DaVarryl Williamson
Encyclopedia
DaVarryl Williamson is an American
boxer
originally from Washington, D.C.
, but later a resident of Aurora
, Colorado
. His ring nickname is "Touch of Sleep". He has a current professional record of 26-6, 22KO
in inner city Washington D.C.. He was born to a mother addicted to drugs and a criminal father. He spent his youth moving between foster homes and between schools until his father chose to resume contact at the age of 11.
Williamson showed athletic talents at high school
in football
and in basketball
, in which he twice received all inter-high school Honors. He was given the opportunity to play football at Rochester Community & Technical College in Minnesota
, and later at Wayne State College
in Nebraska
. Williamson quarterback
ed the Wayne State Wildcats for two seasons, though he never started, leading to tryouts with the Indianapolis Colts
(NFL) and the Arizona Rattlers
(Arena Football
). A self-proclaimed ‘jack of all trades’, Williamson would also fill in as team mascot on occasion, and could be spotted joining the ‘Yell Team’ from time to time.
and current top contender Monte Barrett
.
Failed tryouts with NFL teams led DaVarryl to try boxing. At the age of 25 he had his first match. After only two years he won a spot on the 1996 Olympic
Team as the first alternate. While training for the Olympics
, Williamson finished his Master’s Degree at Northern Michigan University
.
in June 2000, in his run towards his title shot, Williamson was able to defeat Kevin McBride
via TKO
in the 5th, as well as Corey "T-Rex" Sanders, Oliver McCall
, Derrick Jefferson
, and Eliecer Castillo
. He was also KO'd in the first round by Joe Mesi
, and lost a disputed technical decision to Wladimir Klitschko
.
The high-point of Williamson's successful run culminated with a title shot against IBF
Heavyweight champion Chris Byrd
in 2005. Byrd outpointed Williamson by unanimous decision. Following the fight it was revealed Williamson had postponed elbow surgery. Shortly thereafter, surgery conducted at the Steadman/Hawkins Group resulted in the removal of a mass of scar tissue. 15 “foreign bodies”, two bone spurs, and fluid in the joint were also removed during the two hour surgery.
Williamson's shot at another title was derailed after being stopped in the sixth round in a bout against Kali Meehan
in October 2007. Williamson was dropped by Meehan, but rose at the count of 8. The referee was willing to let Williamson continue, but the ringside doctor called a stop to the fight awarding Meehan a TKO victory.
Williamson returned with a second round knockout of Cerrone Fox on 9/18/08 at the Centro de Convenciones Figali in Panama City, Panama.
Williamson stopped Carl Davis in August 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. Davis was game, but Williamson sent him to the mat with a sweeping left hook in the fourth round. Davis took a knee early in the fifth following another right hand, before being floored with a picture-perfect right that caused the referee to halt the bout at 2:52 of the fifth round.
Williamson fought Ray Austin on October 31, 2009. In what was billed as a WBC Title Eliminator bout, Williamson was defeated by fourth round technical knockout after being sent to the canvas by Austin. Williamson got up, but the referee stopped it.
1996 Challengers Olympics Heavyweight
1996 Olympics Heavyweight Box-Offs
1997 United States Heavyweight Championships
1997 World Championships in Budapest (Heavyweight)
1998 Tournament in Tampere, Finland (Heavyweight)
1998 United States Heavyweight Championships
1998 Goodwill Games (Heavyweight)
1999: United States Heavyweight Championships
1999: Golden Gloves (Heavyweight)
1999 Multi-National Tournament in Liverpool, England (Heavyweight:)
2000 Olympic Trials Heavyweight
2000 Challengers Round Olympic Trials Heavyweight
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
originally from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, but later a resident of Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. His ring nickname is "Touch of Sleep". He has a current professional record of 26-6, 22KO
Background
Williamson was raised in povertyPoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
in inner city Washington D.C.. He was born to a mother addicted to drugs and a criminal father. He spent his youth moving between foster homes and between schools until his father chose to resume contact at the age of 11.
