Williams must sell soles

Danny Williams should sell advertising space on the soles of his boots when he steps into the ring with Mike Tyson.

That was the claim made today by Frank Maloney, who sold similar rights with Julius Francis when the former British heavyweight champion fought Tyson in Manchester four years ago. In one of the great sponsorship coups, Maloney persuaded a national newspaper to part with £30,000 in the belief that its name would be seen in television and press pictures of Francis flat out on the canvas with his boots in the air.

Now it is the turn of Williams to face Tyson, with the pair meeting in Louisville on 30 July. But Maloney believes the Londoner has only agreed to face Tyson because he is guaranteed a purse of around £150,000.

He said: "I think Danny has only taken this fight for a payday. He could get knocked out and that could mess up his whole career. So if I was him I would make as much from the fight as I could, and if he could sell the soles of his boots he should certainly take the money."

Maloney admits selling Francis's soles was a publicity stunt.

He said: "As Julius's manager I knew we were in there as a sacrificial lamb and we made the most of it. In fairness to Julius he did take the fight seriously by going into training camp and working hard there.

"But Julius's career still progressed after Tyson and he can live on his defeat (Francis was floored five times on the way to a second-round stoppage) for the rest of his life.