KLITSCHKO, VITALI-DANNY WILLIAMS NEWS MEDIA CREDENTIAL (2004)

HISTORY: On December 11, 2004 at Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas Vitali Klitschko defended his WBC heavyweight title against Danny Williams, Klitschko stopped Williams in the 8th round.  The fight was officially confirmed on October 14. Klitschko entered the right with an orange ribbon tied to his shorts in support of the Orange Revolution and its leader Viktor Yushchenko. The fight was watched by a total 17 million viewers in Russia.

Klitschko Applies Power
By Steve Springer, Los Angeles Times, December 12, 2004

LAS VEGAS — It had to be courage and determination that carried Danny Williams into the eighth round Saturday night against Vitali Klitschko in the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Williams had nothing else left.

His legs weakened by three blistering knockdowns, he moved around the ring with the uneasy gait of a man walking on a frozen pond.

With a deep cut over his right eye blurring his vision, Williams flailed away at his opponent like a blind man in unfamiliar surroundings.

Once again, Klitschko sent Williams crashing to the canvas in the eighth, a thunderous right hand that left the British fighter staring through swollen eyes at the towering opponent above him.

Somehow, Williams pulled his battered body up once more, but this time, referee Jay Nady signaled what Williams already knew in his heart.

It was over. The fight was stopped at the 1-minute 26-second mark of round eight, giving Klitschko (35-2, 34 knockouts) a victory in the first defense of the World Boxing Council heavyweight title he won in April from Corrie Sanders.

"I feel this was the best performance of my career," said Klitschko, a Ukrainian now living in Los Angeles.

No argument from Williams (32-4, 27), who had earned the title shot by knocking out Mike Tyson in July.

"He doesn't hit as hard as Tyson," Williams said, "but he's more consistent."

The numbers certainly bear that out. Williams, who was down in the first, third and seventh rounds prior to the final knockdown, was behind by 10 points on two judges' scorecards and by 11 on the other.

The punch stats were just as one-sided. Klitschko landed 296 punches to only 44 for Williams. In the power-punch category, Klitschko had an overwhelming 197-38 edge.

"I was surprised because he never gave up," said the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Klitschko, who used his six-inch height advantage to keep his 270-pound foe from inflicting any damage.

"I got cut in the first round," Williams said, "and it was harder and harder to see his right hand as the fight went on. But I kept fighting because this was for the heavyweight championship of the world."

Offered here is an original News Media Credential for this event.

FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original News Media Credential which names and pictures both fighters. Bold color and print. Bold, clear images. Two holes atop for neck chain. Clean front and back. Not creased or torn. 4 1/4" x 7 1/2."