school like most of the rest of us. It really isn't that bad. Then get a regular job and stop whinging.

If you think a state school could offer Williams' children the same standard of education as a private school then you are hopelessly misinformed.

This, sadly, is what happens when you allow grammar schools, the smart working class child's traditional escape route from struggle and mediocrity, to be (almost) completely obliterated. And what's worse is that it was a Labour policy. Labour!

I hugely admire the way Williams is potentially sacrificing his health for his daughters. I hope when they are grown up they appreciate it.

Tuan_Jim wrote:

Shambles wrote: Balls, get them out of private education and in a normal school like most of the rest of us. It really isn't that bad. Then get a regular job and stop whinging.

If you think a state school could offer Williams' children the same standard of education as a private school then you are hopelessly misinformed.

This, sadly, is what happens when you allow grammar schools, the smart working class child's traditional escape route from struggle and mediocrity, to be (almost) completely obliterated. And what's worse is that it was a Labour policy. Labour!

I hugely admire the way Williams is potentially sacrificing his health for his daughters. I hope when they are grown up they appreciate it.

Exactly. Personally I don't think he should even be licensed to box anymore anyway, but the fact that he's prepared to carry on fighting - knowing he's a shadow of his former self & is potentially doing himself serious long-term damage - just to give his daughters a better life than he had growing up, is an honourable yet sad story. Surprised there isn't a bit more empathy being shown on here tbh.

Tuan_Jim wrote:

Shambles wrote: Balls, get them out of private education and in a normal school like most of the rest of us. It really isn't that bad. Then get a regular job and stop whinging.

If you think a state school could offer Williams' children the same standard of education as a private school then you are hopelessly misinformed.

This, sadly, is what happens when you allow grammar schools, the smart working class child's traditional escape route from struggle and mediocrity, to be (almost) completely obliterated. And what's worse is that it was a Labour policy. Labour!

I hugely admire the way Williams is potentially sacrificing his health for his daughters. I hope when they are grown up they appreciate it.

You are aware that the pressure to shut grammar schools came from the Tory-voting middle-classes who couldn't quite stretch to paying privately for their children's education, and couldn't live with the ignominy of their offspring failing the 11 Plus.

Teddy's Toupee wrote:

Tuan_Jim wrote:

Shambles wrote: Balls, get them out of private education and in a normal school like most of the rest of us. It really isn't that bad. Then get a regular job and stop whinging.

If you think a state school could offer Williams' children the same standard of education as a private school then you are hopelessly misinformed.

This, sadly, is what happens when you allow grammar schools, the smart working class child's traditional escape route from struggle and mediocrity, to be (almost) completely obliterated. And what's worse is that it was a Labour policy. Labour!

I hugely admire the way Williams is potentially sacrificing his health for his daughters. I hope when they are grown up they appreciate it.

You are aware that the pressure to shut grammar schools came from the Tory-voting middle-classes who couldn't quite stretch to paying privately for their children's education, and couldn't live with the ignominy of their offspring failing the 11 Plus.

That's drivel. Read your statement again and try to make sense of it. You think Anthony Crosland, who was hellbent on 'shutting down every f**cking grammar school', gave a toss about Tory voters? These people had their own egalitarian socialist ideology they were acting on. Conservatives protested the actions, calling the comprehensive experiment 'free mediocrity for all children'. History has proved them correct.

“I wanted to retire many years ago but I’ve got two daughters in private school and it’s costing me a bomb to keep them there,” Williams admitted. “The only way I can keep them there is fighting, and it’s not even fighting, it’s embarrassing myself. That’s what I’m doing, I’m embarrassing myself.

If Danny's daughters havent read that then they should. Danny will not be compes mentis to hold any grand children he may every have. Infact they will have to work their arses off to pay for private care fees that will cost in excess of £1000 per week.

I cannot believe that his children would carry on in education that one day they could well be stacking shelves or working in Asda because their expensive education didnt pay off. Ive seen and read some chit today on facebook and twitter regarding other topics but this one has effected me the most.

I like Danny and feel ashamed that his family have put him through this knowing that his next fight could possibly inflict serious and unreversable damage.

You cant tell me they dont know this situation surely teenagers are saying to them at school 'didnt your dad once beat Mike Tyson? and now every tom dick and harry is knocking the poor bugger over'

So why, with 20+ years in government since their introduction, haven't the Tories scrapped the comprehensive system and re-introduced the 11 Plus along with secondary moderns, Tuan Jim?

