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.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 09:35
by tobyh5
Not really familiar with the chap but RIP and condolences to his family. 45 is no age at all.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 09:41
by milpool
Danny and his family were friends of my ex brother in law. 45 is no age to go...RIP.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 10:12
by Kassel
VERY sad to hear this news
I remember he boxed Danny Williams in the ABA's....
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 10:15
by Noxy
RIP Danny
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 10:24
by Tuan_Jim
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.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 11:21
by Wild Sol
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.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 11:50
by Glass Joe
I remember him after the Valuev fight wasn't he David security/trainer friend, disappeared after the Audley fight.
R.I.P
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 11:57
by knockout
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
Rest in peace big fella. gone too soon.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 12:24
by GlobalBox
Rest In Peace Danny
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 14:47
by Sklar
Rest easy, Dan.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 17:23
by Coco
Nice guy, I shared a changing room with him once, think it was when he lost to Potter, got kids too I think RIP
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 05 Jun 2018, 23:21
by bennie
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 06 Jun 2018, 02:33
by Oiky
Rip danny
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 06 Jun 2018, 02:47
by Sklar
So sad for those girls. bennie, any idea if Danny had had heart issues previously or knew of a pre-existing condition?
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 06 Jun 2018, 04:26
by bennie
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.
Great stuff, never seen this before, thanks a lot for posting Eric
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 06 Jun 2018, 16:37
by REEVE
Rip
Taken to soon!
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 07 Jun 2018, 08:55
by THEBUTCH
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.
Re: RIP Danny Watts
Posted: 08 Jun 2018, 07:35
by Zubrei
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.
