On the evening of Tuesday 17th September, Bethnal Green's York Hall
played host to the British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship bout
featuring champion Danny Williams. Williams is an articulate, well-groomed
convert to the Islamic faith who now is a familiar figure on BBC boxing
presentations. Until recently in the company of Marvellous Marvin Hagler,
Williams has being seen clutching his title belts while bandying opinions at
Audley Harrison matches. But such 'Jaw-jawing,' to borrow a Churchillian phrase
has not being matched by 'War-warring;' the agreement he had signed with Don
King promotions having yielded little by way of fights. Now signed to Lennox
Lewis' outfit, Lion Promotions, Williams is hopeful that the emphasis will be
on the latter.
His opponent, one Keith Long, a 34-year-old Brixton residing carpenter
by trade, is a short, squat bull-necked warrior with far from impressive
amateur credentials. Yet as a professional, Long has caught the eye most
recently with a win over Michael Holden, a former undefeated British
heavyweight champion in a British title eliminator one year ago. Strong, but
limited, Long was not expected to threaten Williams.
Williams started the fight strongly jabbing away at Longs head before
advancing in with power laced hooks and uppercuts. But Long, on the advise of
his handlers who trained Williams as an amateur, moved under the jab, all the
time trying to hurt Williams to the body. When not on the receiving end of a
torrent of Williams' shots, Long was always advancing and returning fire. The
allusion to trench warfare is not misplaced and the programmed billed as
"The Pride of Britain" would have being better described as the
Battle of Britain. Long remained amazingly resilient, taking tremendous blows
around his head but in the third, he struck back. With his back against the
ropes, close to a neutral corner, Williams was forced to absorb a powerful
uppercut and right cross to the head, which brought gasps from the crowd. Then
the battle moved to another side of the ring where both men continually
battered each other with closely delivered punches to the head. The round ended
with Willia! ms on top and Long had to be guided back to his corner by his
handlers.
After this the fight settled down to a pattern of Williams throwing
combinations and Long stepping in to punches and trying to land his blows. As
the fight entered its final rounds, it was obvious that Long was the more
winded of the fighters, but he summoned up all his energies for a final round
assault on Williams to no avail.
The fight was scored 117 to 113 to the 29-year old defending champion.
Interestingly, neither Williams nor his putative rival, Audley Harrison
were impressed by Williams' performance. For Williams, fighting the likes of
Long do not bring out the best in him as he somewhat brings himself 'down to
their level.' Harrison, on the other hand, though failing to impress in his
inaugural bouts against mediocre opposition was unsurprisingly dismissive
saying that Williams' abilities are so limited as to negate any pretensions of
ascending to world level.
Where then does this leave Williams? By beating Long, Williams has won
outright a coveted Lonsdale Belt; one last domestic chore before concentrating
his efforts on higher profile international bouts that he hopes will serve to
bring him into the international spotlight. To that end, his new promoters hope
to match him against Corrie Sanders, the South African former WBU heavyweight
champion. Whether this will lead to a tussle with Lennox Lewis is rather
uncertain; in fact, it is most unlikely given that Lewis will want to finish
his career with high grossing match ups with the Klitschko's and Mike Tyson.
It was a tremendous battle with Long. "You can tell those guys came
from the ghetto!" exclaimed one on looking fan as an exhultant Williams
fitted on his gleaming belt.
I'll second that emotion.
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