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Boxing promoter Frank Warren must be furious. The ‘spectacle’ that was presented to the viewing public, never mind the paying fans inside London’s ExCel arena, on Saturday 10 th Dec 2005 was a diabolical demonstration of exactly how far heavyweight boxing has fallen. For seemingly the first time in years, terrestrial television was broadcasting a boxing match in a prime time viewing slot – Mainly, one suspects, down to the efforts of Frank Warren and others of his kind. On the basis of that viewing, it will again be a long time before British boxing fans will want to stay in on Saturday night to watch the big fight.

The pre-match build up between Harrison and Williams was good enough to have graced a meeting between nations preparing for war. The expectation of a war, played out under the Marques of Queensbury’s rules, hung in the air as the two fighters made their way to the ring to great fanfare. The style of which normally accompanies world title fights, not the much devalued commonwealth crown. Much had been made of which Danny Williams would turn up for the fight, the one who’s powerful punching savaged Mike Tyson (albeit a defeated shadow of his former self), or the one who lost so weakly on points to Michael Sprott over a year before. As he walked to the ring he looked determined and focussed, a warrior ready to do battle. Audley Harrison, as is his accustomed way, strutted to the ring in the style of a rap star, surrounded by his minders.

The first round started slowly, with both fighters hardly throwing a punch, measuring each other up. Perhaps, if Audley’s pathetically weak jabbing is to be counted, there were half a dozen punches thrown during the three minutes. Nothing to worry about there – Heavyweight boxing has rarely seen an explosive first round since the Mike Tyson glory days. The power of the two men in the ring normally dictates a cagy opening, neither wanting to over commit and be caught out.

So into the second round where a slight raising of the pace was perhaps expected. Danny Williams, having the shorter reach and much more intense inside fight game was expected to hound the long reaching jab of Audley, aggressively pushing him onto the back foot. Expert opinion suggested that Audley would have too much boxing skill to be trapped on the ropes by an aggressive Danny Williams. So it was in expectation that the crowd waited for the end of the phoney war, counting the punches. Unfortunately, by the end of the second round, one hand was enough fingers to keep track. Danny Williams, following his man round the ring, was far from the aggressive, powerful punching fighter we had been led to believe he could be, yet still stole the round from the lifeless Harrison. In the third, Harrison finally put a couple of combinations together. But that was it for the round. All square, moving into the second quarter of the scheduled twelve rounds.

Surely now, in the fourth, we would see an increase in pace and work rate from both men as the fight opened up. It was not to be, the ‘fight’, such as it was had already settled into a pattern, Audley occasionally flicking out a jab that would not have bothered my grandmother as Williams followed him around the ring, looking for that one punch that would win him the day. Williams’ style has always been a little uncomfortable to watch, but there is no doubting his punching power. He is in no way a dancer in the ring and is much uncomplicated. His solid chin is perhaps his best weapon in standing up square in front of an opponent and fighting toe to toe until his powerful right does the intended damage or covering up and taking the punishment.

The question marks over Audley’s chin before the fight were still unchallenged as the fight moved through thee same pattern in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eight and ninth rounds. The chants of ‘What a load of rubbish’ from the paying spectators at ringside summed up the performances and it was noted when former world champion Naseem Hammed left his expensive seat next to Frank Warren half way through the fight. After seeing the explosive power of Olympic Silver Medallist, Amir Khan, stopping his man in two rounds, this was a dire spectacle. Two huge men walking around the ring, each unwilling to commit, to put together any sort of sustained attack was not what these boxing fans had paid to see.

One minute into the tenth and finally it looked as if the message had reached the centre of the ring as Danny Williams, starting the round aggressively, put together a combination, ending in cuffing Audley round the ear with a shot that sent him to the canvas. Audley’s chin had not been tested, but a half caught cuff round the ear was enough to send him crashing downwards. When hit, Harrison looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. And for the next thirty seconds there was a golden opportunity for Williams to finish him. Perhaps even finish his professional career. As if not believing his luck, Williams merely retreated again, letting Harrison off the hook and allowing him the best part of two minutes wandering around the ring to recover. Just when it finally looked like the fight had come alive Williams failed to do his job.

As the eleventh began the tiredness in the two men was plain to see, all that walking around must be exhausting. At last it seemed as if Danny Williams was ready to take that risk and have a real go at Harrison, but a couple of good counter punches which rocked the Brixton man, soon saw him retreat into his shell and both men saw the round out holding onto each other. The final round was the best of the fight for Williams, perhaps sensing that if he won the round he could pinch the fight on points.

The final verdict from the judges at ringside was a split points win for Williams. No one could have any complaints on that score. Williams had been much more aggressive than Harrison – which amounted to about three punches per round – and it looked like a Williams win had the fight continued. Harrison offered nothing aside the weakest of jabs and a will to stay away from his opponent. Maybe now Audley Harrison will desist from the stream of self hype which continues to spill from his often neurologically detached mouth.

In short, this fight, if the term ‘fight’ can be used, was about as interesting as watching paint dry. Neither fighter seemed to have the will to win, merely the desperation not to lose. The heavyweight division at the moment is very short of stars and Audley Harrison, despite claims that he would prove he was the real deal, did nothing to step up and take it on. An opportunity missed. Williams on the other hand is perhaps at the end of his career and has gone as far as he can. The search for a British Heavyweight World Champion worthy of the substantial paydays it attracts will continue in vain. Neither of the men on display here fit the bill.

John Millward http://www.lazybugger.com