British Scene Weekend Recap: Daws Retains Title

Dave Oakes recaps this past weekend's British light-welterweight title fight.

Lenny Daws made a successful defence of his British light-welterweight title on Friday night, forcing Steve Williams to retire on his stool before the start of the eleventh round.

Williams made a bright start; he was the busier of the two fighters and did enough to take the first two rounds on my card. He also landed the cleaner punches, a right hook in the second round being the best punch by him.

The third round was a closer affair with the usually slow starting champion beginning to find his feet. Both he and Williams exchanged solid shots, a Williams right hook rattling Daws’ jaw and Daws responding with a left hook of his own moments later.

The momentum swung in Daws’ favour in the fourth, he was catching Williams cleanly with virtually every jab and straight right he threw. Williams was still landing his own punches but it was a big round for Daws.

The fourth round was the turning point in what had been a close fight, Daws controlled proceedings from then on in and despite Williams putting in a brave effort, he never looked like he was capable of claiming the title.

Williams’ challenge wasn’t helped by a nasty cut he received in the fifth round, a head clash opening up a gash above Williams’ right eye. The cut seemed to hamper Williams throughout the rest of the fight but wasn’t the sole reason he lost, Daws really picked up the pace in the middle rounds and used his experience to pick apart a valiant but outgunned Williams.

Williams did make one final attempt of turning the tide in the tenth round, he came out all guns blazing and matched Daws punch for punch. Unfortunately for him it wasn’t enough and he went back to his corner at the end of the round with his face a mask of blood – a second cut by the right eye flowing freely.

There was a bit of confusion in the corner as Williams and his corner team deliberated about whether or not to stop the fight. Eventually they decided enough was enough and instructed the referee that Williams couldn’t continue.

It was a good win for Daws, he overcame a sluggish start to produce a dominant performance over a foe many had expected him to struggle against. He’s got plenty of domestic rivals to face and fights against Paul McCloskey, Frankie Gavin, John O’Donnell and a rematch with Jason Cook would all be exciting prospects for British fans.

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