Monday, October 02, 2000
Williams will get a hero's welcome
Boxer's family plans celebration at airport
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
West End boxer Ricardo Williams Jr., silver medalist in the 139-pound weight class in the Olympics, will return home to a hero's welcome at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
His supporters in Cincinnati are planning a welcome-home program at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. All are invited to greet him as he leaves his flight.
“My parents, Ric, and Buddy LaRosa called here after every fight, and we kept up with the results on the Internet,” said his sister, Marlene. “Staying with me were Ric's fiance, Sherise, their baby, Ricardo Williams III, and our sister, Victoria Johnson, from California with her husband and children, and our cousin, Kim Scott. We were all rooting like crazy for him.”
Ric's son, who is only 7 months old, screamed when he saw his dad on TV, and this week began saying, “Da-Da.” Marlene and Sherise left a voice mail on Ric's telephone in Australia that featured Ric III saying “Da-Da” to his father.
“I felt in Houston (in the World Championships last year) that (gold medalist) Mohammed Abdullaev beat Ric,” Marlene said. “But this time (in the gold-medal bout), Ric beat him. He had good foot movement, good hand speed, a lot of flurries and solid body shots. I'd like people to be able to see that bout.”
Wire reports from Sydney have said the same thing. An International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from Norway said Williams Jr. deserved the gold, that he landed blows in the fourth and final round that weren't registered.
Marlene said she talked with her brother many times from Sydney.
“He said the Cuban fight was the hardest fight he ever had,” said Marlene, refering to his semifinal bout with Diogenes Luna. Wire reports have called that bout the highlight of the Olympic boxing program. Williams Jr. won 42-41.
“That fight didn't take anything out of Ric. He'd been saving up for (Abdullaev),” Marlene said. “Ric said he reviewed the fight several times, and feels he won the fight. He said he knew it in his heart. He's able to deal with it, because he knows he won. He's OK with that.”
In Sydney with Ricardo, were his parents, Ric Sr. and Margie, and his sponsor, LaRosa. Marlene is requesting that supporters who go to the airport Tuesday night -- United Airlines terminal -- wear their Ricardo Williams Jr. T-shirts. These T-shirts bear an image of Ric Jr., sketched by his dad.
“Bring signs, balloons, posters, whatever,” said Marlene. “Ric really deserves it. He represented Cincinnati so well.”
Complete Olympics coverage at Cincinnati.com/olympics
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Williams will get a hero's welcome
