The Truth: Heavyweight contender Carl Williams

The Truth.

Carl Williams was a good fighter.

Carl “The Truth” Williams – Heavyweight Contender

He campaigned in the 1980s – and came close to defeating one of the best heavyweights ever.

His left jab was outstanding.

The 6-foot-4-inch fighter scored 21 knockouts in 30 wins.

Could box and slug. The slugging wasn’t always the brightest move, but he liked to mix it up.

Williams grew up in a section of Queens, New York, called South Jamaica.

“I’ve been fighting all my life,” said Williams twenty years ago. “It was just a matter of deciding I wanted to pursue it in the ring instead of on the street.”

With limited amateur experience, Williams captured New York Daily News Golden Gloves titles in 1980 and 81.

He turned professional a year later and won 16 consecutive bouts. His most notable win was over former contender James “Quick” Tillis in 1984, who had fought twice for heavyweight honors and defeated Earnie Shavers. Williams hit the canvas twice in round one but got up and defeated Tillis going away.

The victory earned Williams a surprising shot at reigning heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.

Holmes figured he’d knock out Williams early.

He didn’t. Williams pushed Holmes to the limit, fighting hard for 15 rounds, with Holmes getting the decision. Many in attendance didn’t agree.

Williams received another shot at the heavyweight title a year later against Mike Weaver. Williams came out punching against the slow-starting champion.

He had some success, but so did Weaver. Williams hurt Weaver twice in round two. He went for the kill, but a wicked Weaver left hook floored him. Williams got up on wobbly legs. His eyes were vacant.

Weaver knocked him down two more times to win the fight.

Williams was 23 with a career running on fumes. He took off for several months to regroup.

He returned to the ring and rang up five consecutive wins. Williams fought Mike Tyson in 1989. A big Tyson left knocked him down. He got up at the count of seven.

Referee and former fighter Randy Newman didn’t like how Williams looked. He waved the fight off.

“(Neumann) said to put up my hands,” Williams told Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News after the fight. “I put up my hands. He asked me if I was all right. I said, `Sure.’ What was there, a one-knockdown rule? This is a heavyweight championship fight. I should get the benefit of the doubt.”

Tyson showed respect after the fight.

“That’s how you should fight when you fight for the heavyweight championship of the world,” said Tyson. “You should try to take it. Don’t run around the ring and pitty-pat for it.”

Williams lost a close decision to Tim Weatherspoon and went to war with Tommy Morrison.

Neither fight went his way, though Morrison was down twice.

Williams retired, broke in 1997 – robbed by his lawyers. He worked as a security guard in New York, never mentioning his boxing career.

He lost his 12-year-old daughter, Nijah, to leukemia in 2011. Two years later, Williams passed away from throat cancer at 53.

His life and boxing career had some ups but devastating lows, but Carl “The Truth” Williams never gave up.