11.26.04 – By Chris Ambs: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (34-2, 33 KOs), will be defending his title against British heavyweight Danny Williams on December 11th, 2004. In his last fight, Danny Williams (32-3, 27 KOs), of London, England, made things interesting when he survived the early assault from Mike Tyson to come from behind and knock him out in the 4th round on July 31, 2004. Something almost nobody gave Williams a shot at accomplishing, considering his history of choking in big fights. The odds might not have been 27-1, but Williams was in Buster Douglas’s Shoes, none the less. The fight ended after Williams landed 25 unanswered bombs and finally put a tired, and injured Tyson on the canvas with one of them.
It wasn’t the first time it had happened to Tyson, but it was special for Williams, none the less, as his career had been unremarkable up to the moment of his knockout victory. Before his bout with Tyson, Williams had recently been defeated by British heavyweight Michael Sprott on January 24, 2004, in Wembley, England. Often called a talented but lazy fighter in the past, Williams says his critics got it wrong.
Now, on December 11th, Danny Williams will attempt to do what not too many underdogs have done before: do it twice. The assignment this time isn’t an old, exhausted and injured Tyson. This time, he’ll have to overcome a lot more then a few bombs in the opening round or two. He’ll have to overcome 6 feet 7 and a half inch, 250 pounds of Vitali Dr.”Ironfist” Klitschko, who will be firing off a storm of punches that will be difficult, if not impossible, for Williams to walk through as he did against Tyson.
On April 24, 2004, Vitali Klitschko stopped a tough Corrie Sanders in the 8th round in a fight that was back and forth slugfest. Before tiring out in the 8th round, Sanders landed some some huge left bombs that had Vitali stunned, but he was able to get out of trouble and make it through the danger.
However, for most of the fight, it was Vitali landing seemingly at will as Corrie Sanders was hit with everything but the kitchen sink, and was reduced to picking his spots trying to take Vitali out with one punch at a time. It didn’t work, and Sanders was a bloody mess by the end of the fight.
History will tell us two things about Williams. One, that this has been the year of the underdogs (both the Detroit Pistons and Boston Red sox won championships when no one thought they could) and that usually an underdog can’t pull more then one upset.It happened to Buster Douglas after his win over Tyson. In his very first bout after winning the title, he was knocked out by Evander Holyfield in the third round.
So, can Danny Williams overcome Vitali’s huge size and reach advantage? Williams has recently stated that he plans on using a lot of head movement to work his way inside, where he hopes to be able to land a big punch. However, with that kind of fight plan, Williams will likely have to eat a lot of punches on the way in before getting close enough to make contact. The big question is, can Williams handle being punched by someone as large as Vitali without getting dropped early on. Can he shock the world again by beating the guy many consider the true heavyweight champion of the world?
Well, shockingly enough, it’s possible. Klitschko’s eye could re-open, as it did against Sanders, and the fight could be stopped for Williams. Klitschko could be too preoccupied with the politcal situation over in the Ukraine, or Williams could suddenly explode with some great punches and knock Vitali out. However, it doesn’t seem likely when you think about what all Williams had to do to overcome Tyson, which consisted of a lot of leaning on the smaller Tyson, holding, as well as the luck of a fluke injury to Tyson’s knee. To be sure, that strategy will likely not come into play against the monstrous Klitschko, since its not exactly smart to try and lean on a guy who is 6.5 inches taller than you. Vitali would be looking down on a Williams, who would be leaning against his chest, and it would take very little effort for Vitali to land a chopping right hand to the back of Williams head.
It’s also difficult to get your punches going against a guy as awkward and defensive minded as klitschko, due to his tendency to lean backwards while throwing punches. This kind of style only works when a fighter has a huge height and reach advantage as Vitali does going into this bout.
It also has to be said that Klitschko is quick starter and has so far been able to not gas himself out early on. Klitschko has beaten a few really good contenders already. Kirk Johnson couldn’t hold him off and neither could the lightning fast Corrie Sanders. For that matter, Lennox Lewis also had a heck of a time dealing with Vitali’s constant attacking style offense, and only was able to pull out he victory when the fight was stopped due to cuts.
Barring some kind of a miracle, like the one he pulled against Tyson, after December 11th, Danny Williams will not be a heavyweight title holder, and Vitali Klitschko will still be the dominant heavyweight on the block, although sometimes we’re shocked, and sometimes that extra something takes over in a fight. And what makes Life and boxing so interesting.
Prediction: Klitschko KO 6 over Williams