by James Slater – Tonight, in the televised opener of Frank Warren’s big show at West Ham United football ground in London, unbeaten 26-year-old heavyweight hope Derek Chisora utterly annihilated what was left of 36-year-old Danny Williams, taking “The Brixton Bomber’s” belt inside two one-sided rounds.
Appearing to have nothing left, punch resistance especially, Williams was put down twice in the 2nd-round, the second knockdown prompting referee Howard Foster to call the stoppage. The official time was one-minute and 41-seconds of the round. Chisora, nicknamed “Del Boy,” is now 13-0(8). Williams, who said beforehand how he would retire whether he won or lost, fell to 41-9(31)..
It was a sad night for fans of Williams – the man who once stopped the still dangerous Mike Tyson. Showing virtually nothing from the opening bell to the quick ending, the veteran looked slow, reluctant and intimidated. Having weighed-in at a hefty 273-pounds (the second-heaviest weight of Danny’s career), the alarm bells had already sounded – and in the 1st-round fears Williams would be taken out quickly grew. Warned twice in the opening three minutes for holding, Danny did little else but back off. Under fire in a corner at one point, as the decade-younger man fired away with both hands to the head, Williams threw virtually nothing back. It was basically all Chisora.
A nice right uppercut to the head started Williams’ downfall in the 2nd, and Chisora went for the finish. Unloading as the defending British champ was on the ropes, Chisora landed combinations before a big left hook to the head sent Williams down. Beating the count but looking hurt, Williams was soon down again. Firing with both hands once again, Chisora this time put Williams down with a chopping right hand to the top of the head. As he began to slide down the ropes, William was rescued from any possibility of further punishment by the third man in the ring. There were no complaints whatsoever about the stoppage.
A beaming Chisora spoke with Sky Sports post-fight, and he said he would like to go for the Commonwealth title next, then the European and then a world title. As shot as Williams clearly had become even before tonight (as Danny admitted himself a short time ago), the jury is still out on the cocky, at times controversial Chisora (who once bit an opponent). Maybe he is the real deal, maybe he isn’t. What is certain is that a second fight between he and Commonwealth champ Sam Sexton (the original opponent for Williams tonight) would be very interesting. Chisora stopped Sexton inside six-rounds back in 2008, and he obviously feels he would get a second win in a return. But has Sexton improved since then?
As for Williams, his retirement will surely now come, and it is to be hoped he enjoys it. A fine fighter in his day, Danny made his mark on both the domestic and the world scene, and he gave us some truly thrilling nights.