29.09.05 – Terms have been agreed for Britain’s two best heavyweights Matt Skelton and Danny Williams to finally slug it out on Saturday 3 December in London. Despite the British Boxing Board of Control imposing a six-month ban on Williams fighting for the British title for his late withdrawal against Skelton in July – a decision that Williams has appealed – an application has been made for the fight to be for the Vacant Commonwealth crown..
Should neither the British or Commonwealth titles be available then the fight will go ahead as non-title bout over the championship distance.
Promoter Frank Warren said, “The Commonwealth Council are an independent body from the Board and therefore the ban imposed on Williams fighting for the British title should not affect this in any way,”
“But it would be a shame if the two best heavyweights in Britain were to meet without the British title on the line,”
“The boxing fans and the viewers on ITV deserve this fight following the 11th hour postponement of their fight in July,”
“We are keeping our fingers crossed that Danny’s appeal is successful and that the prestigious Lonsdale belt will be on the line.”
Williams, the former British Champion, said, “Many people said that I was a coward after I withdrew from my fight against Skelton but I believe I was right under the circumstances to do so,”
“And now I will prove once and for all that Danny Williams is certainly no coward and is no way afraid of a novice bar-brawler like Skelton,”
“I promise I will be in that ring on December 3 and will destroy him and prove to everyone that I am the best in Britain.”
Skelton, who retained his British title against replacement Mark Krence with a seventh round stoppage, said, “I don’t really know if Danny was ill or not but he’s now got his chance to prove himself,”
“I hope that this time Danny doesn’t play any silly games like putting weights under his tracksuit at the weigh-in,”
“Danny can say what he likes in the meantime but I know what I’m going to do to him on December 3 and actions will speak louder than words,”
“Let me remind Danny that no one has ever been knocked out by insults.”