Chisora sweeps aside faded Williams / DeGale collects first pro title
Just to remind our readers that BoxRec News continues to be refused press accreditation for shows promoted by Frank Warren. Consequently this belated report has been done from TV.
Derek Chisora required a little over five minutes to relieve Danny Williams of his British heavyweight title and send the enigmatic Brixton man into retirement at West Ham’s Upton Park Stadium on Saturday night. It was a sad end to Williams’ 15-year, 51-fight career but at least the 36-year-old veteran was spared a prolonged and unnecessary beating.
Watching the unbeaten Chisora tee off at will on Williams made for unpleasant viewing. After several hard fights, none more so than his punishing world title loss to Vitali Klitschko in 2004, Danny’s punch resistance has now virtually eroded and his tree trunk legs turned to jelly every time he was caught cleanly.
Chisora, ten years Williams’ junior, pressurised Danny from the off who was twice warned for holding by referee Howard Foster in the opening round. As Williams continued to stumble around the ring he was rocked by an uppercut at the beginning of round two. Chisora, who is a very accomplished finisher, followed-up with a chopping right hand which scrambled Williams’ senses further and another sweeping left hook deposited him to the canvas.
Williams rose quickly but Chisora was never going to allow him off the hook. A sustained burst of punches, finished off by a right hand to the temple, culminated in Williams being left stranded against the ropes and Foster made a well-timed intervention midway through the second session.
As impressive as Chisora was, the reality is that he beat a pale shadow of Williams’ former self. That isn’t a criticism of the talented ‘Del Boy’s’ performance, it merely puts his title-winning effort into context. Undoubtedly however, Derek puts his shots together impressively and is very agile for a big man. A rematch with the improved Commonwealth champion Sam Sexton, who Chisora handed his first defeat to with a sixth round stoppage in 2008, would be worth savouring.
Williams, who admitted to BoxRec News afterwards, “This is truly the end now”, bows out with a record of 41-9 (plus one no contest) and will now pursue a career outside of the ropes as a professional bodyguard.
The likeable Brixton man can be proud of his ring accomplishments which famously include victories over Mike Tyson, Audley Harrison and Mark Potter whilst fighting with a dislocated shoulder.
DeGale collects first pro title
After an unflattering professional debut, Beijing gold medallist James DeGale is really starting to look the part and he collected his first pro title by stopping Stourbridge bus driver Sam Horton in five rounds. The vacant (did I really have to clarify that?) WBA International super-middleweight title was up for grabs.
Southpaw DeGale, sporting eyecatching pink and yellow shorts, walked down Horton from the opening bell in an attempt to register an early stoppage and landed some meaty straight left hands which shook Horton. The Stourbridge man, who came to the ring with a statistically impressive 15-1 slate, was beaten in two rounds by Cello Renda in his only previous defeat.
He looked on course for a similar reversal when placed on his backside after absorbing a left hand from DeGale midway through the second session. DeGale’s eagerness to wrap things up saw him smother his work however and Horton received a temporary reprieve.
Sam’s head was repeatedly rocked back by some hurtful DeGale attacks in round three and four which emphasised the gulf in class between the pair. Just when things were starting to become predictable, DeGale uncorked a tremendous uppercut which sent Horton’s eyes into orbit and followed up with a cuffing right and left hook sending Sam down for a second occasion prompting his corner to sensibly throw in the towel.
DeGale, who progresses to 7-0 (5), is closing in on the likes of British champion Paul Smith and Commonwealth champion and former amateur nemesis George Groves.
Fellow Olympian Billy Joe Saunders returned to action for the first time since damaging his left hand during his points win over Lee Noble in December by comfortably outpointing Andy Butlin over six rounds at middleweight (60-55).
Saunders, who was warned for some over zealous use of the head, controlled Butlin with some typically busy attacks to body and head. The intensity of Billy’s work did subside towards the end of the contest as he felt a couple of twinges in his hand and understandably decided to box conservatively in the latter stages. He advances to 6-0 but has been taken the distance in his last three fights.
The evening’s other main highlight saw former amateur standout Frankie Gavin overwhelm journeyman Gavin Tait in the first round in their light-welterweight battle. Gavin, now 7-0 (6), did pick up a gash to his right eye for his troubles which may keep him out until July.
