10.11.2008: As is the case more often than not with fighters, Danny Williams has little explanation for what happened to him on Saturday night at Bethnal Green’s (London) York Hall. In what he regarded as a warm-up fight, the British heavyweight boss inexplicable got floored and stopped in eight rounds by Poland’s Albert Sosnowski – and down the drain went a fight that Williams “was so exited about”, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight right next to the Gizeh pyramids in Egypt on November 30 against Francois Botha for the WBF ‘world’ heavyweight crown. Fight Production, who were to stage the Egypt extravaganza in cooperation with Louaa Boxing Promotions, disappointingly called the whole event off today.

“It’s a terrible shame, but what can we do?”, Olaf Schroeder, head of Fight Production, asked rethorically, “the whole event was based on Danny Williams. He knew he was the star, we did everything Danny asked us, and his appearance (at the press conference some weeks ago) in Egypt lit enough fire in the Arab world to look forward to extremly lucrative WBF title defences had he beaten Botha. I don’t know if he didn’t see the greater picture or if he was simply feeling invincible, even though everybody knows the risks of boxing – but in the long run, Danny hurt himself the most. And all that for a completely meaningless small-hall gig…”.

According to Howard Goldberg, the WBF representative in South Africa, former IBF champ Botha is fuming. “It was already difficult to explain to Francois that Williams planned to box just three weeks ahead of their title fight, because he considered that as a sign of utmost disrespect. For Francois it was all about winning another heavyweight title, and he feels that Williams lacked any kind of professionalism and unfortunately his fears proved true now. Weeks of training for Botha have gone to waiste,” explained Goldberg. Talking from his home in Cape Town, Goldberg confirmed that he will work hard with Botha’s promoter Thinus Strydom to have ‘The White Buffalo’ contesting the vacant WBF title at a later date in South Africa. Said Goldberg: “After being treated like this by Williams, Francois deserves nothing less!”.