Williamson showed athletic talents at high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, in which he twice received all inter-high school Honors. He was given the opportunity to play football at Rochester Community & Technical College in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and later at Wayne State College
Wayne State College
Wayne State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Wayne, Nebraska. The current enrollment is 3,571. The college opened as a State Normal School in 1910 after the State purchased the private Nebraska Normal College . The State Normal College became State...
in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. Williamson quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
ed the Wayne State Wildcats for two seasons, though he never started, leading to tryouts with the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
(NFL) and the Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
(Arena Football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
). A self-proclaimed ‘jack of all trades’, Williamson would also fill in as team mascot on occasion, and could be spotted joining the ‘Yell Team’ from time to time.
Amateur career
Williamson finished his amateur career with a record of 120-17-1, 103 KOs, including victories over former Heavyweight Champion (WBO) Lamon BrewsterLamon Brewster
"Relentless" Lamon Tajuan Brewster is a retired American professional heavyweight boxer, and former WBO heavyweight champion. He won the silver medal as an amateur at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata....
and current top contender Monte Barrett
Monte Barrett
Monte Barrett is an American professional heavyweight boxer. He was regarded by many as a tough gatekeeper and was a former WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion and current WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight and WBO Oriental Heavyweight champion...
.
Failed tryouts with NFL teams led DaVarryl to try boxing. At the age of 25 he had his first match. After only two years he won a spot on the 1996 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Team as the first alternate. While training for the Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, Williamson finished his Master’s Degree at Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
.
Professional career
Williamson turned professionalProfessional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
in June 2000, in his run towards his title shot, Williamson was able to defeat Kevin McBride
Kevin McBride
Kevin Martin McBride is an Irish boxer, who competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.McBride debuted in December 1992, with a victory against Gary Charlton...
via TKO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in the 5th, as well as Corey "T-Rex" Sanders, Oliver McCall
Oliver McCall
Oliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall is an American professional Heavyweight boxer best known for winning the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1994 after scoring an upset knock out victory over Lennox Lewis, in Lewis' home town of London, England, followed by his infamous in-ring meltdown in the rematch...
, Derrick Jefferson
Derrick Jefferson
Derrick Lavon Jefferson is a heavyweight turned boxer.-Amateur:Jefferson became the 1994 National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champion handing Michael Grant his only amateur loss in the semifinals.-Pro:...
, and Eliecer Castillo
Eliecer Castillo
Elieser Ramos Castillo , is a Cuban professional boxer in the heavyweight division.-Amateur career:Elieser Castillo Ramos was part of the legendary Cuban boxing program before he defected to the United States....
. He was also KO'd in the first round by Joe Mesi
Joe Mesi
"Baby" Joe Mesi is an American boxer and politician from Tonawanda, New York. He is a registered member of the Democratic Party.- Early life :...
, and lost a disputed technical decision to Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...
.
The high-point of Williamson's successful run culminated with a title shot against IBF
IBF
IBF may refer to:*International Boxing Federation is one of several boxing organisations* International Bandy Federation former name of Federation of International Bandy , an international governing body for bandy...
Heavyweight champion Chris Byrd
Chris Byrd
Chris Cornelius Byrd is a retired and former professional boxer. He is the former WBO and IBF heavyweight champion. His nickname is "Rapid Fire".- Early life :...
in 2005. Byrd outpointed Williamson by unanimous decision. Following the fight it was revealed Williamson had postponed elbow surgery. Shortly thereafter, surgery conducted at the Steadman/Hawkins Group resulted in the removal of a mass of scar tissue. 15 “foreign bodies”, two bone spurs, and fluid in the joint were also removed during the two hour surgery.
