McDonnell sings Williams’ praises

TRAINER Jim McDonnell remembers the days when even his closest friends urged him to throw the towel in on a no-hoper called Danny Williams.

McDonnell was told to look elsewhere for the next boxing superstar, as Williams blew a succession of breakthrough chances to flail away at British title level.

On Saturday night in Las Vegas, McDonnell expects to be handsomely repaid for his unswerving belief in Williams’ talent by watching him claim the WBC world heavyweight title from Vitali Klitschko.

McDonnell said: “People were telling me to give up on Danny and concentrate on somebody else, but I always knew how good he was. I told him five years ago that I had never been so certain that anyone would become world champion.

“People always greeted what I said with little laughs and sniggers but they are not laughing now. The only people laughing were me and Danny when everybody wrote him off again against Mike Tyson.”