By Richard Hookham

Skelton says he expects Danny Williams to come out fighting

Danny Williams' claims he deliberately under-trained for his December win over Audley Harrison have been dismissed as mind games by Matt Skelton.

Commonwealth heavyweight champion Williams' points victory over Harrison set up Saturday's long-awaited clash with British king Skelton in London.

"I take what Danny said about not training with a pinch of salt," said Skelton. "I'm sure he prepared well.

"I respect him as a fighter and I'm sure Danny has prepared for me, too."

Commonwealth champion Williams, 32, says he trained for Harrison on a diet of pizzas and cakes.

But Skelton, 39, said: "He's a good boxer and he may have said he didn't really get himself fit for Audley but I'm not so sure.

I've trained for 12 rounds because I expect Danny to be in good shape. Matt Skelton

"Danny will be up for it against me, I know that and I've prepared for it."

However, Skelton refused to become embroiled in a war-of-words over Williams' decision to pull out of their original scheduled meeting last July with flu.

"If you look at any of the reports at that time, you won't find one in which I bad-mouthed Danny about that," Skelton said.

His trainer, Kevin Sanders, added: "We don't know where that stuff came from but we won't be drawn into anything in the days leading up to the fight."

Skelton added: "I'm not getting involved. All that matters to me is this Saturday's fight.

"Danny will come to fight and so will I and I'm sure there will be some real fireworks. The Danny-Audley fight had a lot of hype surrounding it and maybe that is why it was so disappointing.

"But I don't feel under extra pressure to do something special. What is important is winning. But one thing I haven't done is to take it lightly.

"I've trained for 12 rounds because I expect Danny to be in good shape."

Listen to Williams v Skelton on BBC Radio Five Live from 2130 BST on 25 February.