DANNY WILLIAMS last night claimed that beating Mike Tyson was the worst thing ever to happened to him.
Williams became an overnight sensation when he stopped the former undisputed world heavyweight champion inside four rounds in 2004.
He became the new great British hope and unsuccessfully challenged Vitali Klitschko for the WBC crown five months later.
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Williams, 33, admits the attention that followed went to his head, but rather than turn to drink, drugs or women, the devout Muslim binged on junk food gorging himself on Chinese takeways, curries and chocolate. "Everyone tells me beating Tyson was the best thing that ever happened to me, but if the truth be known that was far from the case," said the Brixton fighter.
"I was so pleased with myself after the win, but didn't know what to do with myself to celebrate as I don't party, don't drink and don't chase girls. So I turned to food, junk food, I just couldn't get enough of it and was eating it morning, noon and night. I'd start with a 250g bar of chocolate for breakfast, the first of three a day. Then it would be an Indian takeaway for lunch and a Chinese meal at night every single day.
"It reached such a stage where I couldn't train properly, I'd train three times a week and have to rest for the other four.
"I've not been in the right condition since I beat Tyson. Even when I boxed for the world title against Klitschko I wasn't 100 per cent. When I had to lose weight it was only because I went on the Atkins diet without saying anything and then people would tell me I looked great. But after losing to Klitschko I started winning again and because I was winning I kept doing the same old things."
Williams finally realised he needed to change his lifestyle when he lost his Commonwealth title to Matt Skelton in July. He was a staggering 20st 5lbs, wrongly thinking he could win simply by bulking up.
He looked in much better shape at yesterday's head-to-head for his rematch with Audley Harrison at the ExCeL centre in London, and expects to come in at about 18st 10lbs.
He predicted another defeat for Harrison after beating him 12 months ago, adding: "Losing to Skelton was the wake-up call I needed. I realised I was close to throwing it all away.
"When I beat Harrison on Saturday night I won't even think about picking up a choc bar to celebrate."
lol........
Williams was talented as hell but in terms of raw talent (exluding skill) Corrie Sanders is the biggest unfilfilled talent I've seen in contemporary times.
Danny Williams was the most naturally gifted heavyweight I've ever seen.
Let's not get carried away here. Williams has had some exciting wins over the years but has not "stepped up" to the championship level which is more than possible in today's heavyweight climate. I'll be rooting for Danny boy this weekend and hope he gets an exciting win.
willams could have been a great great heavy weight, but just like most boxers in his weight class he was lazy with no work ethic!
That's funny as hell........LOL. Gerry Cooney too.
Danny Williams was the most naturally gifted heavyweight I've ever seen.
He's a fatty boom batty. And you're full of it.
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LOL, shut up.
He was. He was expected to be the 'next big thing' when he was just 17, and turned down loads of offers to turn pro because he felt he was too young and couldn't handle the pressure.
He's been told he's going to be heavyweight champion of the world since he was eight years old. That's where all the pressure came from.
Oh cool, another Riddick Bowe eh? Difference being Bowe was a lot more naturally gifted and could've actually went somewhere in the sport, had he not been such a lazy fat shit.
Danny Williams was the most naturally gifted heavyweight I've ever seen.
he has been a fat bastard for most of his carear, what a waste of a good talent, he could be right at the very top, but he has let himself go, a real shame for british boxing, I had high hopes for him.
Oh cool, another Riddick Bowe eh? Difference being Bowe was a lot more naturally gifted and could've actually went somewhere in the sport, had he not been such a lazy fat shit.