Danny Williams pulls out of Chisora defence at Wembley Arena

Danny Williams has pulled out of his British Heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora, at Wembley Arena on 13th February blaming a viral infection for withdrawing from the fight.

Promoter Frank Warren is now in talks with two other boxers, who hold wins over Williams to face Chisora instead on the huge Night of the Champions show.

Williams caused confusion last week when after accepting to fight Chisora who replaced the injured Sam Sexton, he then failed to turn up for the press conference to announce the Chisora bout, leaving his manager Micky Helliet to say that Williams “needed some time to get his head around the change.”

Williams, 36, with eight defeats in 50 fights, had said he planned to retire after fighting Chisora. It is well known that Danny suffers from nerves before fights, and sometimes has trouble getting focused for fights, in some cases suffering pre-fight demons, sometimes more in ten round fights in London, than he did facing the former undisputed champion Mike Tyson, who Williams knocked out in America.

A disappointed Frank warren, who saw the same fight fall through last year is still trying to find a replacement so Chisora who as trained hard for this fight, can still get to showcase on the Wembley bill.

Williams confirmed last Friday that he was going ahead with the fight against the unbeaten Chisora. “It’s very disappointing and frustrating after last week’s antics for Danny to once again pull out of the fight leaving Derek in the lurch,” said Warren.

“I’m just sorry for Derek who has trained his heart out for his British title opportunity and has had it scuppered – and remember that Williams didn’t want to fight him when I tried to make the fight last year.

I am working hard for Derek who will still feature on the Night of the Champion show and the two boxers I am negotiating with have beaten Danny already I said last week that Danny should vacate the title or retire if he didn’t want to fight him.”

He added, “The Night of the Champions features the best in young talent that I promote like Derek, Nathan Cleverly, Kevin Mitchell, James DeGale, Frankie Gavin, Billy Joe Saunders, Jamie Cox, and the Walsh brothers and it will a fantastic night showcasing the future of British boxing.”