British Scene: Lenny Daws vs Steve Williams Preview

Dave Oakes previews Friday's British 140lb title clash between champion Lenny Daws and challenger Steve Williams.

It’s an experience versus inexperience match-up this Friday night as Lenny Daws looks to retain his British light-welterweight title against the unbeaten but untested Steve Williams at the York Hall, Bethnal Green.

Williams, 9-0 (3 KO’s), is taking a big step-up in class having spent most of his career fighting boxers with losing records, the exception being the slick Michael Grant, whom he went the ten round distance with in his last fight. The Grant fight showed that Williams can dig deep when he needs to, but it’ll be much harder for him against a seasoned championship performer in Daws.

Daws, 20-1-2 (8 KO’s), will be participating in his fifth British title fight in what is his second reign as champion. He was uninspiring in defending his title last time out, a hard fought draw against Jason Cook. He was wobbled badly in the first round but produced a late rally to claw himself back into the contest.

The Cook fight was a good summarisation of Daws’ strengths and weaknesses. His forte is the way he constantly keeps the pressure on his opponent, using his impressive work-rate and stamina to full effect. His flaws are that he gets caught easily and is one dimensional; Cook repeatedly found the target and had Daws in all kinds of trouble early on.

This fight should be a close and entertaining battle; neither fighter excels in one particular aspect but both are solid all-rounders. Daws is a slow starter and I feel Williams must take the majority of the early rounds and survive a late barrage from the champion if he’s to stand a chance of winning. Personally I think Daws’ experience and stamina will swing the fight in his favour in the latter half of the fight and he should be able to secure a hard fought points victory.

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