“Dangerous” Dannie ready for a title!

Preview by Brian Grammer

“Dangerous” Dannie Williams (16-1-0, 13 KOs) battles Mexican veteran Manuel Leyva (18-2-0, 10 KOs) this Friday for the vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title in the main event of the “Battle on the Banks” at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri.

Williams, the 2004 National Golden Gloves lightweight champion, hopes to follow the footsteps of St. Louis boxing greats such as the legendary Henry Armstrong, brothers Leon and Michael Spinks, or former WBC/IBF jr welterweight champion Devon Alexander. 

Williams, a southpaw with power in both hands and speed to match, is currently training in Youngstown, Ohio with renowned trainer Jack Loew.

Loew, who is best known for his work with former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, has modified the training regimen of Williams by focusing the fighter on the importance of proper nutrition.

“Jack has taught me how to get ready by eating right and it is showing in our work in the gym,” proclaimed Williams.

“Jack is also showing me how to sit down more on my punches,” Williams added.

All of this work is being supplemented by reviewing past Leyva fights.  “We have seen some weaknesses in his game and I plan on exploiting them,” outlined Williams.

Loew, who feels that Williams is right on track in his development as a professional, stated to FightNews,  “Since Dannie has been working with us full time instead of just in three week intervals preceding other fights, he has really matured as a person and boxer.  Patience is the key that we work on with Dannie.  He was knocking out everyone he fought and now that he is going to start working ten-round fights, he needs to learn to let the knockout happen, rather than pressing to get it done because that is what he expected.”

The team surrounding the Williams is keeping him focused on Friday night and not looking ahead.  “I will fight whoever Rumble Time puts in front of me.  It is not a question of who I fight, but who is willing to fight me.  All they are telling me to do is to go out there and win,” explained Williams.

“Battle on the Bank” is promoted by Steve Smith of Rumble Time Promotions.  Smith also promotes welterweight Willie Nelson, who recently fought on the SHOWTIME ShoBox series, and light middleweight contender Deandre Latimore, who will be on the non-televised undercard of Saturday’s HBO Victor Ortiz – Andre Berto matchup.

“After this fight, my goal is to give Dannie an opportunity to showcase his talents on television,” said Smith.  “We are getting calls every day from promoters wanting to matchup with our guys.  This kind of exposure works to the benefit of a guy like Dannie because as other Rumble Time fighters make their way through the ranks, Dannie will move into the spotlight as well!”

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Tickets for the “Battle on the Banks” are available at the Ameristar Casino Gift Shop, at Tickets.com or call 314.662.2000.  Doors open at 6:30p and the first bout is at 7:30p.  The Ameristar Casino Resort Spa is located at 1 Ameristar Boulevard in St. Charles , Missouri , just outside of St. Louis.

April 13th, 2011

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