thanks button.
Audley Vs Williams 2
Was actually GREAT!
Wasn't like the first one at all!.gif "Celb (23)")
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6165869.stm
If he repeats that, then I will get behind him and anyone can win a belt at HW.Harrison in bloody Williams win
Harrison lands a left to Williams
Harrison picked Williams off from the first bell
Audley Harrison began the process of restoring his reputation by winning his grudge re-match against fellow Briton Danny Williams inside three rounds.
Harrison was widely criticised after a lame performance in losing a split decision to Williams 12 months earlier.
But in the first round at London's ExCel Arena, a stunning left left Williams with a badly cut nose.
Advertisements
Williams was cut under his left eye in the second before Harrison claimed a technical knockout in the third.
Williams had taken the Commonwealth heavyweight title by beating Harrison in a split decision one year ago, although that belt was taken from Williams by Matt Skelton in July.
Skelton was due to fight Harrison here, at London's Excel, but he withdrew through injury so Williams stepped in at a week's notice for a re-match of that bout last December, which ended in bitter recriminations for Harrison.
606 DEBATE: Your reaction to Harrison's victory
The pair had clashed at the pre-fight weigh-in, and Harrison continued that aggression inside the first round as he opened up Williams' nose.
After two minutes of the second round, the fight was stopped so the referee could study Williams' face - by now a bloody mess with cuts across the nose and underneath his left eye.
Williams persuaded everyone he was fit to continue, but Harrison continued to take the fight to his opponent for the remainder of round two.
Williams' corner desperately tried to repair the damage ahead of round three, but his face looked like that of a man who had gone 12 rounds, rather than two.
Williams knew there was a danger that his cuts might result in an early stoppage, so he had a real go at knocking Harrison out at the start of the third.
In 2007 I will win the world title, in 2008 I will be undisputed
Audley Harrison
But Harrison was the one who claimed the knockout, sending Williams to the canvas with an uppercut.
Williams got up for one more go, but he was hit with yet another uppercut, prompting the referee to end the contest after two minutes, 32 seconds of that round.
"I have come back to the same venue after a torrid time last year and have done a job," Harrison told ITV after the fight.
"In 2007 I will win the world title, in 2008 I will be undisputed. You saw today I have definitely got the skills.
"People say I've got no heart and am petrified. The bottom line is that we all have bad days at the office.
"Last year I was not in the right place. I came back today with my closet cleared out. Boxing is what I want to do and let me go on in my career."
Williams honest as Usual is considering retiring.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/6166119.stmWilliams ponders ring retirement
By Richard Hookham
BBC Sport at London's Excel Arena
Danny Williams
Williams needed 13 stitches after his clash with Harrison
Danny Williams admits he may be ready to quit the ring after his third-round stoppage by Audley Harrison.
But the popular Brixton heavyweight has called on British fight fans to get behind Harrison's bid for any future world title assault.
"Maybe for me it might be time to say goodbye," said the former British and Commonwealth champion, 33.
"Audley is number one now and people should support him, but that may well be the last time you see me in there."
Williams suffered a broken nose and needed six sitches on a deep cut to his left eye as he was stopped two minutes, 33 seconds into the third round of the hastily-arranged non-title rematch.
I was ready for this fight, I had been in training for eight weeks so I felt well prepared, there are no excuses
Danny Williams
And he admitted that he had probably taken enough punishment in his career.
"It's still early, I'll speak to my dad, he's the one who got me into boxing and we'll take it from here, but that could well be it," he said.
Always a man of honour, former world title challenger Williams, who has lost six of his 42 fights, was typically gracious in defeat and saluted Harrison for his performance.
"I was ready for this fight, I had been in training for eight weeks so I felt well prepared, there are no excuses," he said.
Williams, whose career-highlight was beating former undisputed world champion Mike Tyson before being knocked out by then WBC title-holder Vitali Klitschko in 2004, admitted that time had caught up with him.
"In those fights, some of the shots I took were tremendous and these things take years out of you.
"When you take a lot of them over your career, it's like chopping down a tree - you just keep chipping away at it.
"To be fair to Audley he was on the top of his game.
"His hand speed was tremendously sharp and he was right on it and I was very impressed with him.
"I knew he would be up for it at the weigh-in - I could see it in his eyes - and that's why I tried to wind him up and unsettle him. But give him credit he was on top and I've no complaints."
With his height and reach Audley will hard for anyone to beat
Danny Williams
Williams beat Harrison in a dire 12-round clash at the same venue last December.
But he insists it is time for the man pilloried as "Fraudley" after a string of lacklustre professional performances to be recognised as the country's number one after this clinical revenge mission.
"Maybe he should fight Matt Skelton and find out - then people should get behind that person," Williams said.
606 DEBATE: Your reaction to Williams' defeat
With Harrison talking up a possible challenge to IBF world champion Wladimir Klitschko in the adjoining dressing room, Williams admitted he had few arguments.
"As long as he fights like that and adopts the same tactics he could do well. With his height and reach he's going to be hard for anyone to beat," he said.
"You can't go in and not expect to get hurt, you have to show aggression and fight with your heart and be a warrior and if he does that he could do it."
Williams admitted that he may retire without fulfilling his ultimate goal.
"I really, truly believed that after winning the Tyson fight I would be world champion," he added.
"I was never able to reach that level again but I was British and Commonwealth champion for a long time so I'm happy about that."
Promoter Frank Warren hopes Williams will stick with his plans to retire.
"Danny is a warrior, he always has been but I genuinely think it's time for him to call it a day.
"He looked tired in there. I'll talk to him in the next week or so and try to convince him he's made the right decision to end his career."
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks