by James Slater – Despite admitting he’d given the idea much serious thought, British heavyweight Danny Williams is not about to retire just yet. The 36-year-old who was last seen doing not too well in the latest instalment of The “Prize Fighter” series – being hurt, knocked down and ultimately out-pointed by Carl Baker back on October 2nd – is scheduled to return to action on the 29th of this month..
Williams, 41-8(31) is still the reigning British heavyweight champion – his title having been deemed to have not been on the line in the scheduled-for-3-rounds “Prize Fighter” tourney – and there could still be one or two decent money fights out there for “The Brixton Bomber.” BoxRec don’t have his next fight set for November 29th down as a title fight, and so far no opponent has been named.
What Williams needs is a tune-up type bout, in which he can restore some of the confidence that was surely take from him as a result of the loss to Baker. After that fight, Danny did give the impression he would call it quits, saying he felt the number of tough fights he’d had in his career had caught up with him. But now the always-exciting warrior is set to give it one more go.
It’s always tough for any fighter who has achieved notable success to give it up and retire from boxing, and Williams, a fighter known for blowing hot and cold, is no exception. It was alarming to see the way Danny’s chin let him down against the relatively light punching Baker last time, and if the veteran of 50 pro bout’s punch resistance has indeed gone it will be some rough road he has ahead of him.
Having said all that, if Williams can get himself one or two momentum building wins in the coming months, there could be an interesting and somewhat appealing fight or two out there for him. There’s always the possibility of a rubber-match with Audley Harrison, who Danny out-pointed and was then stopped by. And who wouldn’t be at least a little interested if Williams signed up to test young hope Tyson Fury? Most likely for Danny, though, if he can win later this month, will be a defence of his British belt against the Sam Sexton-Martin Rogan rematch winner (set for this coming Friday night – Nov. 6th).
In truth, anything beyond domestic level looks to be a step too far for the current version of the man who once stopped former world champ Mike Tyson. And it remains to be seen if Danny can get himself sufficiently motivated for fights on such a level. Having already ruled as British and Commonwealth champion (still holding his British belt), will there be a sense of “been there, done that” creeping into the big man’s mind?
Set to make what he hopes will be his winning return to the ring on a Sunday, in Watford, in a fight that will be off T.V, Williams will likely perform in front of a relatively small audience. Perhaps that’s no bad thing. It’s time to see what, if anything, the likeable 36-year-old has left.