Williamson's shot at another title was derailed after being stopped in the sixth round in a bout against Kali Meehan
Kali Meehan
Kalivati Gerald Meehan is an Australian boxer, turned pro after a career in Rugby league.-Amateur career:Meehan before becoming professional, fought in amateur bouts and had a Record of 23-5.-Professional career:...
in October 2007. Williamson was dropped by Meehan, but rose at the count of 8. The referee was willing to let Williamson continue, but the ringside doctor called a stop to the fight awarding Meehan a TKO victory.
Williamson returned with a second round knockout of Cerrone Fox on 9/18/08 at the Centro de Convenciones Figali in Panama City, Panama.
Williamson stopped Carl Davis in August 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. Davis was game, but Williamson sent him to the mat with a sweeping left hook in the fourth round. Davis took a knee early in the fifth following another right hand, before being floored with a picture-perfect right that caused the referee to halt the bout at 2:52 of the fifth round.
Williamson fought Ray Austin on October 31, 2009. In what was billed as a WBC Title Eliminator bout, Williamson was defeated by fourth round technical knockout after being sent to the canvas by Austin. Williamson got up, but the referee stopped it.
Amateur
1996 Olympic Trials Heavyweight- Defeated Harold Sconiers ko 1
- Defeated David Washington ko
- Lost to Nate JonesNate JonesNathaniel Henry Jones was a boxer. Nicknamed "The Snake", Jones won the National Golden Gloves 1994 and 1995 and the Heavyweight bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.- Amateur career:...
on points
1996 Challengers Olympics Heavyweight
- Defeated Lamon BrewsterLamon Brewster"Relentless" Lamon Tajuan Brewster is a retired American professional heavyweight boxer, and former WBO heavyweight champion. He won the silver medal as an amateur at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata....
on points
1996 Olympics Heavyweight Box-Offs
- Lost to Nate JonesNate JonesNathaniel Henry Jones was a boxer. Nicknamed "The Snake", Jones won the National Golden Gloves 1994 and 1995 and the Heavyweight bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.- Amateur career:...
on points
1997 United States Heavyweight Championships
- Defeated James JacksonJames JacksonJames Jackson may refer to:* James Jackson , football player* James Jackson , Georgia Congressman, grandson of Senator James Jackson...
ko 1 - Defeated Terry SmithTerry SmithTerry Smith may refer to:*Terry Smith , British jazz guitarist*Terry Smith , Australian politician*Terry Smith , player with St Kilda and Richmond...
ko 2 - Defeated Calvin BrockCalvin BrockCalvin Vance Brock is a retired professional heavyweight boxer.Following his loss to fellow American Eddie Chambers, Brock was forced to retire from the sport of boxing, after receiving retinal damage in his right eye.- Biography :Brock is known not only for his boxing skills but also for his...
ko 3
1997 World Championships in Budapest (Heavyweight)
- Defeated Garth da SilvaGarth da SilvaGarth John da Silva is a boxer from New Zealand, who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. There he won his first round in the Heavyweight division against Cathel O'Grady of Ireland, before losing to Serguei Dychkov of Belarus...
(N-Z) on points - Lost to Mark Simmons] (Can) on points
1998 Tournament in Tampere, Finland (Heavyweight)
- Defeated Kai Brankarr (Fin) tko 1
1998 United States Heavyweight Championships
- Defeated Sam Sleezer tko 2
- Defeated Kevin Montly]] ko 1
- Defeated Stanley Mc Clain ko 3
- Defeated Calvin BrockCalvin BrockCalvin Vance Brock is a retired professional heavyweight boxer.Following his loss to fellow American Eddie Chambers, Brock was forced to retire from the sport of boxing, after receiving retinal damage in his right eye.- Biography :Brock is known not only for his boxing skills but also for his...
on points
1998 Goodwill Games (Heavyweight)
- Defeated Mocerino ko 1
- Defeated Kshinin ko 2
- Lost to Félix SavónFélix SavónFélix Savón Fabre is a Cuban heavyweight boxer, a winner of three gold medals at the Olympic Games. Savón is considered a legend in amateur boxing and has won six world titles....
