Boxing: Williams Thinks About Quitting After Title Win

Danny Williams regained the British heavyweight title he first won seven years ago when he stopped Pembroke Dock's Scott Gammer in the ninth round in Neath last night. But Williams said he would take time to look at tapes of his performance before deciding whether or not to continue his career.

Williams, 33, had produced a patchy display against the previously undefeated Gammer, and was perhaps suffering from a lack of confidence after losing in his previous outings against the Commonwealth champion Matt Skelton, on points last July, and then against Audley Harrison in December when he was blown out in three rounds.

But the Brixton-born Williams, who enjoyed his most famous hour when he defeated the former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in four rounds three years ago, had whipped himself into great shape, weighing in at 16st 4lb, his lightest in 11 years. His work paid off in that he produced sporadic flashes of his old form as he repelled a strong but limited opponent.

Gammer wilted in the ninth round when Williams, who had previously tried to dominate behind his classy jab, finally launched a sustained two-fisted attack. Despite fervent home-town support, Gammer folded under a barrage of punches and slumped to the canvas from a Williams right cross. He rose within the count but the referee stopped the contest.

Williams had said prior to the fight that he would retire from the ring if he was not satisfied with his display. Now he faces a period of self-analysis before deciding whether or not the story of his boxing career ends in a sports centre in Neath.