NEW YORK — After the Big Apple, now what? Cincinnati boxers Ricardo Williams Jr. and Dante Craig, who both won by technical knockouts in their pro debuts Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, will fight again in about a month.

Ricardo Williams

Dante Craig (AP photos)

        Where and when have not been finalized, but Craig's manager and promoter, Lou Duva, said he expects to have a fight for the 147-pounder in late February or early March in San Antonio.

        Williams, the 2000 Olympic silver medalist at 135 pounds, is looking for his second pro fight. But it isn't easy to find boxers willing to fight him — he packs a wallop and is very hard to hit.

        Williams' and Craig's next bouts will be scheduled for six rounds (they debuted at four rounds) as they work their way toward 10-rounders. Their third pro bouts, scheduled for April 20 at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, also will be six-rounders.

        Williams, 19, is a graduate of Taft High School; Craig, 22, of Woodward. They grew up in the West End.

        “Fighting at the Garden was a great way to break in, but what's better than fighting in your hometown?” Craig said. “That's the ultimate.”

        Williams, who was praised by the New York media for turning in the most impressive effort of the six Olympians making their pro debuts there Saturday night, said he and Craig want to re-establish Cincinnati as a great fight town.

        “It's a real good thing to be fighting in Cincinnati,” he said. “We want to give something back. People there deserve it. I am going to continue to represent Cincinnati to the best of my ability.”

        Williams' handlers would like to have him fighting for a title within two years.

        But for now, it's back to the gym — Mount Auburn for Williams and Findlay Street Neighborhood House for Craig. They would like to resume sparring against each other, but Craig still is nursing a sore right hand (he had surgery last year). But that same right hand looked potent Saturday vs. Philadelphia's Darren Fallen (1-1), against whom Craig had had two tough fights as an amateur.

        Ringside analysts thought Craig delivered the single best punch of Saturday night's event, a perfect straight right to Fallen's chin two minutes into the first round, which crumpled him.

        Fallen twice tried to get up, but sank to the canvas and when he finally got to his feet by the count of six, he still was wobbly. Referee Pete Santiago stopped it.

        Williams showed himself to be the same great finisher he was as an amateur. His opponent, Anthony Simpkins of Augusta, Ga., came in undefeated (5-0-1) and caught Williams with some good shots. But Williams was sharp; he landed 46 percent of his punches, and no other Olympian who fought beyond the first round Saturday came close to that.

        “I was a little anxious coming out in the first round,” Williams said. “My coaches said, “Go to the body!” I did that and it really brought his hands down, and once he brought his hands down, it was good night, Irene.” Williams won by TKO two minutes into the fourth round.