DAVARRYL WILLIAMSON…TRUE GRIT

(INSIDE BOXING) DECEMBER 9, 2004 The announcement that DaVarryl Williamson had signed DON KING as his promoter was alarming to some.

What DaVarryl Williamson did was provide himself and his family with the financial security they deserve.

The portrayed villain, Don King, is in the business of making money.

DaVarryl is now in the business for the dual purpose of attaining the title Heavyweight Champion of the World and…making money.

There was no better choice than Don King for DaVarryl Williamson.

DaVarryl has earned the right to fight opponents that will allow him to showcase his talents.

His last two outings (versus Wladimir Klitscho and Oliver McCall) provided the world the opportunity to see that Williamson is definitely a contender in the heavyweight division.

DaVarryl Williamson, he of Washington, D.C., now residing in Aurora, Colorado, is and has always been, a credit to the sport of boxing.

No appearances on the police blotter, no involvement with savory characters and no drug or alcohol issues seem to be a negative for DaVarryl rather than a positive.

Having come to know both DaVarryl and his lovely wife Shalifa personally, the world of professional boxing has “missed the boat” as far as the Williamson saga goes.

I was a staunch proponent of the retirement of DaVarryl after his loss to “Baby Joe” Mesi (article 10/01/2003) only because I felt (and still do) that DaVarryl is not respected in a sport that needs to find respect.

The recent news that Oscar de la Hoya and Bernard Hopkins had joined forces in Golden Boy Productions was frustrating to me.

The two future hall-of-fame boxers talked about how they were determined to bring respect back to the fight game.

Why then was not DaVarryl Williamson at the press conference?

He exemplifies all that De la Hoya/Hopkins allegedly will be attempting to achieve.

As usual, DaVarryl Wiliamson just doesn’t get the respect others are trying to secure.

Their (de la Hoya/Hopkins) loss is a definite bob-boo on their part and should not be forgotten by fans who understand what Williamson and his family are about.

Not to be forgotten by boxing fans should be that Hopkins/de la Hoya have made it crystal clear that they are in the business of making money.

Follow their promotion endeavors with a critical eye.

According to them, all fighters will be given a fair chance to further their boxing careers.

Let’s see how vigorous they are in “shaking the bushes” for the “DaVarryl Williamson types” in the sport they are committed to “bringing back to respectability”.

You, as INSIDE BOXING loyalists don’t have to worry about following Hopkins/de la Hoya.

The staff, and specifically myself, at INSIDE BOXING will make Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and GOLDEN BOY PRODUCTIONS back up their promise of “bringing back respectability” to professional boxing.

They’ve already missed out on the most respected boxer in the game in DaVarryl Williamson, let’s hope another doesn’t get away.