Photo: BritishBoxing.com

By Adeyinka Makinde

22.09 - On the evening of Tuesday 17th September, Bethnal Greens York Hall played host to the British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship bout featuring champion Danny Williams. Williams is an articulate, well-groomed convert to the Islamic faith who now is a familiar figure on BBC boxing presentations. Until recently in the company of Marvellous Marvin Hagler, Williams has being seen clutching his title belts while bandying opinions at Audley Harrison matches. But such 'Jaw-jawing,' to borrow a Churchillian phrase has not being matched by 'War-warring;' the agreement he had signed with Don King promotions having yielded little by way of fights. Now signed to Lennox Lewis' outfit, Lion Promotions, Williams is hopeful that the emphasis will be on the latter.

His opponent, one Keith Long, a 34-year-old Brixton residing carpenter by trade, is a short, squat bull-necked warrior with far from impressive amateur credentials. Yet as a professional, Long has caught the eye most recently with a win over Michael Holden, a former undefeated British heavyweight champion in a British title eliminator one year ago. Strong, but limited, Long was not expected to threaten Williams.

Williams started the fight strongly jabbing away at Longs head before advancing in with power laced hooks and uppercuts. But Long, on the advise of his handlers who trained Williams as an amateur, moved under the jab, all the time trying to hurt Williams to the body. When not on the receiving end of a torrent of Williams' shots, Long was always advancing and returning fire. The allusion to trench warfare is not misplaced and the programmed billed as "The Pride of Britain" would have being better described as the Battle of Britain. Long remained amazingly resilient, taking tremendous blows around his head but in the third, he struck back. With his back against the ropes, close to a neutral corner, Williams was forced to absorb a powerful uppercut and right cross to the head, which brought gasps from the crowd. Then the battle moved to another side of the ring where both men continually battered each other with closely delivered punches to the head. The round ended with Willia! ms on top and Long had to be guided back to his corner by his handlers.

After this the fight settled down to a pattern of Williams throwing combinations and Long stepping in to punches and trying to land his blows. As the fight entered its final rounds, it was obvious that Long was the more winded of the fighters, but he summoned up all his energies for a final round assault on Williams to no avail.

The fight was scored 117 to 113 to the 29-year old defending champion.

Interestingly, neither Williams nor his putative rival, Audley Harrison were impressed by Williams' performance. For Williams, fighting the likes of Long do not bring out the best in him as he somewhat brings himself 'down to their level.' Harrison, on the other hand, though failing to impress in his inaugural bouts against mediocre opposition was unsurprisingly dismissive saying that Williams' abilities are so limited as to negate any pretensions of ascending to world level.

Where then does this leave Williams? By beating Long, Williams has won outright a coveted Lonsdale Belt; one last domestic chore before concentrating his efforts on higher profile international bouts that he hopes will serve to bring him into the international spotlight. To that end, his new promoters hope to match him against Corrie Sanders, the South African former WBU heavyweight champion. Whether this will lead to a tussle with Lennox Lewis is rather uncertain; in fact, it is most unlikely given that Lewis will want to finish his career with high grossing match ups with the Klitschko's and Mike Tyson.

It was a tremendous battle with Long. "You can tell those guys came from the ghetto!" exclaimed one on looking fan as an exhultant Williams fitted on his gleaming belt.

I'll second that emotion.

Ade Makinde can be reached at adeyinkamakinde@aol.com

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Williams Earns Belt For Keeps

David Dolby

22.09 - After living in the ubiquitous shadow of one Lennox Lewis for several years now , it seems that Danny Williams is at last ready for an assault at a world title.

The 29-year-old from Brixton, retained his British and Commonwealth titles after a bruising match-up with fellow Londoner Keith Long at Bethnal Greens York Hall on Tuesday night.

Looking in superb physical condition, Williams was given a rough ride by the Brockley buzzsaw, but, after 12 sweat-soaked rounds in which both fighters gave their all, referee John Keane scored the bout 117-113 to the defending champion.

After the fight, Williams spoke of his admiration for his 34-year-old opponent " Keith is a very awkward fighter to be up against, he is always making you work and he's a lot better than he looks."

