New English light-welterweight champion Steve Williams promises bigger and better fights

Feb 17 2010 by Philip Kirkbride, Birkenhead News

NEW English light-welterweight champion Steve Williams says ‘this is just the beginning’.

The ‘Wallasey Express’ scored a unanimous points (97-94, 97-94 and 96-95) decision over home boxer Michael Grant at York Hall on Friday night to claim the vacant strap to extend his professional record to 9-0.

Victory over 2005 ABA champion Grant now increases Williams’ chances of landing a shot at Lenny Daws’ British light-welterweight crown, who defended against Jason Cook with a draw in the headlining bout on the Sky Sports show.

However the manner in which Daws clung onto his belt strongly suggests a rematch may be in order but Williams is content to bide his time before getting his chance at winning the Lonsdale belt.

Williams said: “This win is a big stepping stone for me and my manager told me after the fight that better things await for me.

“I thought I edged the fight and even in the close rounds, I felt like I won them - I was throwing more shots and the harder shots with it. I was always chasing the fight and when I hit him he was always looking to grab on whereas his shots did not have much power in them. I hurt him with a number of rights and he was looking at the ref saying they were low, but they weren’t and it was clear he was not enjoying it, but to be fair he hung in well.

“With him being a former ABA champion I thought I would have to stop him but in the end I got the points decision.

“In some ways I was surprised I out-pointed a guy who was so good in the amateurs but I was intent on making him work hard, even if that meant I lost the first five rounds. His corner were telling him to keep his left hand up, it was something they had been working on, but it seems he didn’t stick to the game plan.

“Lenny Daws is the fight we are looking at but after reading the write-ups it could be that a re-match is on the cards between him and Cook so maybe it is better if I defend the English title once, to get a bit more experience, before going into that.”

As the away fighter, Williams says only a small band of his most ardent fans followed him down to Bethnal Green but the new English champion says they may have been small in number, but were huge in vocal presence.

Williams’ supporters were ringside which gave the 25-year-old the feeling of a home fight.

Williams also promised an exciting clash if he and Daws were to meet in the ring.

“I had 25 fans down on Friday night and they were all ringside so they drowned out all of Michael Grant’s supporters.

“I am definitely going to watch the Daws fight when I get chance, I believe it was a good fight and I think our styles are really suited. We both like to trade punches and go toe-to-toe.”