No Doubt: Ricardo Williams Ahead of the Game

Click on Photos for larger image
Photos © Barbara Perenic

By Phillip Przybylo

01.11 - The sweat glistening on his face seems only to inspire him. He shows no signs of fatigue, no signs of stopping. From sparring eight rounds with international fighters and hot local amateurs alike; to spending more rounds taking out frustrations against his trainer's hands via focus mitts; to ripping away at the heavy and speed bags; and onto cardiovascular workouts; it is a typical nonstop day at the office. He is looking to make up for seven months of lost time.

Ricardo Williams, Jr., is looking for a fight.

"The gym is where I have to spend all my free time," the 2000 Silver Medalist told Eastside while training in Cincinnati for his semi-main event bout on HBO this Saturday. "With me being off seven months, constant work in the gym makes up for my inactivity in the ring...my life is pretty much all boxing. That's how serious I take it."

Williams (7-0, 5 KO's) prepares and perseveres. November 2, he will be staring across the ring at a former champion, the hard-hitting Terron Millett (27-3-1, 19 KO's). It is the biggest name and step up that any of the Olympians of the Class of 2000 will have to endure yet. There may not be any time to think, and, in the blink of an eye, the thrilling ride that is Ricardo's career could be derailed. It is not the first time he has been seemingly overwhelmed. Day one can claim that honor.

"First time I put him in the ring," his father/head trainer/co-manager, Ricardo Williams, Sr., recalled, "the sparring guy had more experience than he did. Had him in the corner, covering up, ya know? And I was about ready to stop it. Then, all of a sudden, he came off the ropes with must have been about a hundred punches. I knew right then that he had the heart."

It was heart that carried the 21 year old on, even when there was something appeared to be extremely wrong with his left hand, during the last half of his fight with fellow prospect Anthony Washington in February. The unanimous decision victory in front of thousands of hometown fans marked a step up in status. It also forced him take a giant step back in his career.

"There are tendons in your hand by your knuckle," the junior welterweight explained. "And when I got him, I hit him right on the top of the head, the hardest part of the body. It snapped the tendon right in half. So, I had to get the tendon sewed together. It's feeling all right now. There's still a little pain. But it's coming together. At first, I couldn't even bend it. Now, I can make a fist and make some contact now. So, it's progressing."

Seven months out of the professional squared circle can lead to ring rust and insecurity, but even his sparring partners see him coming around already. "I think he's progressing," amateur middleweight standout, Terrell Nixon, stated. "He's starting to look like the old Ricardo. He's getting confidence back in his left hand, and he's starting to let it go more. It's more trouble for me, but...that's just the way it is."

With a boxer whose talents are simply quantum at times, Ricardo hitting his stride does not bode well for the former IBF junior welterweight champion. A veteran that could be fading, Millett still cannot be discounted.

"He's been in there with world champions. He's beat world champions, he's lost to world champions. When you got competition like that, that brings on a lot of experience. You know what to do in certain situations. It could work either way."

But it's entirely possible that father knows best. Ricardo, Sr., shed some light on what could be a breakout performance on the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Johnny Tapia showdown.

"This is going to be a heck of a fight. People are going to be shocked at Rick. This is going to be his coming out party. I mean, this dude has been champion before. But Rick is just stronger, bigger, smarter. This guy's in trouble. I'd hate to be in his shoes."

Not Just Another Boxer

"I don't see anyone out there at 140 lbs. that's any better than he is. A little bit more experienced than he is, but no one better."
-Ricardo Williams, Sr.

"He just has determination to be the best. And that comes with his attitude and his training, the type of the training that he does--he runs, he does everything he has to do to be a good fighter. I don't put him up with Roy Jones right now, but Rick is doing the same thing Roy does. He's determined and he don't mind training. Roy Jones trains daily, whether he's fighting or not. When he's not fighting, he's keeping himself and his body in shape. He's professional. And it is a profession."
-Billy Joiner, former pro heavyweight, competed amongst some of of the best during the golden age of heavyweights decades ago

"He is gifted with unusual hand speed, foot speed and intelligence. But just like in any sport, speed, agility and a large mental capacity makes you head and shoulders above the competition."
-Buddy La Rosa, co-manager and former manager of Aaron Pryor

Hardly unbiased opinions as each man cares for the Cincinnati native. However, such arguments could prove harder to dispute after the Millett bout. Ricardo may well be the valedictorian of the Class of 2000. He already has his sights set on Kostya Tszyu, and believes the bout to be a year or two away.

He is not specifically gunning for the champ, though. The fledging southpaw is planning on going on what can only be called "the Barrera route."

"What many fighters are trying to do is go up against the best competition and get the recognition they can to make all the money they can and get out. I just want to fight the best, and make the most money I can out of the sport. There's champions out there right now--and I'm getting paid more than some champions are right now. And I'm still in the early stages of my career."

"It's so political right now. They stripping people of their titles. It don't really matter to me no more. As long as I got enough money to support my family, that'll please me. Just to be noticed by the people as a good champion."

Sounds strange.

Because he already is.

The star is already a legend in his hometown of Cincinnati, OH, USA. He has chosen to stay there. He gives back to the community. A dedicated family man, he gives to his family. He gives to his fellow boxers, whether it is constantly dishing out advice to younger boxers or even helping out financially. He is a positive presence for anyone remotely close to him.

Ricardo Williams, Jr., is looking for greatness, in and out of the ring.

Comments or questions? E-mail the author at: eastside_double_p@hotmail.com