Klitchsko / Williams London press conf today
Posted: 14 Oct 2004, 07:22
Tyson tactic is crucial for Danny's giant task
By David Smith, Evening Standard
14 October 2004
Danny Williams believes he could be just nine minutes - the equivalent of three rounds of hard boxing - from realising a dream of becoming world heavyweight champion.
His challenge for the WBC title held by giant Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko was set to be confirmed later today when the two men were scheduled to meet at a press conference in London.
They will go head-to-head at the Madison Square Garden arena in New York on Saturday 11 December when Williams will seek to prove his recent shock win over Mike Tyson was not a fluke.
Crucially, the 31-year-old from Brixton knows that, just as with Tyson, he will have to weather an early storm if he is to cut the 6ft 7in Klitschko down to size.
Williams, who had a two inch height advantage over Tyson but will be giving away six inches to the Los Angeles-based champion, said: "As in the Tyson fight, the first three rounds will be the most dangerous for me. I've got to get inside those long arms."
He has already begun preparing for the fight with trainer Jim McDonnell, whose tactics proved so effective against Tyson in Louisville nearly three months ago.
Williams said: "We'll be looking to use a sort of Tyson style, coming in behind a good head movement, hands held high and throwing big body shots that will weaken Klitschko so I can take him out in the later rounds.
"I've no more qualms about fighting Klitschko than I had about fighting Tyson. He's good, but slow and robotic with suspect stamina. And he gets tagged, as we saw against Lennox Lewis and Corrie Sanders."
Klitschko, 33, lost to Lewis in June last year when he suffered severe cuts to his left eye. When Lewis subsequently announced his retirement from the ring, Klitschko and Sanders fought for the vacant WBC title in April.
It was a cracking brawl with southpaw Sanders nearly scoring a sensational win in the first round when he caught his stiff opponent with a booming left.
But Williams and McDonnell will have taken note of the way Klitschko came back to send 38-yearold Sanders into retirement with an eighth-round stoppage.
Williams and McDonnell are working out at a gym in Essex but at the start of next month they move to the United States where they may base themselves at the Philadelphia gym run by former world champion Tim Witherspoon.
Lewis is expected to be ringside on fight night, and Williams was delighted yesterday when his fellow Londoner gave him his backing against Klitschko.
But former British champion Julius Francis believes this may be a fight too far for Williams.
Francis speaks from experience, having won and lost against Williams and been stopped in just two rounds by Klitschko when they met back in 1998.
He said: "I'm not sure this is a good move for Danny.
"Klitschko has proved he can punch, and that he can take a punch. People say he has a stamina problem but he's stopped a lot of opponents late and he fought Lennox Lewis at a terrific pace for six rounds before the cuts stopped him.
"I think he wasn't up for his last fight against Corrie Sanders. Hopefully, he won't be up for Danny, but he starts favourite."
By David Smith, Evening Standard
14 October 2004
Danny Williams believes he could be just nine minutes - the equivalent of three rounds of hard boxing - from realising a dream of becoming world heavyweight champion.
His challenge for the WBC title held by giant Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko was set to be confirmed later today when the two men were scheduled to meet at a press conference in London.
They will go head-to-head at the Madison Square Garden arena in New York on Saturday 11 December when Williams will seek to prove his recent shock win over Mike Tyson was not a fluke.
Crucially, the 31-year-old from Brixton knows that, just as with Tyson, he will have to weather an early storm if he is to cut the 6ft 7in Klitschko down to size.
Williams, who had a two inch height advantage over Tyson but will be giving away six inches to the Los Angeles-based champion, said: "As in the Tyson fight, the first three rounds will be the most dangerous for me. I've got to get inside those long arms."
He has already begun preparing for the fight with trainer Jim McDonnell, whose tactics proved so effective against Tyson in Louisville nearly three months ago.
Williams said: "We'll be looking to use a sort of Tyson style, coming in behind a good head movement, hands held high and throwing big body shots that will weaken Klitschko so I can take him out in the later rounds.
"I've no more qualms about fighting Klitschko than I had about fighting Tyson. He's good, but slow and robotic with suspect stamina. And he gets tagged, as we saw against Lennox Lewis and Corrie Sanders."
Klitschko, 33, lost to Lewis in June last year when he suffered severe cuts to his left eye. When Lewis subsequently announced his retirement from the ring, Klitschko and Sanders fought for the vacant WBC title in April.
It was a cracking brawl with southpaw Sanders nearly scoring a sensational win in the first round when he caught his stiff opponent with a booming left.
But Williams and McDonnell will have taken note of the way Klitschko came back to send 38-yearold Sanders into retirement with an eighth-round stoppage.
Williams and McDonnell are working out at a gym in Essex but at the start of next month they move to the United States where they may base themselves at the Philadelphia gym run by former world champion Tim Witherspoon.
Lewis is expected to be ringside on fight night, and Williams was delighted yesterday when his fellow Londoner gave him his backing against Klitschko.
But former British champion Julius Francis believes this may be a fight too far for Williams.
Francis speaks from experience, having won and lost against Williams and been stopped in just two rounds by Klitschko when they met back in 1998.
He said: "I'm not sure this is a good move for Danny.
"Klitschko has proved he can punch, and that he can take a punch. People say he has a stamina problem but he's stopped a lot of opponents late and he fought Lennox Lewis at a terrific pace for six rounds before the cuts stopped him.
"I think he wasn't up for his last fight against Corrie Sanders. Hopefully, he won't be up for Danny, but he starts favourite."
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