Hank Lundy Shrugs Off Scare, Beats Dannie Williams on “FNF”

It looked like it could be an early night for Hank Lundy, and not in a good way, when Dannie Williams sent him to the mat in the first round in the main event of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, which took unfolded at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. But Lundy, one of the better pre-fight trash-talkers in the game, who wants to be known as one of the better lightweights in the sport, regrouped, and basically owned the hard-hitting but less well-rounded Williams the rest of the way. After ten rounds, Lundy retained his NABF lightweight strap, by scores of 98-91, 97-92, 97-92. Analyst Teddy Atlas had it 97-92 for Lundy.

Lundy (now 22-1; out of Philly; age 28) was 135 pounds, while Williams (now 21-2; lived in St. Louis, now living in Youngstown, Ohio; age 27; trained by Jack Loew, ex Kelly Pavlik trainer was 135 as well.

In the first, Lundy started out lefty. His long jab looked like it would be a solid weapon. Williams started out swinging for the fences. He dropped Lundy to a knee with 25 seconds to go, off a left hook, to the temple. He popped up immediately, as he often does.

In the second, Lundy started righty. His jab from this stance is equally as sharp and long. It looked like he gained a bit of respect for Williams’ pop, and thus was a little tighter with his launches.

In the third, a lead right clanged Williams’ chin. Then he got Lundy on the ropes, and the men traded tit for tat. Then a left hook with 40 seconds to go had Lundy buzzed, but he landed his own left hook at the same time which sent Williams backwards.

In round four, the action slowed slightly, and we wondered if maybe if stamina actually would come in to play in this shootout.

In the fifth, the slower pace helped Lundy, who helped set the pace and tone with a regular jab. Williams stalked, but politely.

In the sixth, Williams backed up more. Lundy was now the stalker, and he looked energized while doing so.

In the seventh, Williams was peppier than the previous round. He jabbed more than before, and wanted to back Lundy up. In the eighth, Williams ate some hard, clean shots. His head movement, his reflexes had dimmed. In the ninth, Lundy’s jab stayed quick and strong. In the tenth, Williams needed to throw everything at Lundy, but he didn’t know it, or have it in him.

SPEEDBAG FNF comes back in two weeks, with Michael Katsidis-Albert Mensah.

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