Boxing Preview: Danny Williams – Matt Skelton

Finally The Two Best Big Men In The Country Go Head To Head

In a fight postponed twice already, Danny Williams and Matt Skelton meet at the London Excel Arena on February 25th on yet another exciting Sports Network promotion. Danny currently is on a high. In December in a disappointing bout he disposed of Audley Harrison, a man who for the last four years had been a constant thorn in his side.

In Skelton he meets a man who will not run. In fact Skelton will do anything but run! A pro since only 2002 Matt has a professional record of eighteen unbeaten bouts in which he has scored seventeen knockouts. If you discount Danny Williams, Matt Skelton has taken on all comers in the domestic heavyweight scene. The likes of Julius Francis, Michael Sprott and Keith Long have already fallen prey to the big man from Bedford.

In Williams, however, he meets a man with arguably more technical skills than the aforementioned opponents. So what happens February 25th?

Williams, as we all know by now, can blow hot and cold. A man who when you least expect it produces a career defining performance. He is also a man who can disappoint.

Undoubtedly, Williams’ biggest worldwide win was the shock knockout over Mike Tyson in July 2004. That earned the Brixton Bomber a shot at then world number one, Vitali Klitschko. In that bout he was badly overmatched although no one could have doubted his bravery.

On the downside though, Danny has disappointed big time. Back in 1999, he was a big favourite to take the British crown from Julius Francis but was outscored. Fast forward to 2003 and again as a favourite to take the European Title from Samil Sam, he looked lacklustre and was floored three times on the way to a sixth round defeat. Add that to the tame way he surrendered the British Heavyweight Title to Michael Sprott in 2004 and you tend to get the picture about his inconsistency.

However, Williams is currently a man with momentum. The Harrison win must have exorcised some demons and surely he must be confident of taming Skelton.

Skelton knows that he won’t be able to able to outbox Williams so I don’t think he will even try. Both men have proven that when needed they can go into the trenches. Skelton can be a brawler as can Williams.

There is also the carrot of a possible world heavyweight title shot later this year for the winner. Skelton, you can see, wants it bad and the fact that the fight has already been postponed twice will increase his hunger.

When the fight was originally announced for July last year, I fancied Skelton and that’s the man I’m still going to go with.

Although I hate to bet against Danny, like I did when he fought Harrison, this is going to be a totally different matchup. The Harrison fight only seemed to catch fire in the last three rounds and Williams seemed tired even though the pace was calm. With Skelton I don’t think the pace will be calm.

Skelton seems so hungry that I think he will prepared to walk through anything that Danny throws. That I think will be difference come the 25th.