Thursday, October 05, 2000
Local Olympians want pro fights here
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Silver medalist Ricardo Williams Jr. and fellow Olympian Dante Craig would like to box on the same local professional card, they said Wednesday.
“That would be beautiful,” said Williams Jr., who has been sparring with his friend, Craig, for years. “We'd like to make Cincinnati a (pro) boxing town again like it was when Ezzard Charles and Aaron Pryor were fighting here.”
Williams Jr. and Craig each received keys to the city Wednesday. They'll be honored at noon on Fountain Square.
“After all we've been through together as amateurs, it would be great to be on the same pro card together,” Craig said.
That is a distinct possibility, because such national promoters as Main Events Inc., already have contacted the boxers and said they'd like to promote local bouts. The two Olympians soon will turn pro. Williams Jr. will be trained by his father and Michael Stafford; Craig by Roy Dale.
The bigger pro contract awaits Williams Jr., because he is arguably the hottest U.S. boxer to emerge from the Olympics. He was one of only two Americans to win silver medals (none won gold). He displayed the heart, fast hands and feet of a champion.
But not winning the gold may have cost him as much as a couple million dollars. When David Reid won a gold medal four years ago, he signed a pro contract worth $3 million. Williams Jr. might command $1 million.. That would include payments for his bouts the first couple of years.
“It's nice to be the champion by the computer (the gold medal), but in some ways it's even better to be the "people's champion,'” Stafford said. “The great
(semifinal) bout with Cuban Diogenes Luna made Ric the people's champion. He had to dig down.”
Williams Jr., 19, said he has heard that Mohammed Abdullaev, the 28-year-old boxer from Uzbekistan who defeated him 27-20 for the gold medal, is turning pro.
“I hope to see him again,” said Williams Jr., referring to the controversy that enveloped their gold-medal bout. Many observers, including some members of the International Olympic Committee, felt Williams should have won.
There can be no rematch with Luna unless he defects.
Williams Sr. said it might be two weeks before his son signs a pro contract with a promoter. Williams Sr. and pizza magnate Buddy LaRo sa, who sponsored Williams Jr.'s amateur career, will be the co-business managers of his pro career.
“They've formed a management team, and I hope to — no, I plan to — work with them,” said Williams Jr. “Buddy LaRosa has been there for me since I was 14 years old. He and my dad have never never given me bad advice. I can't see myself going with another manager.”
LaRosa said the two things he and Williams Sr. want to achieve for Williams Jr. with the signing of a pro contract are a measure of financial security and to set him up with some business opportunities that still will be there when his boxing career is over.
Besides Main Events, the other promoters who have contacted LaRosa/Williams Sr. are Madison Square Gar den Sports, America Presents, DiBella Entertainment, and groups represented by Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield.
Most of those promoters will fly in to personally present their proposals to Williams Jr. and his reps, beginning Friday.
Besides money, what does Williams Jr. want?
“I want a promoter who will allow me to fight here,” he said. “I'd love to fight at the Gardens or Firstar Center. That'd be an honor. I'd also like to fight a lot, five or six times a year.”
What would Williams Jr. like to do with some of the money?
“I'd like to get a house, a nice car, and allow my fiancee and (7-month-old) son to be happy from all of my hard work. I don't want my father to work (outside of boxing) anymore.”
Williams Sr. said he didn't know how long it might be before his son's first pro fight. Craig anticipates a pro fight in January.
The Olympic bouts were four-rounders. Williams Jr. and Craig will begin fighting four-rounders in the pros and work their way up to 10-rounders within a year. Off will come the amateur's headgear and heavier gloves.
“Ric was fast with 10-ounce gloves, but he'll be lightning with 8-ouncers,” Stafford said. “He was strong against the Russian, Cuban and Uzbekistani fighters, but at 19, he's only going to get stronger. The main young guy everybody's harping on now (at 135 pounds) is Hector Camacho Jr. He's 21 or 22.”
Williams Jr. fought at 139 in the Olympics; Craig was one weight class higher, 147. Although their best sparring sessions are against one another, there's no chance they'll ever meet professionally.
“The two pro weight classes for me are 135 and 140,” Williams Jr. said. “I'm going to start off in the 135. Dante has told me he'll probably be up in the 154-pound class within a year or a year and a half.”
Williams is pushing 150 now.
He'll level off at 152, and then start trimming down, he said.
“Now that I don't have to make weight, I'm enjoying myself,” he said. “Steak, omelettes, pancakes, cheesecake and LaRosa's pizza. I like it all.”
Complete coverage of Williams' and Craig's Olympic bouts at Cincinnati.com/olympics
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Local Olympians want pro fights here
