skelton eyes revenge

**Gandalf** · 04-01-2006 10:56 AM

Fri 31 Mar, 1:09 PM

Matt Skelton is in a hurry for revenge over British heavyweight rival Danny Williams, who took away his unbeaten record.

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Only five weeks after being defeated by a majority points decision to Commonwealth champion Williams, Skelton returns to action at York Hall, Bethnal Green, tomorrow night to clear the way for the rematch.

Williams, who will be at ringside to see Skelton's eight-round clash with journeyman Suren Kalachyan, believes his rival is coming back too soon.

He said: "Our first fight must have taken a lot out of Skelton and he should have had a longer rest but he wants to get it on again and so do I."

But Kalachyan, who has won nine and lost nine of his 18 fights, does not look to have the pedigree to halt promoter Frank Warren's already-announced plans to stage a Williams-Skelton rematch at Manchester's MEN Arena on May 13.

Skelton, stripped of his British title following his setback against Williams at London's ExCel on February 25, believes that - despite being 39 - his best days are still to come.

The former martial arts fighter, who was in his mid-30s when he switched from a K-1 career in Japan to explode on to the professional boxing scene, romped through his first 18 fights - with 17 of his victories inside the distance - before running into Williams.

He readily admits the additional experience of the Brixton fighter, who memorably defeated once-mighty Mike Tyson before being stopped in eight rounds of a WBC world title challenge by recently-retired champion Vitali Klitschko, tipped the balance.

Skelton thought he might have just done enough - and one judge saw it his way - but is too much of a fighting man to bleat about the outcome.

"Danny was a different calibre to a lot of the fighters I've met, but I've always fought guys with a lot more experience than me," he said.

"He's a very skilful fighter, he used his footwork and the ropes to get himself out of trouble. At the end of the day his experience told but I've learned from him."

The most important lesson, he believes, is not to show respect by trying to box the more technically accomplished Williams as much as he did last time.

"I stayed off him too much and worked the jab in the early rounds," conceded Skelton, who aims to revert to his old barnstorming approach and "swarm all over him" next time.

The big man from Bedford appreciates that Williams, with his route to a second world title shot currently blocked as the four rival champions are all otherwise engaged, is prepared to risk everything by giving him a second chance.

"Danny didn't have to fight me again," admitted Skelton. "I'm confident - I asked for the rematch straight after the fight."

First he must beat Kalachyan, who is Armenian but lives in France. Although the nominal top of the bill sees Stephen Foster Jnr - son of the old "Salford Viking" Steve Foster, a former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion - defend his WBU featherweight title against Glasgow's John Simpson, all eyes will be on Skelton.

Kalachyan, 33, put Welshman Scott Gammer, who has been nominated for a British title shot by the Boxing Board, on the canvas before losing a single-point decision on the night Williams beat Audley Harrison at the ExCel in December.

More significantly, he was stopped in seven rounds in July 2004, by John McDermott, who was subsequently floored three times and blown away in the opening round when he challenged Skelton for the British title on that December show.

Expect Skelton to come roaring back with all guns blazing to demolish the obstacle standing between him and Williams as he rekindles his own world title ambitions.