This was only Long's tenth fight since turning professional , and it seemed his inexperience was
about to be exposed as early as the opening minute ,when Williams blitzed the challenger with a flurry of combinations. As the round developed, Long's corner urged him to use his jab more, but thankfully for Long he survived , with the bell sounding , just as he seemed to be wilting under the constant pressure being applied by the champion.

It was more of the same in the second , with Williams dominating proceedings, continually picking off Long with snake-like jabs followed by fast hand combinations.

By the last minute of the round, Long had heeded his corner's advice, and had started to cut Williams ring space down. The squat Bull-like figure had Williams on the back foot for a moment, working inside and roughing the champion up.

The opening salvo's of the third, mirrored the ending of the previous round and, when Long landed a clubbing right hand to the side of Williams' temple, followed by a series of uppercuts, there was the distinct possibility of an upset on the cards.

Williams was forced to hold on as Long's barrage pushed the champ back into his own corner, but he rallied in the dying seconds to remind Long who was the boss.

This seemed to spur Long on, and halfway into the fourth, he had backed Williams into the ropes,
smothering, holding and making life extremely uncomfortable at every opportunity. The taller Williams, was finding it hard to find his range and rhythm, and although he landed with some effective armoury of his own it was Long who was the busier fighter.

The fifth was a somewhat scruffy affair, Long was still doing his best to rough up the champion, but by now it was Williams who was landing the quality punches, with a left hook sending Long spiralling into a neutral corner.

As the bout moved to the half way stage, it was clear that Williams had now found the range with his jab, and was beginning to assert his superiority on the contest.

This, however did not deter Long, and if anything he seemed to up his work rate in a bid to keep up with the fight ,catching Williams with a swinging right to the back of the head as the round ended.

Referee, John Keane was having a tough job keeping both boxers apart early in the seventh, but by now it was the champion who was the surer of the two, and after a couple of telling blows to Longs midriff, it was apparent Williams was beginning to pick his punches, and his tactics were clear signs that he now had got to grips with the storm put in front of him.

As the bell sounded for round 8, Long was fast out of the blocks, Charging across the ring to engage his opponent. Williams caught Long square on the jaw in Long's corner early on, but the remainder of the round consisted of Long, showing signs of tiredness by consistently holding and John Keane's attempts to prise these two deadweights apart.

Williams was up on his toes as the ninth began, and he caught Long early when a vicious right uppercut smashed into the challenger's chin stopping him in his tracks.

Long's durability was never in doubt before the fight, but by now Williams' class and ring savvy was
beginning to shine through and he took the round easily.

Looking, somewhat weary, Long climbed off his stool for the tenth, and once again carried the contest forward. But by now it was evident that Williams had his measure and continued to dominate, throwing jabs and combinations at will, he was well ahead now on the scorecard. It was a similar story through the penultimate round with Long seemingly a spent force Williams showed us glimpses of the ring-craft he possesses.

The final round of an enthralling encounter, saw Long produce one last effort in a bid to take the titles away from his opponent, throwing a barrage of hooks and crosses, all the while inching forward, reminiscent of 'Smokin' Joe Frazier circa 1971.

But Williams was in charge now, and he gladly traded with the brave Long ,meeting him in the centre of the canvass with a lightning left-right combination that underlined the gulf between the two boxers.

At the end it was a clear victory for Williams, but, it was Long who gained all the plaudits, for showing the boxing public what a brave and tenacious fighter he is.

After the fight a jubilant Williams spoke of his joy at his victory " I've been out of the ring for several month's because of politics and it feels very good to win the Lonsdale belt."

Keith Long, can feel extremely proud of his efforts at the Yorke Hall, and should Team Williams abandon their titles and look stateside for richer pickings, then British promoters will surely consider Long as the number one contender for the vacant crowns.

Meanwhile, Danny Williams refused to be drawn on his future ,saying he and his management would decide if he would give up his titles in search of a world championship fight .

It seems clear though , Williams must vacate rather than continuing to fight European and domestic
opposition somewhat lower in class than the sort of opponents needed if he is to progress to that of serious world title contender.