Saturday, September 30, 2000
Williams gives hope, pride to gym mates
Teens see him as the Tiger Woods of boxing
By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer
This is the stuff dreams are made of — a musty gym in the West End, its saggy boxing ring bearing the footprints of a young boxer fighting for Olympic gold in a faraway place.
When Ricardo Williams Jr. goes for the gold tonight in Sydney, Australia, his gym mates back in Cincinnati will be bursting with pride.
They already are.
West End teens Mario Harris, 15; Kevin Miller, 16; Henry Newell, 15; and Kevin Crockett, 15, can taste the victory before it happens.
They practice at the Findlay Street Neighborhood Center Gym alongside Mr. Williams, 19, a light welterweight.
Friday was an off day for the four young boxers, but it didn't take their minds off boxing — and their dreams.
“What Ricardo has done gave me enough courage to get in the ring,” said Kevin Miller, who boxes in the 120-pound category. “I have always wanted to box, but I was afraid of taking the punches. He definitely has given me a lift.”
The four boxers have not had a fight yet, but they are busy getting in shape.
“We know the coaches will put us in tournaments when they think we are ready,” said Mario, a 153-pounder. “I watch Ricardo a lot. I think my jab is beginning to develop like his.”
The young fighters said boxing is much more than a physical-fitness sport to them. Growing up in the West End, boxing has become a code of honor.
“It gives us a chance to prove to the world that we are somebody,” said Henry Newell, a 140-pounder. “Ricardo proved it and we can do it, too. You can do anything you want to once you put your mind to it.”
Kevin Crockett's eyes light as he talks about his chances of going to the Olympics.
“Man, wouldn't that be something; me there, representing my country, my people, Cincinnati and the West End. I know how Ricardo feels. I bet he is not scared. I wouldn't be. With something that big, I have the feeling someday I am going to be there.”
Roy Dale, a former boxer and trainer at the Findlay Street gym for 23 years, was with Ricardo Williams Sr. when they started training young Ricardo at age 8. Mr. Dale said he saw championship qualities in the young fighter then.
“I saw 10 years ago what everybody else is seeing now,” Mr. Dale said. “He has natural abilities. You could tell him to do something, he would do it and then add something to it. He was slick and fast.
“Right now, around the Findlay Street gym, Ricardo is to boxing what Tiger Woods is to golf. He has built so much hope in a lot of young boxers.”
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