Monday, February 25, 2002
Williams wins but breaks hand
Next fight likely will be delayed
By Gary Estwick
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The pressure of fighting at home wasn't too much for Ricardo Williams Jr.
Williams, a 20-year-old Cincinnati native, knocked down Anthony Washington twice in the fifth round, and after breaking his left hand in the sixth, Williams held on long enough to win a unanimous decision Sunday at Cincinnati Gardens.
The 10-round junior welterweight fight was the longest of Williams' pro career. In his previous six fights, Williams (7-0, 5 KOs) never went past the fourth round.
“I'm at home, just trying to please the crowd,” he said in his locker room crowded with well-wishers. “So I really wanted to knock him out. I got ahead of myself. But once I really started putting my punches together, I caught him coming in.”
Williams had a bout planned for April 27 against veteran Ivan Robinson (30-6-1, 12 KOs) at Madison Square Garden on HBO. Because of the broken hand, promoter Lou DiBella said the date will probably change.
“Obviously, his hand is our major concern and we'll have to see how it is,” DiBella said. “We're not going to take any chances. If this pushes back the fight a month or two, that's life.”
Ric Williams Sr., Williams' father and co-manager, said the injury will keep his son out for about five weeks.
“He'll be back,” Williams Sr. said.
Williams Jr., one of six local fighters on the seven-card bout, was taken to the hospital for X-rays.
Before hurting his hand, he seemed to be on his way to an easy win. His two knockdowns in the fifth left Washington reeling.
The first knockdown came as the two squared off in the center of the ring. But just as Williams did for most of the fight, his right hook landed first. And it was harder.
Williams smiled as Washington hit the canvas.
Later in the round, Williams unloaded a flurry of blows and he sent Washington down with another right hook.
The sixth round, though, saw Williams injure his left. He grimaced in pain and held onto Washington.
He said he knew his hand was hurt, but he didn't know how badly until he tried using it again.
“It was throbbing a little,” said Williams, a silver medalist in the 2000 Olympics. “And then, I started using it more and more. And every time I landed it, it hurt. So I knew something was wrong with it.”
He wasn't sure if Washington (15-1-1) knew it was hurt either.
“If he did, that wasn't the hand that he got knocked down with anyway,” Williams said. “I think he was kind of leery to come in.”
After the round, Williams told his father, who promptly told his son, "Well, you look like you've been using it pretty good. It's already broke. You've just got to keep throwing it.”
But Williams did shy away from using his left hand. Washington then became the aggressor, but Williams' speed didn't allow his opponent to make up any ground. He ducked and dodged punches, and he picked chances to counter.
The judges' cards read: 96-92, 98-90 and 100-89.
“I think I gave the home crowd their money's worth,” Williams said. "It's party time.”
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Williams wins but breaks hand