Boxing: Williams falls off Harrison list as gamble backfires

Audley Harrison knows the risks involved in the boxing business and he would never take one like Danny Williams did on Saturday in Berlin.

Less than an hour after Williams was dropped twice and stopped in six rounds by the Turkish-born boxer Sinan Samil Sam there was a completely different type of fight taking place at the Fountain Leisure Centre in Brentford, where Harrison was easily beating the American Rob Calloway.

The failure by Williams to overcome Sam's basic strengths and return to London with the European heavyweight title has probably eliminated him from a list of Harrison opponents in the immediate future. Harrison, meanwhile, has moved closer to the first D-Day of his own career and that will come on 29 March when he has the 10th and last fight of his current deal with the BBC.

"I would give myself five out of 10," he said. "The guy's style and hand speed caused me a few problems. It was not vintage Audley Harrison but effective Audley Harrison."

In Berlin, Williams never managed to stamp his authority on the fight and was dropped quite savagely in the fourth round by two rights, given a standing count in round five and then mercifully saved in the sixth to place his career in turmoil.

Had Williams done what most British boxers have done for the last 30 years and fought old men, slow men or men lacking in motivation while waiting for a lucrative world title fight, he would never have lost. He took a risk and it went wrong and he should be commended, not abused.

For his part, Harrison barely broke a sweat as he easily negotiated the crude moods of Calloway, who sensibly retired himself at the end of round four with his face a bloody mess. After the fight it did turn vicious – when Harrison turned on Williams.

"Danny has been like a cockroach on my back and I'm glad I've washed him off," Harrison claimed. "I was his PR machine and am thinking of sending him a bill for all the free PR I've done for him. He doesn't deserve a fight with me. He is a fraud and he fought like a frightened cat."

Williams, as expected, was far more polite and humble during his post-fight interview and he believes that a Harrison fight is now closer than ever, but he could be wrong.

"Now that I have lost, perhaps Audley will agree to a fight and hope that he can repeat what has happened to me. I just hope so," Williams said.

Back in 1999 Sam beat Harrison at the Amateur World Championships and he seemed bemused on Saturday night at the prospect of fighting Harrison in the future. He said: "No problem, I will knock him out next time."