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Friday night at London’s York Hall saw Lenny Daws defend his British light welter crown against challenger Steve Williams in a thrilling give and take bout.
Williams had won the English belt his last time out with a close points ruling over Michael Grant at the same venue in February but this time the 26 year old Wallasey resident was stepping way up in competition.
Daws had already faced some of the best domestic opponents at light welter since 2006, holding wins over Colin Lynes, Nigel Wright and Barry Morrison while drawing with Wright and Jason Cook, losing only a split decision to Morrison in 2007.
The shorter Williams got off to a fast start and took the fight to the champion, targeting the body of Daws, a good policy given the champion’s habit of outworking his rivals, particularly in the later rounds.
But the challenger started to lose control once Daws got accustomed to the Merseysider’s style and the middle rounds saw the champ start to work behind a crisp jab.
Daws was firmly setting the pace of the bout, his experience in big fights paying off as he beat Williams to the punch in countless exchanges.
Williams turned things around in the tenth frame, backing up Daws behind a two handed assault that surprised the Londoner but it was not to last.
Before the eleventh round could start, Team Williams elected to keep their man on the stool as he had nothing left after the efforts of the previous round.
Daws retains his British title for the second time during his second reign as champion, moving to 21-1-2 (9), while Williams loses for the first time, dropping to 9-1(3).
The stocked undercard saw ex-Commonwealth light middle champ Bradley Pryce, 30-8 (18), fight at welter for the first time since 2005, stopping faded former European light welter king Ted Bami, 26-7 (13), in the second of a scheduled eight rounder.
Former European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight champ Matt Skelton, 23-5 (20), reversed a three bout losing streak by halting veteran Lee Swaby, 25-27-2 (11), in the fifth while Ex-British light welter beltholder Barry Morrison, 18-4 (7), caused durable veteran Billy Smith, 12-81-2 (0), not to answer the bell for the third at welterweight.
