Revenge for Williams over Francis

Danny Williams gained revenge by halting old rival Julius Francis at the Wembley Conference Centre.  

The British and Commonwealth heavyweight title clash was all over when Francis sank to his knees in a neutral corner, having taken a left upper cut from Williams in the left eye.

Francis, 36, sank, clearly in pain, and was counted out by referee Micky Vann. The former champion then went off to hospital.

Two years ago, Francis took the same titles from Williams at the Royal Albert Hall, nullifying the younger man's bigger punches to take the verdict.

It was Williams' first professional defeat and certainly a step along the learning curve for him.

Williams, 28, said: "I'm very happy to have successfully held my titles. It was rather the pain than the fact that Julius was dazed that he went down.

"It was always a shot I thought I could catch him with."

At the end, Francis sat on his stool clutching a towel to his eye while Williams reflected on his victory.

Francis never got into the fight, boxing at a pedestrian pace while Williams dictated until his dramatic fourth-round victory.

Williams, looking fit and strong at 17st 8lbs, tried to line up Francis with a right hand by powering in his jab.

That straight left landed repeatedly in the face of Francis, and was picking up the points.

It went in at will in the second before the champion ripped home a right to the body in a swift change of tactics.

It looked as if the fight would go into later stages, until Williams turned on the power after two minutes and 15 seconds of the fourth round.