Carl “The Truth” Williams, best known for his two times challenging for the heavyweight championship of the world, has passed away. He was just 53, but had been battling oesophageal cancer for a long time, finally losing his fight on April 7.
It was his fight with Mike Tyson, who at the time was at the very peak of his career, where he probably gained his most exposure. He gave perhaps one of the very first signs that Tyson was human, albeit for a very short time, before being stopped by TKO in the first round. The stoppage was somewhat controversial, as Williams made it to his feet before the ten count.
His greatest performance likely also came in defeat. Larry Holmes was the IBF champion in May 1985 when he took on Williams who was a considerable underdog. Holmes, who had a legendary jab, met a fighter who also had a great jab. Williams used his jab with great success throughout the bout, doing enough in the opinion of many to earn a decision over the great champion. However, Larry Holmes was granted a decision, retaining his title.
In addition to Tyson and Holmes, Carl Williams fought many other great fighters, beating several. Among the names on his resume, he battled Jesse Ferguson (WTKO10), Mike Weaver (LTKO2), Bert Cooper (WRTD8), Trevor Berbick (WU12), Tim Witherspoon (LS12), Tommy Morrison (LTKO8), and Frank Bruno (LTKO10).
However, despite all those battles, with a mixture of success and failure, it was the missed opportunity against Mike Tyson that stuck with Carl Williams the most. Early in the fight, he had taken it to Tyson in a way few had in Tyson’s previous 36 fights. A hard left hook would drop Williams, but he managed to regain his feet before being counted out. But the referee deemed him unable to continue, waving off the fight.
Williams would maintain for the rest of his life that he could have continued. In the next fight for Mike Tyson, he would lose to Buster Douglas in a monumental upset, no doubt rubbing salt in the wounds of Williams, who no doubt thought it could have been him who shocked the world.
Carl Williams fought for the last time in 1997, compiling a fine record of 30-10 (21 KO’s). His career began in 1982, and he ran off 16 consecutive victories to start his career before suffering his first loss to Larry Holmes. While he may never have reached the level of legend, he was a talented fighter who had considerable skills, carving out a fine career for himself.