Teddy's Toupee wrote:So why, with 20+ years in government since their introduction, haven't the Tories scrapped the comprehensive system and re-introduced the 11 Plus along with secondary moderns, Tuan Jim?

Probably because the comprehensive school failure has been hugely beneficial to the Tories. It keeps the scum stupid and in their place, while a real education is affordable only to the super privileged. I.e. their ilk. Plus the mass idiocy of state school educated kids is handily obfuscated through grade inflation to prevent widespread embarrassment. Have you seen a syllabus say from the 1950s, compared to what kids are taught now? I don't think a lot of men today in their 20s and 30s could pass an 11-plus. Meanwhile a Chinese 11 year old could probably ace British A levels with his eyes closed, and then win a 6 round decision over Danny Williams just for good measure.

That's quite the conspiracy theory, Tuan Jim. At least the scum (working-class?) aren't stupid enough to vote Tory in enough numbers to give them massive parliamentary majorities anymore; you know, like they did back in their better-educated past. Now that would be really stupid.

mimmy123 wrote:“I wanted to retire many years ago but I’ve got two daughters in private school and it’s costing me a bomb to keep them there,” Williams admitted. “The only way I can keep them there is fighting, and it’s not even fighting, it’s embarrassing myself. That’s what I’m doing, I’m embarrassing myself.

If Danny's daughters havent read that then they should. Danny will not be compes mentis to hold any grand children he may every have. Infact they will have to work their arses off to pay for private care fees that will cost in excess of £1000 per week.

I cannot believe that his children would carry on in education that one day they could well be stacking shelves or working in Asda because their expensive education didnt pay off. Ive seen and read some chit today on facebook and twitter regarding other topics but this one has effected me the most.

I like Danny and feel ashamed that his family have put him through this knowing that his next fight could possibly inflict serious and unreversable damage.

You cant tell me they dont know this situation surely teenagers are saying to them at school 'didnt your dad once beat Mike Tyson? and now every tom dick and harry is knocking the poor bugger over'

It isn't his kids is it?

Do you think kids have a say over their parents decisions? I never did, it might be a bit more democratic in the Williams house, who knows.

He boxes on because he chooses to, it is as simple as that.

He legacy won't pay the bills. If it was my father, I would rather give up private school than watch him get beaten up by some steroid filled Estonian novice, I wouldn't want my great job and future hanging over his dementia (or worse) in fact, his kids would probably say 'I didn't ask to go to private school'.

And they didn't, it is as simple as that.

The days of boxers 'coining it in' are gone, he is a smart guy, he should have invested it in himself so he would have had something to fall back on in retirement. I know he did the security/bodyguard course - I don't know what happened there but I assume Danny would be a lot better at keeping nutters away than your typical ex Para reg.

Tuan_Jim wrote: Meanwhile a Chinese 11 year old could probably ace British A levels with his eyes closed

They probably couldn't.

The average Chinese pupil has far better maths knowledge than the average British kid but the Chinese and the Korean (ha!) systems are severely lacking in other ways.

Fat Git wrote:

Tuan_Jim wrote: Meanwhile a Chinese 11 year old could probably ace British A levels with his eyes closed

They probably couldn't.

The average Chinese pupil has far better maths knowledge than the average British kid but the Chinese and the Korean (ha!) systems are severely lacking in other ways.

I'm not even convinced of about the maths thing. The number of my students that can't even add up a few numbers is frightening. I had a student tell me that all of her maths exams were multi-choice...

Deadendgeneration wrote:

Fat Git wrote:

Tuan_Jim wrote: Meanwhile a Chinese 11 year old could probably ace British A levels with his eyes closed

They probably couldn't.

The average Chinese pupil has far better maths knowledge than the average British kid but the Chinese and the Korean (ha!) systems are severely lacking in other ways.

I'm not even convinced of about the maths thing. The number of my students that can't even add up a few numbers is frightening. I had a student tell me that all of her maths exams were multi-choice...

We must have different experiences on that one, I teach in a Middle School and they had far better maths ability than when I was their age. Better English ability also, if I am being honest.

Tuan_Jim wrote:

Teddy's Toupee wrote:So why, with 20+ years in government since their introduction, haven't the Tories scrapped the comprehensive system and re-introduced the 11 Plus along with secondary moderns, Tuan Jim?

