by James Slater – It has been reported by The Mirror Sport.com that the scheduled rematch between British heavyweights Danny Williams and John McDermott has been called off due to an injury suffered by McDermott. Apparently, McDermott injured one or more of his ribs in training camp and had no choice but to pull out of the November 8th return bout..
Williams, who would have defended his British title against McDermott for a second time, having closely and somewhat controversially out-pointed him via majority decision back in July, is hoping he will still be able to box on the November date. Now seeking a replacement opponent, the 35-year-old wants very much to stick with the challenging schedule he set for himself.
Just over three weeks after the November 8th bout, should it still actually take place against a substitute foe, big Danny will fly to Egypt to take on former world title challenger Francois Botha of South Africa. Williams, 40-6(31), was very much up for the task of fighting two dangerous opponents so close together, saying the challenge of being so active was just what his career needed at this stage. Now, unless a heavyweight can be drafted in at short notice, Williams will be having just the one fight in November.
There is still time for the promoters of November’s London show to find a suitable man for the job, after all fighters have come in with much less notice in the past and have even won in doing so. There is still well over two weeks before show time, therefore some guy already in fighting shape may be getting a surprise phone call any day now. Danny, above all, wants to fight, and it is to be hoped he gets his chance.
Would someone like Audley Harrison take the short notice date? Supposedly in the gym all the time now that his latest comeback is underway, “A-Force” should be in good shape. A third bout between he and Williams would be a reasonable and interesting fight and Harrison did say he wanted another fight before the year was out. If agreeable terms can be reached, this fight may happen. Williams, in speaking with ITV a few days ago, spoke of how he definitely wants another go at the man he out-pointed and was then stopped by in just three rounds.
As for the 25-4(16) McDermott, the man who came so close to upsetting Williams in July, it is assumed that once his injuries heal he will be raring to get his rematch and that it will finally go ahead some time next year – providing the notoriously unpredictable “Brixton Bomber” has not been beaten in the meantime!