Christmas came early for lightweight power-broker
"Dangerous" Dannie Williams in the form of an ESPN
Friday Nights Fight main event showdown on January 11 against
John "The Hammer" Molina Jr. (24-2, 19 KOs) in a explosive crossroads fight for both boxers, at Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
"I’ve been waiting to get back into a meaningful
fight," Williams said from training camp in Youngstown, Ohio, "so I can
get back in the lightweight picture. That’s what this fight is all
about. I look at this fight like all of my fights as the biggest of my
life."
Williams (22-2, 18 KOs) is only two fights removed from a disappointing loss by 10-round decision to
Hank Lundy (21-1-1) for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) title, while
Molina suffered a devastating first-round knockout in his last fight to
World Boxing Council (WBC) 135-pound champion
Antonio DeMarco. Both of these fights aired on national television, setting back the fighters’ respective careers.
Williams, who was WBC No. 9 rated going into the
Lundy fight, has regrouped, winning his most recent fight this past
October by way of a seventh-round knockout of
Rynell Griffin.
Molina’s most significant win, ironically, was an
11th round stoppage of Lundy in 2010 for the North American Boxing
Organization (NABO) lightweight title. The previously unbeaten Lundy
(18-0-1), who was dropped in the eighth, had a substantial lead on all
three judges’ scorecards (98-91, 98-91, 97-92) when Molina finished him
off in the 11th as the referee halted the fight with Lundy trapped on
the ropes and hurt.
"I’m really up for this fight because he’s the guy
who beat the guy who beat me," Williams noted. "I’m going to show the
boxing world that my Lundy fight was a fluke. Molina’s last fight was
disappointing. I don’t think he can take a big punch. It’s not like
Lundy can hit. DeMarco hit him with some good punches, but I can’t wait
to see how he reacts when I hit him."
The fight between Williams and Molina, who have
combined to knock out 37 opponents in 46 total wins, has the potential
to start 2013 off with fireworks. "A loss derails either fighter’s
career and the winner gets right back in the picture," Williams’ head
trainer
Jack Loew remarked. "With these two guys, no
matter what game plan is set, once they get touched, their manhood takes
over. They’re both warriors, real fighters, and this can be a very
exciting fight. Dannie just has to fight for 10 rounds, although this
isn’t the type fight that figures to go the distance. Against Lundy, we
had a great game plan and it worked for two or three rounds. Then,
Dannie hit a wall and for whatever reason, he stopped fighting.
"This is a crossroads fight for both fighters. This
isn’t like being a cat with nine lives. This is the third opportunity
Steve’s (co-promoter
Steve Smith) gotten Dannie on national television, the first against (
Eloy)
Perez (LDEC10 in 2009), and then Lundy. This fight could mean the difference
between ever getting a world title shot or not. I’ve let Dannie know
what this fight means and the pressure is on him to win. Dannie has to
be professional and go into this fight in a better mind set than he did
against Lundy. He can’t dance around and box. He has to come forward and
be aggressive. Dannie Williams is always going to be a power puncher."
Co-Promoted by Rumble Time Promotions (President
Steve Smith) and DiBella Entertainment, the 28-year-old Williams has
overcome numerous obstacles growing up in the Peabody Projects in Saint
Louis, Missouri. He showcased his potential as an amateur, capturing a
gold medal in the 2004 National Golden Gloves Tournament, and defeating
undefeated, former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion
Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios.
"What I know for sure is that Dannie will fight the
fight of his life and come out with a big win in dramatic fashion,"
Smith added. "I do want to thank
Doug Loughrey(boxing
programming director), of ESPN, for keeping this fight together. ESPN
fans are going to love the non-stop action, as long as it lasts. Dannie
just had an off night against Lundy. Dannie Williams is a beast with
power in both hands and good boxing skills, too."
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