By Scoop Malinowski

“Because this is a fight I’ve been asking for for years. I’ve been boxing at British level for many years, fighting C class opponents. I’ve always wanted to fight the top Americans. And I had the opportunity against Mike Tyson. And I said I’m going to take it with both hands. In my mind, you had to kill me to beat me. ‘Cause I was going out, I was going to leave everything in the ring.”

“(Tyson) would look to the referee and start complaining. I knew I had him. Because I remember that in the Holyfield fight. When he started to complain to the referee…that’s when things weren’t going right for him. And I thought, I’ve got this guy. I’ve got this guy.”

BoxingInsider.com: When did you actually realize you were going to defeat Mike Tyson?

Danny Williams: “When I went back to the corner, the referee got to eight and he wasn’t up properly. I thought - I’ve got this guy, you know? It was amazing, unbelievable.”

BoxingInsider.com: Before the fight though, did you think it was 50/50 or did you really believe? Did you see weaknesses?

Danny Williams: “No, I really believed that I could beat him. I believed that. I trained so hard, I believed that he was taking me lightly. Really, I was so confident that I could beat him.”

BoxingInsider.com: Trained harder than you ever trained?

Danny Williams: “Yeah, I trained harder than I ever trained. I sparred more than I ever sparred. Done really, really good training.”

BoxingInsider.com: Most people thought you were going to be like the other guys, Etienne, pretty much come to lose. What made you want this fight so bad?

Danny Williams: “Because this is a fight I’ve been asking for for years. I’ve been boxing at British level for many years, fighting C class opponents. I’ve always wanted to fight the top Americans. And I had the opportunity against Mike Tyson. And I said I’m going to take it with both hands. In my mind, you had to kill me to beat me. ‘Cause I was going out, I was going to leave everything in the ring.”

BoxingInsider.com: So you’ve been waiting years and years for this chance?

Danny Williams: “Yeah, definitely. You could see it in there. Tyson was really giving it to me for the first three rounds. But I wouldn’t give up, I’m there to win.”

BoxingInsider.com: Were those the hardest punches you ever took?

Danny Williams: “OH EASY, BY FAR! He was really sinking them in. Really, really a powerful guy. It’s amazing a guy of that size, that stature, could throw such powerful punches.”

BoxingInsider.com: When did you first see defeat in his eyes? When in the fight did you sense it was coming? When did you first see defeat etched on his face?

Danny Williams: “I didn’t actually see it in his face. But when I start to push him back, he was getting tired, he was starting to load up with his punches. Certain points, he would look to the referee and start complaining. I knew I had him. Because I remember that in the Holyfield fight. When he started to complain to the referee…that’s when things weren’t going right for him. And I thought, I’ve got this guy. I’ve got this guy.”

BoxingInsider.com: What round did he complain to the referee? I don’t remember seeing that.

Danny Williams:“In the third round he looked to the referee, like, to make a little complaint. And I think he said a few words. That’s when I knew I had him, when he started to complain to the referee.”

BoxingInsider.com: After the fight - Tyson’s been a gentleman lately - did he say anything to you? Was he a good sportsman?

Danny Williams: “I just went to him and said, ‘Unlucky.’” And he just looked at me. He didn’t say anything.”

BoxingInsider.com: What did you say?

Danny Williams: “Unlucky. Bad luck. And he just moved his head as if to say, Well done, really. But he didn’t say anything.”

BoxingInsider.com: Said it non-verbally.

Danny Williams: “He gave me respect. From his look he gave me respect. But, you know, I didn’t really want him to speak to me. I don’t take it as bad sportsmanship, as people have said.”

BoxingInsider.com: Let me change the subject. Do you see Vitali Klitschko becoming a dominant heavyweight champion, like Lennox Lewis was?

Danny Williams: “No. I think he’s probably one of the best heavyweights out there, but I don’t think he’s gonna be dominant. I believe the title’s gonna change hands very soon.”

BoxingInsider.com: Who will beat him?

Danny Williams: “If he fights me, I will beat him.”

BoxingInsider.com: Why, what will the difference be in that fight?

Danny Williams: “The difference in that fight - he’ll be fighting a guy who’s in condition, and his coming to win. You know, whereas Corrie Sanders wasn’t in shape, but he had him hurt a few times. But if he fights me, I’m gonna be in shape.”

Scoop Malinowski is a Boxinginsider.com contributor.