BBC SPORT | Boxing | Williams eyes Lewis clash



By Andrew McKenzie BBC Sport Online

BBC One will be showing Danny Williams' fight with Keith Long live on 17 September at 2235 BST.

British heavyweight champion Danny Williams has set his sights on taking Lennox Lewis' world crown.

Williams defends his British and Commonwealth titles against Keith Long on Tuesday, but the 29-year-old is already looking further ahead.

He's got tremendous pace, tremendous work-rate, tremendous hand speed

Trainer Jim McDonnell

"I'd like a fight with Lennox Lewis, possibly this time next year," he told BBC Sport Online.

Williams wants quick finish

"I think it would be a great way for Lennox to say goodbye to the British public who have followed him throughout his career and gone to America and supported him in their thousands.

"I believe I would be victorious. I'm a much better fighter than Hasim Rahman and I'm a better fighter than people have seen.

"Maybe it would take a fight with Lennox Lewis to show people my full repertoire."

But former promoter Frank Warren dismissed talk that Williams will be given a shot at the WBC champion.

"I don't care if Lennox Lewis tells him today he's going to fight him - that will not happen," Warren said.

"Lennox Lewis wants to fight Mike Tyson and the Klitschkos (Wladimir and Vitali).

"What does Danny Williams mean in America? He means nothing.

"Lennox Lewis will want to get many millions of dollars and you need American TV for that."

Williams sets Long date

Williams recently split with promoter Don King to team-up with Lewis' Lion Promotions.

But he said the move was not aimed at increasing his chances of a fight with the 37-year-old Lewis.

Danny Williams
Williams puts his belts on the line against Long

"I left Don King because I felt I was being left on the shelf. He wasn't giving me regular fights, so I needed to leave."

Williams has a fight lined up against Corrie Sanders in South Africa in November and would like to be back in the ring early in 2003 in America.

He sees real opportunities to shine in a division he describes as "pretty weak".

"Apart from Lennox Lewis there is no outstanding heavyweight out there," Williams added.

"There is a great opportunity for someone like me to go out there and do something big.

"I'd like to show the world there is another British heavyweight coming through and control the heavyweight division like Lewis is doing now."

Trainer Jim McDonnell has been instrumental in turning around Williams' career after he suffered his only defeat to Julius Francis in 1999.

Massive heart

And he has no doubts he has the ability to go all the way in the coming years.

"I honestly think the only thing that's stopped him from being the undisputed world champion is inactivity," he said.

"I think once he's active the British public will love what they see.

"I think Danny will be right up there and recognised as what I believe is the best British heavyweight to ever come out of this country.

"He's got tremendous pace, tremendous work-rate, tremendous hand speed.

"Above all that he's got a big massive heart as he proved in the Mark Potter fight. Put them ingredients into one pot and you've got the finished article.

"All you need is activity and he'll go on to be crowned heavyweight champion of the world."


	Links to more Boxing stories