Remembering Former Heavyweight Contender Jeremy Williams
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By Daniel Sisneros
Long Beach, California’s Jeremy Williams was one of America’s outstanding amateur boxers. Williams was a 2 time national Golden Gloves champion, Jr. Olympic Champion and won many other titles as well as a Bronze Medal in the 1990 Goodwill Games. He lost his bid to represent the USA on the 1992 Olympic Team, losing to eventual team member Montell Griffin in the boxoffs. He finished with an incredible record of 168-4 as an amateur. He is also a member of the Golden Gloves Hall-of-Fame.
He turned professional in October of 1992 with a 2nd round destruction of 8 fight pro -Jerry Arentzen, who had already faced Peter McNeeley, and Michael Bentt. Williams was considered a “Can’t Miss Prospect”.
Because of his reputation as a knockout artist, he was “TV Friendly” and was followed closely by boxing fans around the world. After 7 impressive wins against mediocre opponents, Williams was 7-0, 6 by knockout with all of his 6 ko’s coming inside of 2 rounds. He was put into his first test against highly respected “Gate Keeper” – Marion Wilson. Despite being knocked down in round 5, Williams was too much for Wilson, winning handily over the 8 round distance.
Having performed so well, he was stepped up in his next fight and was pitted against undefeated former U.S. Olympican – Dannell Nicholson (10-0, 8 ko). It was a highly anticipated showdown of unbeaten top heavyweight prospects. Williams left no doubt who the “top” prospect was, knocking out Nicholson at 2:56 of the 2nd round.
He continued to roll over his opponents, and won the vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title with a 12th round Technical Knockout over Garing Lane. He defended that title with a 9th round knockout over Mark Wills.
It was March of 1994 when Williams tasted his first pro defeat at the hands of former U.S. Olympian – Larry Donald (12-0, 10 ko) by a Majority decision, losing his WBC Cont-Am Belt.
Jeremy bounced back from his first defeat in grand fashion, scoring 4 straight wins over good names, Bert Cooper, and Levi Billups among them, and then winning the California State Heavyweight Title in a slugfest that saw both boxers go down several times during the bout. But Williams was able to climb off of the deck to stop Everton Davis in round 9.
He continued with wins over more top names including Jesse Ferguson (20-13), Quinn Navarre (17-1-1), and regaining his now vacant WBC Continental Americas title with a tko over David Sewell (15-3-1).
It was more than 2 years since he had taken his lone defeat, and now Jeremy had moved up to a top ten ranking, and got his first world title challenge taking his 26-1 record into battle against 6′ 7″ undefeated Henry Akinwande (29-0-1) for the vacant WBO Heavyweight World Title. Williams was unsuccessful in his first world title bid, being knocked out in round 3.
4 fights later, Williams had added 3 more wins to his ledger, and defeated Brett Lally (20-7) for the vacant NABO Heavyweight Championship.
Williams continued to win in exciting fashion scoring knockouts, and dropping a decision to Maurice Harris before getting his 2nd chance at a world title. This time he had to travel to Denmark and face Brian Nielsen (56-1, 39 ko) for his IBC Heavyweight crown. The champion scored a 5th round TKO to defend his title against the American challenger.
Jeremy Williams continued to battle on, scoring some big wins against solid opponents including: David Bostice (27-5-1), Ron Guerrero (15-4-2), Andre Purlette (35-1), Atilla Levin (29-1), and fighting a 10 round draw with former IBF Cruiserweight Champion of the World – Alfred “Ice” Cole.
2004 saw Williams face off with the menacing and undefeated “Nigerian Nightmare” – Samuel Peter (20-0, 17 ko) for the vacant NABF Heavyweight Title. Peter landed the knockout punch to win that night via 2nd round knockout.
Jeremy fought just twice more. Winning a split decision against Gary Gomez (18-8-1), and then fighting for the last time in the professional boxing ring, and going out a winner with a 3rd round victory over Travis Fulton who was DQ’d for excessive holding. That final bout earned Williams the vacant WBU Heavyweight crown.
Jeremy Williams career was filled with exciting moments, and lots of great action. He was undersized for a heavyweight at just 6′ 1″ and fighting most of his career in the 220 Lb. range. He finished his amazing career with a final tally of: 43 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw, scoring 35 big knockouts.
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