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His disappointing loss March 30 to NABF lightweight champion “Hammerin’ Hank” Lundy (22-1-1, 11 KOs), headlining ESPN Friday Night Fights, will serve as an invaluable learning experience for “Dangerous” Dannie Williams (20-2, 16 KOs).
Williams dropped Lundy in the opening round with a left hook to the temple, but that turned out to be the start of a humbling evening for Dannie, who got away from his game plan and instead of boxing, he unsuccessfully forced punches going for a one-punch knockout.
Lundy peppered Williams with a stiff jab for most of the night and Dannie was never able to really check Hank’s chin. In his first nationally televised main event, Williams ended-up having problems from the aforementioned first-round knockdown until the final bell, never committing to his punches despite pressing a lot of the action.
Since their fight, Lundy has moved-up from No. 4 to No. 2 in the WBC rankings, positioning him for a world title shot, while Williams dropped from No. 9 to No. 15 in the most recent WBC ratings.
Rumble Time Promotions and DiBella Entertainment co-promote Williams, the 27-year-old from St. Louis who now lives and trains in Youngstown, Ohio.
“Dannie showed a lot of heart fighting the best Hank Lundy, I think, the boxing world has ever seen,” Rumble Time Promotions president Steve Smith said. “Dannie knocked down Lundy early but, unfortunately, he didn’t finish him off.
“Dannie jumped out of his game plan after the first-round knockdown. I think Lundy will become world champion. I take off my hat to him for his well-deserved victory. I know these two will fight again on an even bigger stage.
“There is no question in my mind, or Lou DiBella’s, that someday Dannie Williams will be world champion. We’re getting him right back in the ring for a tune-up fight and then back on ESPN in July.
“Doug Loughrey has awarded us with another opportunity for Dannie to fight on ESPN Friday Night Fights, the most watched show in boxing. We want to thank him for giving Dannie another chance.”
