Michael Williams is a former heavyweight

Heavyweight

Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...

 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...

.

Boxing career

Known as "Mercury," Williams turned pro in 1984 and was considered a rising prospect after winning his first 13 fights, including a win over James Tillis. In 1987 he stepped up and lost a split decision to former champion Tim Witherspoon

Tim Witherspoon

"Terrible" Tim Witherspoon is an American boxer who was twice world heavyweight champion.-Early career:Witherspoon had eight and a half amateur bouts, losing one to Marvis Frazier on decision after getting knocked down....

. The following year he lost by TKO to Buster Douglas. In the 1990s he lost to other notable heavyweights Alex Garcia

Alex Garcia

Alex García is a Cuban Nuevo Latino chef who helped popularize a version of Cuban food at several New York City restaurants and on the Food Network. Born in Havana, García attended Northeastern University in Massachusetts where he earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management. García later...

 and Corrie Sanders

Corrie Sanders

Cornelius "Corrie" Johannes Sanders is a South African former professional boxer. In 2003 he became the WBO heavyweight champion by defeating Wladimir Klitschko via a second-round knock out that is considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history and won Ring Magazine upset of...

, and retired in 2000 after a TKO loss to Lawrence Clay Bey

Lawrence Clay Bey

Lawrence Marvin Clay-Bey is an American heavyweight professional boxer. Although he had a very promising amateur career, as a pro, Clay-Bey never lived up to the hype that once surrounded him....

, having won 22 and lost 6 with 14 KO.

Acting career

Williams portrayed fictional heavyweight champion of the world Union Cane in Rocky V

Rocky V

Rocky V is an American film released as the fifth film in the Rocky series in 1990. It stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Stallone's real life son Sage, and real life boxer Tommy Morrison as boxer Tommy Gunn, a talented yet raw boxer...

. In the movie, he was soundly defeated in 1 round by Tommy Gunn

Tommy Gunn

Tommy Gunn is a fictional character that appeared as Rocky Balboa's protégé in the 1990 boxing film Rocky V. He is portrayed by real life boxer Tommy Morrison.- Fictional character biography :...

.

Trivia

• Named The Ring Magazine Prospect of the Year in 1986.
• According to Bill Cayton
  Bill Cayton
  William D. Cayton , best known for helping to manage and promote Mike Tyson early in his career, was also famous for preserving much of boxing's legacy through his efforts as a film historian and producer...
  
  , Williams once knocked down Mike Tyson
  Mike Tyson
  Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
  
  in sparring.