Williams has had it easy, says title rival

British heavyweight champion Danny Williams is making ambitious plans to step up from domestic boxing to the international ring.

Arrangements are in hand for Williams to go to a high-altitude training camp prior to a pre-Christmas fight against South Africa's Corey Sanders in Johannesburg. And the 29-yearold from Brixton has hopes of fighting Lennox Lewis before the world champion retires.

First, however, Williams will seek to win a Lonsdale Belt outright tonight when he faces rival Londoner Keith Long at York Hall in Bethnal Green.

And there is a suspicion the title-holder may have committed the classic boxing error of looking beyond the task in hand.

On paper, Long's challenge is short on credibility. The 34-yearold had no notable record as an amateur and has fought only nine times as a professional, winning seven of those fights.

In addition, Long will be giving-away height, reach and weight to Williams who is also vastly more experienced. The champion has won 26 of his 27 professional bouts, losing to Julius Francis in April 1999.