TalkingBoxing with DaVARRYL WILLIAMSON
by
Brian Skjold
4/27 - On April 30, John Ruiz and James Toney are set to duel for Ruiz’s WBA title. This fight could go either way and has the potential to either be an exciting toe-to-toe brawl, or like most of Ruiz’s fights, a snoozer. But, with the recent addition of DaVarryl Williamson vs. Derrick Jefferson, HBO has just turned this into a heavyweight of a card. Williamson is one of those boxers who always seems to be in exciting fights. At 36 years young, he is a little bit older than your average heavyweight contender these days, but he was a decorated amateur and gained many experiences under the watchful eye of Al Mitchell at the United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC) on the campus of Northern Michigan University.
“It was a good fit for me, with Al Mitchell and the people who were involved. It allowed me to really concentrate on school and boxing. I became a way better boxer once I entered the program. When I came there, I was green as grass. I really grew throughout the program.”
During his successful amateur career Williamson squared off against many of today’s heavyweights. But, one fight that is weighing heavy on his mind recently is one that took place 10 years ago.
“Derrick Jefferson is 28-3-1, with 21 knock-outs. We fought as amateurs and he beat me as an amateur in 1994. I definitely can’t overlook this guy. I need to be razor sharp to make it happen.”
Williamson knows that in order to be successful in the sweet science, a fighter needs to be physically, mentally and emotionally prepared. He feels he has achieved all of these goals in his recent training camp.
“When I got done with my fight with Oliver McCall, on November 13, I immediately started working with the amateurs getting ready for the upcoming USA’s and the state Golden Gloves. And, so that really kept my mind in boxing. I was able to go right back to the gym and my mind stayed sharp. I’ve been trying different tricks and I think we’re getting better. With each fight, you want to get better and show different things, defensively and offensively, and add a little slickness to your repertoire, and make it happen.”
Once you are mentally, physically and emotionally prepared to step through those ropes and face your adversary one on one, the only question left to answer is what your opponent will bring to the table.
“Derrick Jefferson is going to be Derrick Jefferson. There’s no secret. He hasn’t changed his style in any of his fights, I’ve seen him fight. He’s always going to have a heart as big as the sea, and he’s going to throw punches in bunches. I’ve got to nullify that. I’ve got to use my boxing skills. Kind of lay in the weeds until I see an opening.”
At this stage of his career, Williamson has earned his ranking as a heavyweight contender and is excited to be performing well for the fans. He is now getting the attention most boxers crave.
“I went to Caesar’s Palace with Wladimir Klitschko and I went back to Madison Square Garden for the Heavyweight Supremacy. And, now I go right back to Madison Square Garden again. I am just very, very fortunate and blessed to be fighting, whether under card, main event, semi main event or those kinds of things. Madison Square Garden is the Mecca of boxing. Las Vegas has Caesar’s Palace, with all the history there. It’s so much better to fight in these big venues, where there is T.V. and exposure. All the boxing junkies come out to see these fights. I appreciate the powers that be for believing in me, to keep putting me in that atmosphere.”
Since the retirement of Lennox Lewis in 2002, the heavyweight division has not found its leader. There are plenty of contenders out there and someday one of them will crawl out of the mud and claim his place on top. DaVarryl Williamson is one of those contenders and sees no reason why it couldn’t be him.
“I think I’m right in the thick of things. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I just want to beat Derrick and from there I can just hope and know there is something really good at the end of that victory. We got to win this fight. I’ve got to just think about myself as Tiger Woods. Just win! Just find a way to win, and whatever comes with it, I promise they’re going to give it to me. I think after this fight right here, we’ll be in contention for a heavyweight championship of the world. I don’t know which one, I just know we’ll be a lot closer than we are now.”
We all know Williamson as the boxer who has been in the ring with some of the sports best fighters. We know him as a fighter with tremendous power and the elusiveness to stay in the fight. But, as he points out there is more to him than meets the eye.
“I’m much more than just a boxer. I’m a human, I’m a father, a husband, a good guy. I’m a person who has dabbled into a little bit of everything. All kinds of experiences with different sports. A little bit of a thespian, cheerleading, student government. Everything positive you can get involved in, I’ve experienced.”
The sport of boxing can be a tough business, and it can be easy for a fighter to lose faith in his manager, promoter, trainer, etc. But, in order to succeed, DaVarryl Williamson has a strong team around him and doesn’t take for granted what they do for him.
“I appreciate DaVarryl Williamson, ‘Touch of Sleep’, fans for continuing keeping the faith in what I’m doing. I really am enjoying my job and am having huge fun. Everything is going the way it should. My family life has always been good. My coaches, my friends, my peers, we’re all dialed in. I just want my fans to know I really appreciate you guys for keeping the faith in me and not giving up on me.”
There’s bound to be some wreckage when the D-Train and Touch of Sleep collide on April 30. With 38 KOs between the two of them and the prospect of what a loss would do at this point in their respective careers, both men will be turning up the heat. With all the variables involved this fight looks like it has the makings of a barnburner!
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