Sunday, December 03, 2000
Williams poised for pro boxing debut
Olympian pursues lightweight belt
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Olympic boxing silver medalist Ricardo Williams Jr. and fellow Olympian Dante Craig will make their pro debuts Jan.27 in Madison Square Garden.
But Williams also will fight locally sometime in April at a site to be determined, though it isn't certain yet whether his buddy, Craig, will be on the local card. Both grew up in the West End.
“I think people here deserve a show,” said Williams, a Taft High grad. “They've been very supportive of me, and I'd like to give them something back.”
So would Craig.
“I'd love to be on that card,” said Craig, a Woodward High grad. “That would be a special day, wouldn't it?”
Williams, 19, who made a splash at the Olympics — his 42-41 semifinal victory over Cuba's Diogenes Luna is regarded by some as one of the great bouts in the event's boxing history — now seeks to make an even bigger one as a pro.
He's dropping in weight (from 139 pounds to 135) because the path to a lightweight belt could be quicker.
He can always move up later. Some big names in boxing loom at 140 pounds, including Hector Camacho Jr., Zab Judah, Kostya Tszyu and Sharmba Mitchell. And one division above them, at 147, loom stars such Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya.
Williams' father, Ricardo Sr., who also is his trainer and co-manager, would like to have him fighting for a lightweight belt within two years.
In two weeks, Williams should know who his opponent will be Jan.27. His handlers will choose one after analyzing videotapes.
Williams' other co-manager is local pizza magnate Buddy LaRo sa. Also doing training are Billy Joiner and Mike Stafford.
Last week was Williams' first in the gym since the Olympics. He has stayed in shape, running the familiar hills of Mt. Adams and Eden Park; he weighs 146 pounds.
Three months ago, half the young boxers training at the Mt. Auburn gym would stop to watch when Williams made the speed bag whistle. Now, they all do. Twenty pairs eyes are on him, his hands, his feet. And then, those young fighters also go back to their workouts.
Williams Jr. goes through his paces — throwing combinations to the pads on the hands of his trainers, smashing right and left hands into the heavy bag, rat-a-tat-tatting the speed bag. Each of his three “rounds” per work station lasts three minutes, compared to two minutes in his amateur days. As Williams progresses in the pros, workouts will get longer: title fights are 12 rounds, Olympic bouts are four.
He's dancing now, corner to cor ner, working on footwork. His trainers direct him in and out, left and right, up and down. They want him to stay out of the clinches, where the dangerous head butts come.
“Ric, who's the champ at 135?” asked Williams Sr., not expecting the answer he got, but smiling when he got it.
“I am,” said Williams Jr., his smile showing four gold-capped front teeth.
Eventually, Williams is headed for 140 (junior welterweight), the weight class in which fellow Cincinnatian Aaron Pryor distinguished himself.
“My first pro fight means a lot to me, because that's when you get all the bugs out,” Williams said. “A lot of things go through your head. How are the lighter, 8-ounce gloves going to feel? How am I going to react when I get hit without headgear on?”
He doesn't foresee problems.
“I feel like I'm a big 35 (135-pounder),” he said. “If I hit somebody with those 8-ounce gloves, they're going to feel it.”
Ultimately, these are the things that will determine how lucrative his pro career will be.
“I can box and I can fight,” Williams said. “If anybody doubted if I can fight, the Cuban bout should've convinced 'em. If somebody puts my back against the wall, they're going to be in for a fight. If I can't move and box, I'll street-fight you.”
Williams has signed a contract with a national promoter, who can't yet be disclosed. That promoter will hold a press conference later this month and wants to unveil his stable of new pros for maximum effect.
Meanwhile, Williams is looking for a new home in Greater Cincinnati. He may build one. He was thinking about West Chester, but now he's leaning toward something closer to town, to be near the gym and his road work.
“This is something I grew up with,” Williams said. “It's like graduating from high school and moving on to college. It's still school — just a bigger school.”
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Williams poised for pro boxing debut
