Williams will bounce back says trainer

Danny Williams’ trainer Jim McDonnell has vowed that his fighter will come back stronger than ever after losing a European heavyweight title fight against Sinan Samil Sam in Berlin.

Williams‘ corner threw in the towel after two minutes 46 seconds of the sixth round when he was been pinned on the ropes by a series of heavy punches from the 28-year-old Turk.

Sam had put him down twice in the fourth and Williams also received a standing count at the end of the fifth.

Williams looked fresh in the sixth round and had a point deducted for a low blow but the Turk unleashed a flurry of heavy punches and the Londoner’s corner intervened when he fell into the ropes.

But McDonnell said: “I'm sure Danny will return stronger than ever.

“Sam is a very strong guy and the first knock-down really disorientated him.”

With the fight being held in Berlin, Sam had the support of at least 500 German-based Turks who raised the roof.

The fight was delayed for over two hours when the main fight of the night featuring local hero Thomas Ulrich was called off after the German went down with a virus.

In the opening rounds both fighters kept the pace high, with Sam landing left hooks and body shots.

But Williams made good use of his uppercuts before he was caught by the Turk at the end of the second round with a barrage of shots that forced him back on to the ropes.

The British and Commonwealth champion looked the better fighter in the third round but the disaster began in the fourth when Sam caught him with an overhand right with 72 seconds remaining that sent him crashing to the canvas.

The Englishman got up but was floored again with a big right five seconds before the bell was due.

Sam, nicknamed the Bull of Bosphorus, arguably put on the performance of his life and improved his record to 17-0, with 10 knockouts.

The Turk, who had beaten Audley Harrison in the 1999 Amateur World Championships, is now hoping for a crack at the World Heavyweight title.

Williams admitted: “I have watched Sam three times and didn’t think he was that good.

“But I take my hat off to him. He’s very, very strong, and his punches have tremendous power.

“At the end of the day I just didn’t do what I was supposed to do and Sam did better than he was supposed to do.”

Sam said: “I’m very, very happy and would like to thank all my fans who were great.”