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The mercurial Danny Williams was on form last night at London’s cavernous ExCel Arena as he proved his meddle once again by outfighting a hesitant Audley Harrison, winning one of his former belts, the Commonwealth Heavyweight title. In what many had expected to be a showcase for the much ballyhooed Harrison, the towering former Olympic Gold Medallist was nowhere to be found for the first eleven rounds, preferring to keep his distance from the man he rubbished as a “cockroach” less than one week before. For Danny Williams, hope is kept alive for another world title opportunity as the Brixton Bomber relights his career prospects with this victory, which he won via split decision 116-113, 116-112 and 113-114
on the judges scorecards.
For nine rounds Harrison put safety first and refused to engage the much shorter Williams, who expended much energy trying to force Audley to fight him. In the tenth a looping Williams right hand found the target on Harrison’s temple and down when the big Briton. Harrison made it up before the count of ten but the southpaw survived largely on account of the sheer exhaustion of Danny, who had come into the bout a career heavy 272 lbs.
The eleventh saw Harrison get it together and absolutely nail the oncoming Williams with a straight left hand. The former British Champion was suddenly at sea but try as he might, Harrison couldn’t put his rival away. Williams survived the round and arguably won a spiteful final round due to his greater experience as both fighters let go with whatever they still had left.
When the smoke cleared Danny Williams was declared the winner and now stands firmly atop the British heavyweight pile. Perhaps now domestic champ Matt Skelton, who crushed challenger John McDermott in just a single round on the same card, will agree to face Williams after two previous scheduled encounters fell through?
