Sunday, October 01, 2000
Silver lining for Williams
Cincinnatian loses final fight but gains respect
By Paul Daugherty
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SYDNEY — He came not expected to win a medal. He leaves wearing silver. He arrived with a reputation for taking his talent for granted. He comes home having put the lie to that.
In the Olympic gold medal light welterweight bout, Ricardo Williams Jr. was unable avenge a loss at last year's world championships to Mahamadkadyz Abdullaev of Uzbekistan. Abdallaev piled up points early and hung on late to defeat Williams, 27-20, for the gold medal.
The loss meant the U.S. would not win a boxing gold medal for the first time since 1948.
Ricardo Williams Jr. (red) fights Mahamadkadyz Abdullaev of Uzbekistan.
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“I was proud of what I did,” said Williams, a Taft High graduate. “I tried to box him the first two rounds, then I went after him.”
Williams said he thought Abdullaev did little in the last two rounds, but the five judges scoring the fight didn't agree. Abdullaev led 10-5 after Round 2, and was awarded 17 more points in the last two rounds.
U.S. coach Tom Mustin blamed the officiating: “Ricardo Williams was scoring and not getting points,” said Mustin. But Williams wasn't using that excuse.
Asked if he thought judging cost him a gold, Williams said, “No, he was just better than me.”
Williams' fight will be telecast today as part of NBC's day program (11 a.m.- 6 p.m.).
Abdullaev frustrated Williams early, keeping his hands up and firing quick lefts that scored. The '99 world champion showed his international experience, by scoring when the openings were there, then quickly going into a defensive stance. Lots of Williams' best combinations hit Abdullaev's gloves.
Williams cornered Abdullaev late in Round 3, and a flurry then cut the deficit to 15-11. Abdullaev rallied early in the final round, going up 23-15. After that, Williams was forced to brawl instead of box.
You could argue that Williams fought his best fight in the semfinals. The 42-41 win against Cuba's Diogenes Luna was such a sight, it made the final Sunday almost anticlimactic. The semifinal fight bounded straight from Williams' chest. He left his heart open for public view. The public applauded.
Williams won't be an Olympian twice.
American boxers rarely are. He'll try to turn silver in the ring into gold out of it.
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