Danny Williams says he has been inspired by youth ahead of his British heavyweight title defence against Sam Sexton on Frank Warren’s Night of the Champions extravaganza. Williams, a veteran of the fight game, spent Christmas working with young talent James DeGale and their mutual trainer Jimmy McDonnell. And the 36-year-old, who has vowed to go out on a high by knocking out Sexton, admits that their joint training sessions have given him a new lease of life. “James is an inspiration,” said Williams, who will defend his Lonsdale belt at Wembley Arena on February 13 live on Sky Sports.
“Having spent a few days with him in camp I can see why he won an Olympic gold medal..
“He’s really pushing me fitness wise, and thanks to him and Jimmy I’m going to be in great shape when it comes to taking on Sexton.
“DeGale is going to be a world champion in the future, and some of his star-dust is beginning to rub off on me.
“I may be 36, but at the moment I feel like the fighter I was when I was in my 20s. I’ve got that spark back and I’m going to go out with a bang against Sexton.”
DeGale, who appears on the same card as Williams and will make his London debut in his sixth professional fight, has also been impressed with what he has seen.
“I heard Danny saying he was shot at the press conference to announce this fight, but he’s looked far from it in training,” said the 23-year-old.
“He’s been pretty sharp and I’m sure him against Sexton is going to be a thriller.
“It’s been a pleasure working with him and I’ve learned a lot already. How can you not pick up things from a man who beat Mike Tyson and fought Vitali Klitschko for the world title.”
Night of the Champions features the exciting heavyweight showdown between British heavyweight champion Danny Williams and Commonwealth champion Sam Sexton; Kevin Mitchell’s WBO Intercontinental Lightweight title defence; Kell Brook’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title challenge; Derek Chisora versus Matt Skelton for the Vacant English Heavyweight Championship; The Olympians James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders; plus hot prospects Vinny Mitchell and Liam, Michael and Ryan Walsh.
Tickets priced at £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150, are available from:
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
Wembley Arena
0844 815 0815
www.wembleyarena.co.uk
NAPA OUT TO REGAIN EURO CROWN
IAN NAPA has been handed a chance to regain the European bantamweight title.
The slick Hackney boxer (19-7) has been nominated to face Frenchman Jerome Arnould for the vacant title, which is likely to take place in March or April.
Napa, 31, will still press ahead with his British title defence against Jamie McDonnell at Brentwood Centre on Friday January 22 despite his date against the former world title challenger.
Promoter Frank Maloney said: “The pressure is on now for Ian, because a loss to McDonnell and the EBU will withdraw their nomination.
“The fight against McDonnell is all or nothing for Ian, but if he has prepared right McDonnell cannot beat him.”
Arnould, 24, is on a eight fight winning streak and unbeaten since being knocked out in the seventh round of a WBA bantamweight title challenge Wladimir Sidorenko in June 2007.
Napa lost the European title ten months ago when he was shocked by Arnould’s countryman, Malik Bouziane.
Top of the bill is Ian Napa’s (19-7) British bantamweight title defence against Jamie McDonnell (12-2-1)
On the same bill Cheshunt’s cocky Ashley Sexton (8-0) faces fellow extrovert Usman Ahmed (6-2-1) in a clash for the vacant English flyweight championship.
On the comeback trail is former British super-featherweight champion Carl Johanneson (27-4) who boxes for the first time since his defeat to Kevin Mitchell in March 2008.
Maloney’s heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo (6-1) moves up a notch when he boxes Irish puncher Scott Belshaw (10-3).
Tickets for this top class show, priced £80 and £35 are available on line www.frankmaloney.com or 0871 226 1508
Maloney vs Griffin
FRANK MALONEY, UKIP parliamentary candidate for Barking wants to challenge general election rival Nick Griffin to a charity boxing match. Maloney and Griffin will come face-to-face at the ballot box later this year, but the boxing promoter reckons they should settle their differences in the ring first. The BNP leader donned the gloves and earned a boxing blue at Cambridge University, while Maloney had 69 amateur contests. Maloney believes a fight between himself and Griffin would raise thousands of pounds for charity, and says the loser should drop out of the race for Westminster.
Maloney, one of Britain’s top professional boxing managers and promoters says: “This is a serious offer I am making to Griffin.
“BNP members have made it clear on internet forums that I shouldn’t stand in Barking.
“If they don’t want me let Griffin beat me out of the general election in a charity boxing match to be staged in the constituency.
“We would both nominate a local charity and the money raised would go to the organisation nominated by the winner.
“The loser of our fight should suffer and be forced to step down from standing at the general election.
“That would leave the winner in a clear race with Margaret Hodge for the seat in the House of Parliament.”
UKIP have high hopes at the next general election and will be bidding to topple the BNP in several key constituencies.
Maloney added: “Griffin spouts evil, but really is just a laughable figure of fun to any decent minded citizen.
“After watching him squirm on Question Time I came to the impression he is like a cartoon baddie in a suit.
“If you took race and religious issues out of the BNP’s ideology, they would have nothing to say, not that they do anyway.”