15.05.05 – Berlin heavyweight Ralf Packheiser is finally set for the biggest payday of his professional career, after his manager Olaf Schroeder of Fight Production confirmed reports that the muscular 34-year-old will indeed fight former ‘world’ title challenger Danny Williams on the Sports Network megacard on June 4 in Manchester, headlined by the superfight between world champion Kostya Tsyzu and his challenger Ricky Hatton..
What appears, at first sight, as nothing but a mark-time fight for Tyson-conqueror Williams – who eyes a clash with Matt Skelton – is anything but for the 12-6 (6 KO’s) Packheiser. There’s a history between the two that adds enough spice to the 8-round bout to promise an entertaining affair. “If Danny shows up this time,” Packheiser takes up the story, speaking after a training session at the Berlin gym of his trainer Detlef Kumm.
It was in November 2003, when the unlikely pair was first matched for London’s York Hall. When Packheiser reached the venue two hours before they were due to step into the ring, he learnd Williams had suddenly called in claiming illness forces him to cancel the fight. Because the then-British and Commonwealth champion had appeared fine and passed all pre-fight medicals the day before, Packheiser concluded his impressive physic and confident appearance at the weigh-in had Williams made ‘yellow’. “Had he really been ill, he would have known earlier. What a bum that guy is…” the German southpaw fumed in his anger upon leaving York Hall in frustration. A second attempt to pair them was made one month later, only for the ‘Brixton Bomber’ to again pull out – this time the cited reason being a sudden switch of promoters by Williams from Jess Harding to Frank Warren.
Since that time, both fighters careers have taken quite opposite directions. Though Williams, 32-4 (27 KO’s), next lost his titles to arch-rival Michael Sprott, he came back with two quick wins that lead him to that huge spanking of once-iron Mike Tyson and a challenge to WBC champion Vitali Klitschko. Williams lost big in that ambicious shot at the Ukrainian and now has his first appearance since. Packheiser, on the other hand, had much less luck. Seeing what for him was what for Williams was Tyson disappearing in front of his eyes, Packheiser slumped to two unmotivated stoppage losses by the hands of Italian champ Paolo Vidoz and Spanish champ Hovik Keuchkerian. He then took ten months off and the recharging of his batteries seemed to pay results when last December he pushed Polish star Tomasz Bonin hard all the way and lost a close decision. “Now everything is right. I’m not rusty no more and at the same time feel very energized. My dream fight is back on and I believe Danny shows up this time. I’m not predicting nothing, let’s just have a fight and see what happens. I’ll be in Manchester the night of June 4, so, please, Danny, be my Tyson!”, Packheiser signs off.