By Ant Evans: Danny Williams trainer Jim McDonnell has defended his heavyweight's last minute pullout against Matt Skelton. William was due to face unbeaten Skelton for the British Heavyweight Title in Bolton on Saturday night but pulled out at 9pm Friday claiming flu.
Promoter Frank Warren and television partner ITV were furious at the late notice, especially as Williams had weighed in and passed a medical just five hours before declaring himself unfit to boxing.
Trainer McDonnell said: "Danny should have pulled out sooner, he made a mistake there, I agree, but some of the criticism he's had since Saturday has been totally over the top. You can call what he did unprofessional but to call him a bottle job is really pathetic and unfair after the things he's done in his career."
The trainer went on to list his fighter's now familiar accomplishments, such as knocking out Mark Potter in 2000 to win the British Title while fighting with a grotesquely dislocated right shoulder, coming back from torrid two rounds to knock out Mike Tyson last summer and fighting on while injured despite four knockdowns v Vitali Klitschko in a losing world title shot last December.
McDonnell added: "No disrespect to Matt Skelton but he's not in the league of Tyson nor Klitschko, he's a novice, and if the fight happens he'll be knocked out in five rounds. Skelton should thank the heavens Danny pulled out because he was outboxed by (replacement) Mark Krence until (Krence) rank out of gas.
Promoter Warren, who had to scramble to find a replacement for the top of the bill, is fuming that his first major show with ITV was hampered and has said he will never promote Williams again, advising the Londoner to retire if his commitment to boxing is waning.
But Williams's trainer insists Williams, 32, is as ambitious as ever. He said: "Skelton pulled out of a fight with flu himself only last year, when he was supposed to fight Al Cole last summer. The only difference was that Skelton pulled out earlier in the week (Monday) instead of the day before the fight (which was supposed to take place Friday night). I admit that what Danny did - weigh in and then pull out - wasn't right but everyone makes mistakes.
"What happened was Danny had hay-fever two weeks ago and that developed into flu. Not a heavy cold, but flu. He took time off training earlier in the week of the fight but took a load of medicine and rested for a few days. He was still not over it on Friday but his family and friends wanted him to pull out, worrying about him. Out of love and concern for him not going in at 100% they sapped his mental energy until the point where he felt he was too ill to go ahead.
"I've spoken to Danny and he says that while he is very disappointed, he isn't sorry he pulled out because he was still very poorly on Sunday and Monday. Like I said, fighters pull out of fights all the time and while it is disappointing it happens in all sports."
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