Carl "The Truth" Williams

Tony Tucker could out jab them both.

 

Carl "The Truth" Williams was a good boxer. 6'4" with an 84" reach and solid, even at 225 Lbs. He had good overall skills, good hand speed, and a very good jab.

Williams had some flaws though. Williams was stopped by Mike Weaver (KO2), Tyson (KO1), and Morrison (KO in the 8th). It was the left hook that did him in, in these fights. Williams kept his right hand too low when he threw the jab, left hook, or really any punch with the left hand.

He did very well vs. Holmes in 1985 and lost a close 15 round decision. He outboxed James Tillis over 10 rounds in 1984, winning nearly every round. He was the first to beat David Jaco (1983, KO1). After Holmes he was the first to beat Jesse Ferguson (1985, KO10). In 1986 he was stopped by Weaver (3 KD rule). He dominated and stopped a once beaten Bert Cooper in 1986, KO8. He clearly outboxed Trevor Berbick in 1988, W12. In 1989 he was stopped in 93 seconds by Tyson, he could have continued but for how much longer? In 1991 he fought well but lost a SD to Witherspoon over 12 rounds (the decision really could have went either way). He showed up out of shape vs. Jerry Jones and got outhustled, L10 in 1992. Later in 1992 he clearly outboxed Ossie Ocasio. In 1993 he almost upset Tommy Morrison. He dropped Morrison twice and was up on two cards after 7 rounds. Morrison had dropped Williams twice and finished him in the 8th round. Nothing worth mentioning after this.

Could he have done more? I always thought so as a kid (I was almost 11 when he fought Holmes), but as an adult I like to think that I know more now. A prime Williams would always do well against certain fighters and always do bad against certain other fighters.

He'd probably be competitive vs. Ali, Holmes (he was in '85 and probably would even give a younger Holmes problems), Holyfield, Norton, Young, Dokes, Tubbs, Page, the Spinks, and many others. I don't see him doing very well vs. Foreman, Frazier, Bowe, Lewis, the Klitschko's, and others. Styles make fights.

He could have been managed better. He could have fought any of the 80's HW Champs not named Holmes or Tyson and won more than a few. He has a win over Berbick but lost to Weaver and Witherspoon (SD). How would have done vs. Tubbs or Page? How about Dokes or Thomas? How about Bonecrusher Smith or Tony Tucker?

How about vs. Tyrell Biggs or Gerry Cooney?

 

Like lots of heavies, he was much better offensively than defensively. Minimal head movement. Kept those hands low. His defense was nothing better than mediocre. He dropped his hands when he punched. He brought his hands back low whenever he did punch--a prime Holmes would have cleaned up on that but this wasn't the 1979 set of reflexes in there.

I think someone other than Carmen Graziano could have been a better trainer as well. I like Angie dundee with heavyweight boxers. Or Rithcie Giachetti working with a jabber like this.George Benton maybe.

Maybe that infusion tightens up that defense.And maybe that picks up a few more wins as opposed to losses.But he always showed up to fight and was in condition and you knew what you were getting.

I always liked his left hook off his jab. Threw it nice and very accurate with it. I liked that left hand a lot better than his right hand. But it's always going to be real tough with a heavy that doesn't hold his hands up.

 

:rofl:roflatsch
With all due respect to Williams who by all accounts was a swell guy, his offensive and defensive use of the jab pales in comparison to Wlad's jab.

Yup, Wlad is primarily a headhunter but so was Ali.

A fight between Wlad and Carl would look a whole lot like Wlad-Thompson.

 

Right! Williams jab wasn't as snappy than in previous fights. Williams also lacked a snappy RH. Morrison was able to come in low and do a bull attack until he came within 6 inches of his target and then he slipped past Williams Jab, had he done this earlier Williams would've been too fast for him.

 

I don't agree, Williams was chinny and would be taken out early IMO.

 

Tucker would have been beaten handily by both Klitschko's.

 

Wlad Klitschko couldn't beat DaVaryl Williamson and had to quit.

Tucker was a number of levels above TOS.

Tucker would take Wlad out in the late rounds like he did to Douglas.

Thats based off analytical facts , not opinion.

 

Thats makes no sense.

Williams would of jabbed the head off David Haye.

Haye took Wlads non-jab out of the picture for 12 full rounds.

 

Analytical facts :rofl:rofl

Wlad would easily beat Tucker and either stop him or win comfortably on points, FACT!

 

Back to topic. !!
Carl Williams was a good fighter,whose career never really got back to where it could or should have been following his first loss.He was very similar to Tyrell Biggs in that respect and in many other ways.They both were tall good movers who lacked power and a big right hand.
They were also better known for gallant losses against top fighters rather than their wins.Also both ended up with a record of 30-10.
Carls last big fight was against Bruno.He gave it his all but was just coming off second best in a tough fight throughout.He got stopped in round 10. This was his fight after his gallant loss to Morrison.For Bruno it was his 'warm up' for his Lennox fight.Has Carl beat Bruno he would have got the Lennox fight because Micky Duff had a stake in him. So even that far into his career he was still chasing a title shot.
That was the end of him as a top line fighter.
His daughter Ninja died of leukemia aged about 12 i think then he got cancer and died last year age 53.
He looked athletic fit and well in his late forties.
I read an excellent chapter on him in an excellent book (The Long Round) he seemed annoyed that he hadnt looked after his money and despaired at what he was having to do to earn a living after all he had earned in boxing.He seemed like a guy with alot of regrets.
Incidentally that book is a great read...a chapter each on many of the guys who fought Tyson and how they are coping with life now.
Carl has a sad ending i'm afraid. A high profile career in any sport is relatively short and you need to look after your money,none more so than in boxing given that you have to put your health on the line to earn it.
Carl was good but once he suffered loses and understood everything that went with boxing,his motivation was not as consistent as it needed to be,hence his (slightly)unfulfilled potential.I say slightly because without a big punch most guys are going to struggle as a heavweight and good movement and a decent jab isn't enough,especially as you age, that's what limited both Carl and Biggs.

 

Correction...see above...his daughter who died aged 12 was named Nijah. Just thought she deserved the respect to spell her name correctly. !

 

Wlad would have knocked Carl out and Haye would have probably stopped him too.

 

The Wlad who was blown into the stratosphere in two rounds by Corrie Sanders?? Ok..:roll: