Daniel Williams (born July 13, 1973, London, England) is a British professional heavyweight boxer, and former Commonwealth champion. Williams' trainer is Jim McDonnell and his manager is Frank Warren. Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... July 13 is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... July 13 is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left) versus Rafael Ortíz Boxing, also called pugilism (from Latin), prizefighting (when referring to professional boxing) or the sweet science[1] is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as The Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ... Frank Warren (born in Islington, London on 28 February, 1952) is an English boxing manager and promoter. ...

Early years

After a respectable amateur career, Williams turned pro in 1995 knocking out Vance Ideans in two rounds. He fought routinely on Frank Warren undercards and compiled a 15-0 (12 knockouts).

He took his first big step up in April of 1999 to challenge Julius Francis for his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. A hot favourite, Williams was outboxed and lost a lopsided points decision to the 34 year old veteran. Julius Francis, a stalwart of the British boxing scene, was born in the London borough of Peckham on December 8, 1964. ...

Francis would later vacate the Commonwealth title for a big money fight with Mike Tyson, and Williams won the title with a closely contested split decision over respected British contender Harry Senior. Later in 1999, whilst in Turkey as a Christian, he heard the Muslim call for prayer, the adhaan. This led him to find out more on Islam, to which he then converted. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ... Adhan (Azaan) (أَذَان) is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ...

British and Commonwealth champion

In 2000 Williams put together four knockouts before fighting Mark Potter for the Commonwealth title and the vacant British title. In a dramatic fight, Williams suffered a grotesque dislocated right arm early on, yet incredibly fought through the pain and managed to win one handed, famously knocking Potter out with a left uppercut. ^[1]

After an eight month layoff for surgery and recover, Williams returned in style to bomb out Kali Meehan in 32 seconds^[2] and avenged his defeat to Francis, stopping the 36 year old on an eye injury in the 4th round.^[3] Afterwards he was signed by Don King and ended 2001 knocking out US journeyman Shaun Robinson in two rounds in America.^[4] Kali Meehan is a New Zealand boxer, turned pro after a career in rugby. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

His tenure under King would prove to be uneventful, and his contract was not renewed at the end of 2002, a year that saw Williams retain his British and Commonwealth titles with a knockout of late sub Michael Sprott^[5] and a close points win over Keith Long^[6], before dropping out of a fight in America with hard hitting South African southpaw Corrie Sanders, because it coincided with Ramadan. Michael Sprott, (born January 16, 1975) is a professional heavyweight boxer from Reading, Berkshire, England. ... Cornelius Johannes Sanders (born on January 7, 1966 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a South African boxer. ...

In February of 2003 Williams career finally progressed beyond British level, as he travelled to Germany to fight the Turk Sinan Samil Sam for his newly won European heavyweight title. A hot favourite, Williams was surprisingly dropped three times and stopped in six one-sided rounds.^[7] In the UK, his local rivals Audley Harrison and Herbie Hide derided him in the press. Sinan Samil Sam (born June 23, 1974 in Frankfurt, Germany) is an Turkish heavyweight professional boxer. ... Audley Babatunde Harrison, (born on October 26, 1971 in London), is a British Heavyweight boxer. ... Herbie Hide is a British boxer fighting out of Norwich. ...

His career appeared over, in January 2004 he re-signed with Frank Warren but he lost his titles as he was outpointed by old foe Sprott.^[8] However in July he was imported to Louisville, Kentucky to serve as the victim for the latest Mike Tyson comeback. In a sensational upset, Williams took the ex-champs best shots and outpunched him, knocking out the tiring 38 year old with a salvo of punches in the fourth round. However it became apparent at this point that Mike Tyson was past his best. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In December he finally challenged for the world heavyweight title, but the giant Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko proved too much, as an overweight Williams was dropped five times and bludgeoned in the 8th round.^[9] Dr. Vitali Vladimirovich Klitschko (Ukrainian: ) born July 19, 1971). ...

After the world title challenge

In July 2005, Williams failed to show up for his scheduled British heavyweight championship fight against Matt Skelton. Promoter Frank Warren commented that Williams "had lost his bottle" and should retire. Williams cited ill health. Matthew Skelton (born 23 January 1967 in Bedford) is a British boxer who turned from kickboxing. ...

He was back by December for a crossroads fight with long time bitter rival Audley Harrison for the Commonwealth title. The fight would become infamous for its lack of action, however Williams did a little more, including a knockdown of the negative Harrison in the 10th, winning a close split decision. Audley Babatunde Harrison, (born on October 26, 1971 in London), is a British Heavyweight boxer. ...

Williams would retain his Commonwealth title in March 2006 with another close split decision over Matt Skelton in a bloody fight. However when a world title fight failed to materialise, the two met again, this time with Williams unbelievably weighing in at well over 20 stone (280 ibs). Williams was outpointed in one-sided fashion. Matthew Skelton (born 23 January 1967 in Bedford) is a British boxer who turned from kickboxing. ...

In December 2006 when Skelton dropped out of a fight with Audley Harrison, Williams stepped in at a weeks notice, although by his own admission he had been training for eight weeks for a fight with British champion Scott Gammer. This time around Harrison fought far more aggressively, decking Williams twice, splitting open his nose and left eye, and winning in three bloody round Scott Gammer (born 24 October 1976 in Pembroke Dock, Wales) is a British boxer, based in Wales who currently holds the British Heavyweight Title after beating Mark Krench on June 16th 2006. ...

He was given a shot at the British title in March 2007 and admitted himself that this was his last chance at heavyweight redemption. The constantly unpredictable Danny Williams shocked everyone at the Gammer weigh in by turning up at a very trim 16st 4 which was his lightest since his professional debut back in 1995. Round one of the fight started with Danny attacking Gammer and taking the initiative, but the fight was a very nervewracking and up and down performance until the 9th round when Danny came out, pinned Gammer to the ropes and showed the agression, speed and power that stunned Tyson. Gammer was felled after Danny detonated two crunching righ hands to the head and although he was up at the count of ten, the referee rightly stopped the fight. His 37th victory not only meant that Danny won the British title for the second time, but he also now holds the British record for the most fights won. He also revealed that his 'secret trainer' was actually himself! Danny now plans to have a long, hard think about his career, and if after doing so he still feels he has more to give, he will continue. If not he wants to retire and enjoy time with his family and friends.

External links

• Career Record

Danny Williams is due to fight Scott Gammer at the Sports Centre, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales on the 2nd March 2007 for the British Heavyweight Title