The Hindu : Sport / Boxing : Tyson opponent sees obscurity as advantage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 15, 2004

Sport

Sport - Boxing

Tyson opponent sees obscurity as advantage

LOUISVILLE (USA), JULY 14. Danny Williams turned 31 on Tuesday, but there was no party. Just a regular training day for his upcoming bout with Mike Tyson. He's planning to celebrate after the fight.

"It's all work, no play," Williams said in a conference call. "Friday the 30th, that will be my birthday present."

Williams (31-3, 26 KOs) is a former British Commonwealth heavyweight champion but is relatively unknown in the United States. His two previous fights in the United States were his only two outside Europe. Williams counts his anonymity as an advantage.

"I'm like a secret," Williams said. "These guys haven't seen what I can do."

He's also relishing the role of underdog, one he's unaccustomed to having.

Tyson hasn't fought since stopping Clifford Etienne in 49 seconds on February 22, 2003. He's been living in a modest house in suburban Phoenix, away from the lavish lifestyle and wasteful spending that landed him deep in debt.

Still, Williams knows who the star of the fight is. And though Williams estimates Tyson's ability at about 40 per cent what it was when he knocked out 26 of his first 28 opponents, the former world champ is not one to be taken lightly.

"His 40 per cent is still better than most of our 100 per cent," Williams said. "On any given day, he can definitely still win a world title. But he has to get through me and I don't think he will." — AP

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