OH DANNY BOY, MR. KIPLING'S CALLING.

Big fight live, ITV - 8th July 2006

By Robert Maher

Saturday's big fight live on ITV was nothing short of a joke. Britain's best two heavyweight's squared up for the commonwealth title and bored us silly with an embarrassing spectacle. Danny Williams gave the fight away to Skelton when he decided to gorge himself on cakes an biscuits and under-train in preparation for this world title elimination bout. It's blatantly obvious that Danny's heart is not in boxing. I understand it was his dad's dream and not his own that he become a world heavyweight champion. Sadly Williams is neither passionate, disciplined nor committed to fulfilling this dream. Instead he turned up grossly over-weight at 20 st 81b, two stone and five pounds heavier than his opponent. Danny ponderously stalked around the ring like a man treading through a swamp, occasionally falling over himself. He always looks as though he is heavily sedated, no emotion or urgency on his face. The worst possible advert for trainer Jim Mcdonnel, a so-called mind man ie. psychological motivator. I feel Jim would have more success with athletes who are at least semi-conscious. Frankly I thought I was watching Mr. Blobby sleep walking tonight. In fact a fight with Mr. Blobby could be Danny's rehabilitation bout in this current climate of heavyweight chumps.
And the new commonwealth heavyweight champion is Matt Skelton, so what!

Skelton, a former kick boxer, 39 years of age, has no finesse and fight's like a novice. Although Matt lacks in the skill and technique department, he does have heart and determination. To give him some credit he apparently trains hard for fight's and clearly has desire, fitness and a will to win. However the fact remains that tonight's farce was detrimental to the sport of boxing and an insult to the memory of great heavyweight bouts of old, Ali versus Frazier, this was not.