Danny Williams has his eye on a prize at the Savvis
By Glenn McBrady
For the St. Louis American
I had originally intended to write about Danny Williams late last autumn, after watching him in a dazzling training session and hearing the high praises sung by several of his sparring partners. But our schedules never seemed to mesh, so I kept his story simmering on the back burner as he made the transition from a decorated amateur to a professional prizefighter.
I tracked him down at the Marquette-Dunn Recreation Center last week on a still, gray day and made my way to the entrance as the shrill whistle of the electric round timer escaped through the open windows of the gym and sliced through to the parking lot across Minnesota Avenue.
It is there that manager/trainer Kevin Cunningham calls the shots, and on this day his entire cast was assembled, including the dynamic Devon Alexander and the imposing Lamar Harris.
Danny Williams was dressed down in camouflage shorts and a loose black sleeveless t-shirt, and he paused for a brief interview before he began his workout. The twenty-year-old North Side resident started boxing at age thirteen and piled up numerous amateur accolades, winning titles at the Silver and Golden Gloves, as well as the Ringside International Tournament.
In his pro debut this past June, he dispatched his overmatched opponent with one lonely second remaining in the first frame. According to Cunningham, Williams’ next test will come on the undercard of a Don King card in late September or early October. He is also expected to tangle at the Savvis Center on October 21, when the downtown venue and Cunningham combine for the first event in a series of Friday night fights.
For now, Williams is on pace to fight six or seven times a year for the first two years of his career as he begins his trek towards a title. He trains five days a week and spars every other day, and after seeing his slick, elusive defense and punishing counterpunches in the gym and in the ring, it’s clear that he has the tools to rule his 130-pound weight class.
For now he continues to work and improve, hoping that he will have a chance at attaining his goals inside the ring and making a better life for himself outside of it.
Pro card at Savvis, Oct. 21
During my visit to Marquette, Kevin Cunningham filled me in on the details of the card at the Savvis Center on October 21, and judging from the names included thus far, it will be a line-up featuring talent that should exceed broadcasts such as Showtime’s Shobox Series and ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights.”
In the main event, David Diaz will face durable veteran John Brown in a struggle for the IBA lightweight title. In the co-feature bout of the evening, rising junior welterweight star Devon Alexander “The Great” will put his unblemished 5-0 record on the line when he squares off against cross-town rival Kelly Wright in a turf war to crown St. Louis’ best at 140 pounds.
Cunningham was all business as he leaned back in his chair and said, “Devon and Kelly are two of the best amateurs to ever come out of St. Louis. Fighting Kelly Wright is risky (for Devon) at this point in his career, but Devon doesn’t want to fight a bunch of stiffs. He wants to give the fans their money’s worth.”
Cunningham’s powerful protégé Lamar Harris will also be included at Savvis, as well as a pair of Olympians. Twenty-two year old southpaw Andre Dirrell and his younger brother Anthony will make the trip south from Flint, Michigan to continue their campaigns in the super middleweight class. The veterans of the 2004 Olympic games share identical 5-0 records with nine knockouts between them.
Ticket information is still being fine-tuned, but the sheer strength of the card is sure to produce the numbers and excitement that have spoiled the Savvis staff and local boxing fans.
St. Charles pro card Sept. 8
With a light heavyweight title shot looming and the added pressure of performing on a grand stage at The Family Arena in St. Charles, I spoke with local favorite Mike Wood about his conditioning and confidence as he prepared to face Jesse Bryan next Thursday, September 8 at 7:30 pm.
He possessed a quiet confidence as he spoke about the training camp that he and his fans hope will contribute to his success next week, ensuring his exit from the ring with the North American Midwest Association’s championship belt. Several weeks ago, I made an error when I mentioned that Wood had lost a close decision between he and Bryan in their first meeting. The pitched eight-round battle in Jefferson City was actually ruled a draw, and even the overwhelming majority of the hostile hometown crowd thought that Wood had earned a clear-cut victory.
“The first time was tough,” explained Wood. “We slugged it out for eight rounds. He’s a real tough kid and it was a tough fight. But everybody thought I beat him. My training camp has been going really well. I’m just focused on getting that belt.”
Wood has been working out before and after his day job, logging in countless hours of road work and sparring with some of his most menacing stable mates, including Shawn Hammack and Melvin Jackson. It’s a regimen he hopes will carry him to a title under the bright lights out in St. Charles next Thursday night at the fights.
Don’t miss Mike Wood and the rest of the professional boxing action on Thursday, Sept. 8 at The Family Arena in St. Charles. Individual reserved tickets are $32, and ringside tables of 10 are available for $420.00. For ticket information call Metrotix at (314) 534-1111, Mike Wood at (314) 423-6579, or Steve Holley at (314) 495-0820.