Probably because the comprehensive school failure has been hugely beneficial to the Tories. It keeps the scum stupid and in their place, while a real education is affordable only to the super privileged. I.e. their ilk. Plus the mass idiocy of state school educated kids is handily obfuscated through grade inflation to prevent widespread embarrassment. Have you seen a syllabus say from the 1950s, compared to what kids are taught now? I don't think a lot of men today in their 20s and 30s could pass an 11-plus. Meanwhile a Chinese 11 year old could probably ace British A levels with his eyes closed, and then win a 6 round decision over Danny Williams just for good measure.

Fraid i agree with Tuan ,, I remember clearly years ago when driving taxis ,, i picked up a headmaster , and got talking about how Thatcher was facking up the school system , and i can distinctly remember him saying its because pollies know you cannot down trod, educated people . That alone got me thinking and i went and asked some younger nephews , neices , cousins ,, how do you do fractions , how do you do long division , can you work a slide rule ,, all stuff i knew how to do at 12- 13 perhaps younger . Could they do it , the answer was always , we hav'nt done that yet , The kids now a days are even worse . My grammer and spelling ect is bad , but not because i was'nt taught it , its because i left school at 14 and never used it . , But i can still spell better than most the kids who used to send me resumes .

Fack fellas , i'm telling you its no bullshit , the kids who used to come to me looking for work , only up till 18 months ago , most were thick has bricks .

His words are coming true ,, keep them uneducated , keep them poor , they don't know any different , come voting time , put the dole up a pound , talk about giving them more for nothing and they vote you back in . .

And Thuan is correct the chinese put a lot of stock on education , , and there kids would run rings around ours ,

coneye wrote:
And Thuan is correct the chinese put a lot of stock on education , , and there kids would run rings around ours ,

Not true my man.

From my experience, they do in the sciences and maths, and they know how to take in masses of information and the government has really pushed English language learning, but apart from that...

Danny is honourable but deluded his health is more important to his families future well being than keeping them in private school. By the way as someone who works in a grammar school I can tell you that funding cuts are meaning they are losing ground to private schools.

How old are his kids? if the youngest has another 10 years of school left, surely he can't maintain his boxing income for that long?

coneye wrote:keep them uneducated , keep them poor , they don't know any different , come voting time , put the dole up a pound , talk about giving them more for nothing and they vote you back in . .

Unfortunately, the above is also as I see it.

In the meantime, the tabloids can focus on one or two individuals who cheat the benefit system out of a few quid (I do not agree with benefit fraud)- but at least the likes of Jimmy Carr, Chris Moyles, Gary Barlow, Gary Lineker, Danny Murphy and hundredss of their mates are literally cheating the Exchequer (i.e. Us) out of £millions each.

These are the people who tell us to give to charity when they don't even pay the correct taxes ! - good old Linekar on Children in Need etc. the hypocrite !

I need to be careful I don't start ranting now .....

Good old Sir Bob, telling us all "give us you f*ucking money" - who benefitted from both Live Aid campaigns (mostly Bob himself, QUANGO's, middle-men and African dictators that's who).

What about Bono - good old Bono who is actually registered as a domicile of Luxembourg in order to deliberately avoid paying tax. He then donates money to charity (less than he would have paid in taxes) and then tells everyone about it so he looks like a top bloke.

Anyway, time for a brew and a lie down ......

mercman wrote:What a load of bullsh*t about private schools. Stupid people equate all fee-paying schools with Harrow and Eton but they are in fact massively variable in quality. There are about 12-15 elite 'public schools' which provide the majority of the country's 'leaders' - whether this is in government, the civil services, the armed forces, commerce, etc. But this is as much to do with social and cultural capital as it is to do with the formal education they receive.

There are, however, loads of other fee-paying schools which would like you to believe they're just like Eton but many of them are really poor quality - basically, some failed academic who sets up shop in a converted Victorian house, with poor facilities and unqualified staff. Exam results are often very mediocre too. They often take their kids to council-run playing fields and swimming pools because they haven't even got their own sports facilities. Every town's got them and wealthy but dim people (of which there are many) hand over bundles of cash when they would get a far better 'product' at a state school in an affluent catchment area.

That's not really the case with independent senior schools any more. There are probably a few private prep schools like that left, but not many.
I started my teaching career at a run of the mill private school (fees about £12k per year now). The overall education was way better than I received in the best comprehensive school where I grew up. There's lots of reasons why, but there are very few rubbish independent senior schools any more. It's a competitive market, and as such the poor schools generally don't survive.