(Cub) ko 1
1999: United States Heavyweight Championships
- Defeated Sifou Sua ko 4
- Lost to Jason EstradaJason EstradaJason Moses Estrada is a boxer who represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in the super heavyweight division. In 2003 he won the gold medal at the Pan American Games....
on points
1999: Golden Gloves (Heavyweight)
- Defeated Devin VargasDevin VargasDevin Vargas is a boxer who represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in the heavyweight division.-Amateur career:Vargas had a stellar amateur career prior to turning professional....
ko - Defeated Patrick Nuwamu ko
- Defeated Jason EstradaJason EstradaJason Moses Estrada is a boxer who represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in the super heavyweight division. In 2003 he won the gold medal at the Pan American Games....
on points - Defeated Jeremiah Muhammad ko 2
- Defeated Michael Bennett (boxer)Michael Bennett (boxer)Michael Bennett is a former US-American boxer who won the amateur world championships in 1999 and represented the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games in the heavyweight division .-Amateur career:...
ko 2
1999 Multi-National Tournament in Liverpool, England (Heavyweight:)
- Defeated Kevin EvansKevin EvansKevin Robert Evans was a professional ice hockey player who played briefly for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks of the NHL...
(Gal) tko - Lost to Garth Da SilvaGarth da SilvaGarth John da Silva is a boxer from New Zealand, who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. There he won his first round in the Heavyweight division against Cathel O'Grady of Ireland, before losing to Serguei Dychkov of Belarus...
(N-Z) on points
2000 Olympic Trials Heavyweight
- Defeated Anthony StewartAnthony StewartAnthony Stewart is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . He was born in Quebec, and his family moved to Toronto while he was a child. Stewart played minor hockey in Toronto, winning three all-Ontario championships...
points - Defeated Mike Kirkman points
- Lost to Michael Bennett (boxer)Michael Bennett (boxer)Michael Bennett is a former US-American boxer who won the amateur world championships in 1999 and represented the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games in the heavyweight division .-Amateur career:...
points
2000 Challengers Round Olympic Trials Heavyweight
- Lost to Malik ScottMalik ScottDohonna Malik Scott is an American Heavyweight boxer.-Amateur career:Scott started boxing at the age of 11 and had a stellar amateur career...
points
Accolades
- Former NABF & WBO Latino American Heavyweight Champion. Ranked as high as #10 by the WBCWorld Boxing CouncilThe World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
, #6 by the WBO & #8 by the IBFInternational Boxing FederationThe International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
. - National Golden GlovesGolden GlovesThe Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
Champion - 1996, 1999 - United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Heavyweight Champion – 1996 through 1998 (1st and only Heavyweight to ever accomplish this feat) - 10-Time National Amateur Boxing Champion
- Goodwill GamesGoodwill GamesThe Goodwill Games was an international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s...
Silver Medalist - 1998 - U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Team - First Alternate - 1996 - U.S. Olympic Festival Champion - 1995
- American Boxing Classic Champion - 1995, 1996, 1999
- National Police Athletic League Champion - 1999
- Amateur Record: 120-17-1, 103 KO’s (88% KO rate)
- His professional opponents have a combined record of 337-150-6
Facts
- Former football quarterback at Wayne State College (1991–1993)
- Tried out with the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts (1993)
- Began boxing at 25 yrs old
- Holds a Masters degree
- Has performed as a stand-up comic
Education
- Masters of Arts, Administrative Services - 1998 - Northern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan UniversityNorthern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
, Marquette, MichiganMarquette, MichiganMarquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern... - Bachelor of Science, Recreation - 1993 - Wayne State CollegeWayne State CollegeWayne State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Wayne, Nebraska. The current enrollment is 3,571. The college opened as a State Normal School in 1910 after the State purchased the private Nebraska Normal College . The State Normal College became State...
, Wayne, NebraskaWayne, NebraskaWayne is a city in Wayne County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,660 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wayne County and the home of Wayne State College.-Geography:Wayne is located at ....