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Skelton up for Valuev test

10/07/2006

Matt Skelton insists he is more than capable of beating WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev following his defeat of Danny Williams.

Skelton, 39, claimed the heavyweight Commonwealth title with a unanimous points decision over a hugely-disappointing Williams at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Promoter Frank Warren vowed to land the winner a world title shot and Bedford boxer Skelton is now determined to seize the opportunity.

"Valuev is a big fellow," Skelton said. "I'd have to train a certain way to beat him and I'm not saying I'd want to fight toe to toe with him but he is beatable."

A world title shot for Skelton would cap an incredible few years for the resilient fighter who comprehensively outclassed the more experienced and more fancied Williams in Wales.

Williams turned up for the fight weighing over 20 stone and this appeared to limit his movement and stamina as Skelton dominated throughout, throwing and landing more punches and even showboating at various opportunities.

Brixton Bomber Williams looked a far cry from the boxer who knocked out Mike Tyson and his career is now very much at the proverbial crossroads, despite him being just 32-years-old, still relatively young in the heavyweight division.

"It is always very difficult when I lose but I have recovered from it before and I will come back again," he said.

Meanwhile, Bolton youngster Amir Khan will fight in front of his home fans again when he takes to the ring for the ninth time in his pro career on September 2nd at the Reebok Arena.

Khan needed just two rounds to knock out the unheralded Colin Bain on the same bill on Saturday night.

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