British Boxing: Danny Williams And Matt Skelton Go To War
Danny Williams and Matt Skelton will clash at the ExCeL London on Saturday 25 February to finally answer the question of who really is the best heavyweight in Britain with the winner going on to challenge for a world title.
With Audley Harrison now out of the British and World title scene following his dismal performance against Williams, when he was floored and humiliated by the Brixton puncher, unbeaten Skelton aims to reclaim his Commonwealth crown that Williams now holds.
The pair were due to meet in July this year but Williams withdrew at the twelfth hour citing flu which prompted Skelton, who instead fought Mark Krence and won with a seventh round stoppage, to call him a ‘bottle job’.
Fresh off a stunning one round victory over John McDermott to retain his British title on the Williams-Harrison undercard, Bedford brawler Skelton is still fuming over Williams’ summer no show and simply said, “Me and Danny have got unfinished business to settle so he had better turn up this time.”
Brixton puncher Williams is eager for a second world title shot after his first attempt ended in a brave eighth round stoppage loss to then WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko last December.
Williams said, “Unlike Audley Harrison who is a complete joke, I look at Skelton as a warrior and I know he will come to have a fight,”
“For the last five years Harrison was like an irritating boil on my bum and it’s a great relief to me that last week I finally popped it,”
“I’ve proved to everyone that Harrison was a fraud and all-hype and now that episode is over with I want to move on and beat Skelton to claim back my number one spot in Britain before fighting for a world title again,”
“I still haven’t forgiven Skelton for calling me a ‘bottle job’ after I withdrew from our fight in July because of flu, now he will pay for making those comments – painfully,”
“I’ll be coming in the ring with all-guns-blazing against Skelton and he won’t last,”
“I’ll hit him like he’s never been hit before.”
Promoter Frank Warren said, “Danny and Matt have got everything to fight for,”
“Not only will this establish who is the best in Britain but this is also virtually an eliminator for the World title,”
“I have been speaking to Don King and the winner is in line for world title fight next so that is the golden carrot for both of them,”
“Both these guys are sure to have a war. Matt has never taken a step back in the ring and although his style is raw it is powerful and effective and gets the job done whilst Danny has the power in both hands to end it early,”
“It will be explosive whilst it lasts.”