Danny Williams-Derek Chisora conference call quotes
By Terence Dooley
Danny Williams, 41-8 (31 early), takes on Derek Chisora, 12-0 (7), in a hastily arranged match on the undercard of Michael Katsidis versus Kevin Mitchell at Upton Park, London next Saturday night. Williams was due to have a dual title showdown with Commonwealth boss Sam Sexton only for Sexton to withdraw in order to be with his sick mother. Step forward Finchley’s ‘Del Boy’ Chisora, who was set to feature in an eight rounder but has now been boosted into the biggest fight of his career.
Williams’ career highlight was an in-ring lowlight; he was brutalised over eight one-sided rounds by Vitali Klitschko when challenging for the Ukrainian’s WBC heavyweight title back in 2004. Danny, however, can look back fondly on a British and Commonwealth title-winning career that was boosted by an away day upset win over Mike Tyson in July 2004.
Ironically, Chisora holds a win over Sam Sexton; he defeated the Norwich-based fighter by sixth-round TKO in 2008 only to suffer a minor setback when being hit with a BBBoC ban for biting the ear of Paul Butlin during their 2009 clash. Derek, like Williams an enigmatic and erratic presence, believes that he is destined for big things; he will seek to make an impression by sending Danny into retirement.
Frank Warren set the scene for a recent conference call. “Danny is putting his British title on the line against Derek Chisora. Sam Sexton pulled out due to his mother’s illness and needs to spend some time with her,” reiterated Warren.
“This is a big opportunity for Derek, he’s been driving me crazy for well over a year now asking for a title fight. He is fighting Danny, a very, very experienced fighter who has been a pro for fourteen years now. We will find out what Danny has got left in the tank, whether Derek is as good as he thinks he is - a lot of questions will be answered.”
Williams has announced that he will retire come what may, and the brooding ‘Brixton Bomber’ is not about to go back on his word. “One hundred percent, yeah, it is this fight and then that is the end of it for me,” confirmed Williams.
“The thing is, I can’t wait around for Sexton - I wish his mother a speedy recovery and couldn’t wait again. (I said) let’s just go for this fight and see what I’ve got. After this fight, I’m doing a two week course to become a professional bodyguard.”
Indeed, Williams feels that Chisora is not as good as Sexton but that, conversely, this makes for a more interesting fight. “He has a win over Sexton but I think Sexton is the better fighter,” declared the 36-year-old.
“He (Chisora) is a good fighter, he is strong and aggressive with great fitness and we’ll see if he’s the full package on the night. I want to go out on a great fight and I think this is a better fight as Derek is a come forward fighter…Sexton moves about a bit. Whatever happens happens. I can go toe-to-toe for twelve rounds or box, I’ll stay with him and it will be a good fight.”
Most fighters retire on the back of a loss, or a string of losses, with few boxers able to muster enough discipline to walk away after a win, especially a title win, could Williams be tempted back if he wins this one?
“I will stand by it,” he said when asked about his retirement pledge. “A dream of mine was to be the only person to win a Commonwealth title three times and Sexton is also rated by the WBC and WBO so I wanted to take his rating away. Now I’ll defend the British title one last time, after that I’m finished.”
Williams sounded quietly confident, he has been there, done it and bought the, no doubt extra-large, t-shirt, there was a sense of finality in his words, with the popular fighter extending an olive branch to former rival Audley Harrison, who is 1-1 with Danny, though the current Lonsdale boss has no plans for a rubbermatch.
“I’ve been boxing for twenty-eight years now,” said Williams when reaffirming his desire to retire. “Big respect to Audley Harrison, he showed heart and I used to call him a ‘celebrity’ fighter but I can call him a fighter now, he fought like a true warrior [in the EBU win over Michael Sprott]. I can’t see him winning a world title but he may make a few defences of the European.”
Chisora is coming off a British title eliminator win over Carl Baker, who scored an upset win over Williams in October’s Prizefighter competition, but has yet to taste title action. However, the 26-year-old believes that his time has come; he strongly disagreed with Williams’ assertion that Sexton is a better all-rounder.
“I’m an all-round better fighter than Sexton,” stated Chisora. “I will prove I’m the number one heavyweight champ in this country. I didn’t have to think about it, we take what we are given. Everything was done according to plan. The first time I was offered Danny I got suspended for five months and now the fight is happening in a very good ground at Upton Park.”
Chisora also feels that Williams’ claims of retirement, coupled with assertions that he has not yet got a corner team in place, are all part of Danny’s pre-fight mind games and that Williams will be fully prepared come fight night.
“I could have no trainer in the corner as well”, laughed Chisora, “it don’t matter because when he gets in the ring, he’s coming to fight. It doesn’t matter who trains him. The pressure is on him because he’s saying he wants to retire all the time – I’m in a winning situation. Danny has trained for this fight, he is playing mind games, he has got a good team around him.”
Long-term, Chisora wants to set the record straight with Sexton, the Sexton-Williams-Chisora round robin has dragged on for months without any of them getting a chance to fight. Chisora, though, feels that he momentum is on his side and that he will make mincemeat of both Williams and Chisora and emerge from this trio as the man with the most potential on the world stage.
“I want to box Sexton for the Commonwealth and get those WBC and WBO rankings then move on from there. I am not going to duck and dive nobody. The next fight is Sam Sexton,” predicted Chisora.
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