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13:20 GMT, Monday, 2 June 2008 14:20 UK

Williams to lodge fight complaint

Danny Williams

Danny Williams has urged the British Boxing Board of Control to take action after his controversial victory over Konstantin Airich in Bilbao on Friday.

Williams managed a seventh-round stoppage despite suffering three knockdowns and having at least three points deducted by the Spanish referee.

Williams had Germany's Airich in trouble in the sixth only for the bell to ring more than 90 seconds early.

"I knew I had no chance of winning unless I stopped him," said Williams.

"It was incredible. There were rounds ending early and I lost count of the number of points I had taken away.

"I am very concerned. I won't hesitate to take action if it is deemed appropriate"
Simon Block
BBofC general secretary


"The whole situation is ridiculous. It also happened in my last fight against Oleg Platov in December, when they knew I was going to win so they stopped the fight on an injury and got a no-decision.

"I've got to urge the British Board of Control to put in a complaint because things have got to change. I had even been warned beforehand by friends not to take the fight because I couldn't win it.

"But I thought boxing was supposed to be about how good you are, not about where you are fighting or who you are fighting for.

"I need to stand up over this to make sure other British fighters don't have the same problems I have had."

Williams had accepted the fight despite already being scheduled to defend his British title against John McDermott in Dagenham early next month.

606: DEBATE
"What a farce! All credit to Williams, in the face of some outrageous cheating, he kept it together and produced a good victory"
madpup

The 34-year-old Brixton fighter took two standing counts in the third round and suffered a flash knockdown in the fourth before piling on the pressure in the sixth, only for the round to end prematurely.

However, he made sure in the seventh, Airich's corner throwing in the towel after a sustained attack from the man who famously knocked out Mike Tyson in 2004.

Williams, who lost a world title challenge against Vitali Klitschko the same year, handed prospect Airich, 29, his first professional defeat.

The BBBofC's general secretary Simon Block said he was awaiting a video of the contest with interest: "I am very concerned. I won't hesitate to take action if it is deemed appropriate."

Williams added: "I took the fight because Airich didn't look too good on the videos. But I couldn't believe how hard he punched. His power was up there on a level with Vitali Klitschko.

"I wasn't mentally prepared for that kind of power. But I got used to it, and everything that was going on just spurred me on to get the win."




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Related to this story:

Williams foiled by opponent's cut (17 Dec 07 |  Boxing )
Williams ponders ring retirement (10 Dec 06 |  Boxing )
Williams recaptures British title (02 Mar 07 |  Boxing )
Harrison in bloody Williams win (09 Dec 06 |  Boxing )

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Amateur Boxing Association
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