Boxing Photos: Audley Harrison V Danny Williams Press Conference
Audley Harrison V Danny Williams Boxing Press Conference London 17/10/05
| Sports Network held a press conference today to announce the heavyweight fight that British fans have spent years waiting for. 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Audley Harrison has built an undefeated record but has yet to face what many would consider a truly dangerous opponent. That will change on December 10th at London’s ExCel Arena as promoter Frank Warren has pulled off what previously had |  © Simon Shaw/Saddoboxing.com |
appeared to be the impossible and that is arrange a showdown between Harrison and former British Champion and Mike Tyson conqueror Danny Williams. SaddoBoxing was there at London’s posh Sofitel St. James Hotel to produce the following exclusive report and photo gallery.
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As the event began, Danny Williams looked subdued and said very little throughout the forty minute press conference, causing those in attendance to wonder if the eight round beating the Brixton man took from Vitali Klitschko permanently damaged his confidence.
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Print and television journalist Steve Bunce kicked of the media question and answer session by asking Audley whether or not he thought this was a dangerous fight for him. “For me it’s all about free enterprising as TV networks won’t allow the best fighters to fight each other and I have big things lined up for me after I defeat Williams back in the US,” said the larger than life Harrison.
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“I’ve been waiting for a fight like this and now the world is going to see what Audley Harrison is all about, The L plates are off now and in two or three fights time, by next year I will have a title shotâ€
“I’m at the door of a title shot now and if I do the business in this fight and myself and Frank find it works then who knows for the future (causing speculation that Harrison may become a Warren promoted fighter)â€
“There is a lot of needle between myself and Danny that goes back yearsâ€
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At this point Williams pipes up and says, “Audley and many others feel that I’m damaged goods after the Klitschko fight but that is rubbish and I’m going to train hard for this and am confident of beating himâ€
Audley storms back with a line that really fires up the atmosphere, “I studied and gained a degree in sports psychology and no one who took such a one way beating (referring to the Klitschko fight) can ever be the same in the ring again, no way,â€
“When I start landing big punches on him it’s all going to come back to him and he’ll freezeâ€
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William’s trainer, Jim McDonnell becomes furious at this and the furs really starts flying as he turns to Audley and says “Four or five years ago Audley, you sparred with Danny but you quit after four rounds didn’t you?â€
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Audley dismisses this as rubbish and the pair start trading verbal abuse for a few minutes until Audley’s spokeswoman Hazel Bruno-Gilbert says to Harrison “Your fight is with Williams, not McDonnell.”
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Things then calm down as Audley has the room roaring with laughter and to be fair the guy has buckets of charm and charisma.
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Williams is then asked how hard he thinks this fight will be compared to others and openly admits that it won’t be as hard for him as the Tyson fight, but laughs when asked to compare it to the Klitschko fight.
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Things wind down and then it’s off to outside the hotel for a photo session for the press, with both men toe-to-toe wrapped in a huge Union Jack flag. Audley jokingly adjusts his gold tie in the reflection of Williams’ eye.
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Frank Warren and Sports Network have yet again put together a pairing thought to be unobtainable and come December 10th in London’s ExCel Arena it’s the fans who will truly benefit from this fantastic matchup.