Reigning North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight champion “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy has heard all the threats from Dannie Williams as the two prepare to face one another for Lundy’s title on Friday, March 30th, 2012 at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s MGM Grand Theater.
There’s speculation that Williams’ vow to “hurt” Lundy didn’t actually come from Williams himself, but there’s no doubt who the voice is behind Lundy’s most recent response.
“Everything Hammerin’ Hank say comes out my mouth,” Lundy said, “and I do [it].
“So, if I tell you I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. I told David Diaz I was going to knock him out, and I knocked him out. And I’m telling you, I’m going to take your heart, I’m going to crush it up, I’m going to break you down, and I’m going to knock you out.
“I put that on my kids. I’m going to hurt you. You’re going to feel what real pain is about.”
Lundy’s 10-round showdown against Williams (21-1, 17 KOs) is the main event of “All In,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, and will air live on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights,” along with the 10-round co-feature between World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight champion Elvin Ayala (25-4-1, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., and Hector Camacho Jr. (53-4-1, 28 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Philadelphia’s Lundy (21-1-1, 11 KOs) has risen to No. 4 in the WBC and is seeking his first title defense after capturing the belt in April against former Venezuelan Olympian Patrick Lopez, also broadcasted on “Friday Night Fights.” Williams, a Saint Louis native, has won nine consecutive bouts – six by knockout – since suffering the first and only loss of his career against Eloy Perez in 2009 and is now ranked No. 11 in the WBC and No. 1 in the NABF.
The buzz began in late December when Williams’ promoter, Rumble Star Promotions president Steve Smith, issued a press release in which Williams was quoted as saying, “I hurt guys I fight. Lundy can talk all he wants, but that’s going to happen to him, too.”
Lundy – one of boxing’s most celebrated road warriors – challenged Williams to face him on his turf.
“If y’all aren’t coming to Philadelphia, Rhode Island, or Connecticut to fight ‘Hammerin’’ Hank, then we don’t have a fight,” Lundy said. “I’m tired of going into people’s backyards.”
The only problem, according to Williams, is the initial boast didn’t come from the fighter, but rather his promoter – a minor drawback that has done little to suppress the excitement since Williams remains as confident now as he appeared to be in December.
“I guess they just wanted to spark the fight,” Williams said, “but, yeah, I feel I can hurt him.
“I’ve got speed. I’ve got power. Hank is talking a lot of smack like I’m not supposed to be in the ring with him, or that I haven’t fought anybody. He’s writing me off already. That’s his biggest mistake.”
Lundy has repeatedly referred to the discrepancy in competition between the two fighters. Since 2010, Lundy has won five of his last six fights, and the combined record of his opponents during that stretch is a remarkable 120-9-3. Since losing to Perez, Williams has faced five opponents with 10 or more losses; his last opponent, 37-year-old journeyman Fernando Trejo, has twice as many losses (18) as Lundy’s last six opponents combined.
“You fought a bunch of nobodies,” Lundy said. “Then you have the damn audacity to talk trash to me.”
“He said I haven’t fought anybody? We’ll see when I step up and fight him,” Williams countered.
The one advantage Williams might have is anonymity; Lundy has appeared on ESPN five times in the last year and a half, while Williams made his network television debut in August with a knockout win over Antonio Cervantes.
“They’re mad because they ain’t got nothing on me – no television footage, nothing on YouTube,” Williams said. “I’ve got a lot of people wondering who I am.”
Conversely, Williams has watched several of Lundy’s recent bouts – “Only a few times,” he said. “I don’t need to watch it” – to sharpen his game plan for March 30th.
“I know he comes to fight, but he moves a lot trying to be slick and he gets careless sometimes,” Williams said. “He’s never fought a fighter like me who’ll come at him every round – a fighter that can box and that can punch, too. I didn’t win national titles as an amateur with knockouts; I won them by boxing.
“I don’t think he can hurt me. He thinks he’s fast, but I don’t think he’s faster than me.”
The long-running feud will finally be settled March 30th. Lundy has yet to meet his match inside the ring, but it appears he’s met his equal in terms of unapologetic confidence. Lundy has never faced an opponent he didn’t think he could beat, and Williams is equally fearless, even if he hasn’t done all the talking himself.
“All I want is my opportunity,” Williams said, “and he’s just another person in the way.”
Tickets for “All In” are $40.00, $65.00, and $125.00 (VIP ringside) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, or the Foxwoods box office at 800.200.2882, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
