Never disbelieve Troy Williamson. Ever.
The Darlington super-middleweight told us all he would become English champion by beating Mark Dickinson. He did.
‘Trojan’ predicted he would win the British, Commonwealth and European titles. He even recorded on a piece of paper that he would stop defending champ Callum Simpson.
He was true to his word last December in Leeds.
Now, just under nine days before Williamson and Simpson lock horns for a second time at the First Direct Bank Arena on Saturday, August 8, Williamson has declared that he is a BETTER athlete and force than he was first time around.
He is confident, with a capital C, that he will enjoy a repeat triumph against the man he felled four times in a brutal tenth-round stoppage live on BBC TV.
“I probably wouldn’t class myself as a proper super-middleweight in those first two fights against Mark and Callum, Troy told punch-lines.
“This year I’ve moulded into a genuine 168lb fighter, you’ve just seen me on the pads, I’m sharper and stronger than I’ve ever been.
“I’m punching a lot harder than I was back in December.
“Once I land clean on Callum he’s getting knocked out cold.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not overlooking him in any way.
“I know Callum will be bringing his A-game and he’s desperate for revenge, but I’ve hurt him before and he knows I can hurt him again.
“I believe I’m an all-round better fighter than I was in December so that’s where my confidence comes from.”
Perched quietly in a corner of the Twins Academy in Trimdon, your punch-lines observer did indeed see the sharpness and power from the fists of the 34-year-old as he thundered the pads being held by coach Jordan Williams.
As a long-time Williamson watcher, this writer can attest that he is in as good a shape as I’ve ever seen him.
Reading those quotes above in black and white, you might get the impression that Williamson is a brash and flash fella.
Far from it, sitting on the ring apron in the Co Durham gym, Troy speaks quietly and calmly, even when discussing the long, long wait he’s been forced to endure.
Williamson and Williams had hoped to have been preparing for a world title challenge, only for BOXXER to trigger the re-match clause, a re-match which has dragged on and on. And on.
“It is what it is,” said Troy, whose fight log stands at 22 (16)-4-1.
“I’ve just stayed in the gym and been around good people.
“I’ve got a strong mind, I’m strong-willed, I’ve got a fighter’s mentality, I don’t let things get to me.
“I’ve carried on training, I knew obviously it was going to happen at some point so when the time comes I knew I’d be ready. I am ready.”
It promises to be some night, which is being staged by BOXXER, and if it reaches just a percentage of the heights the original British, Commonwealth and European title confrontation then the customers watching on DAZN are in for a treat.
The European Boxing Union stripped Troy of that particular belt but the British and Commonwealth are on the line against the Barnsley sporting hero, whose record now reads 18-1, with 13 wins early.
Williamson’s tale is a remarkable one.
Once one of Frank Warren’s UK prospects, he became British light-middleweight champion, or super-welter if that’s your thing, with a tenth-round stoppage of Ted Cheeseman in the autumn of 2021.
He retained his belt against Mason Cartwright during his Probellum spell and then lost it to a livewire Josh Kelly on Channel 5.
That North-East derby points loss to ‘Pretty Boy’ – his first ‘L’ as a professional – was the start of a run of four defeats in five outings.
Successive points set-backs on the road against Caoimhin Agyarko, Ishmael Davis and Jahi Tucker, while all against top operators, convinced many that Troy’s race was won.
Even long-time trainer and friend Craig Carney believed it was Troy’s time to hang up his gloves.
But Williamson thought otherwise and switched gyms from Middlesbrough to Trimdon, just around the block from Tony Blair’s old residence.
And Troy told punch-lines that his story is a lesson to everyone that battles with the scales can be a boxer’s most horrible fight.
“It’s mad,” he said.
“I used to cut all my carbs about two weeks before a fight, a time when you are looking to get sharp and ready for the fight.
“Now, I feel great. To be able to infuse yourself for sessions is important.
“It’s not healthy, you are killing yourself.
“Some boxers think it’s an advantage because you are big at the weight but it’s not.
“Look at Callum, he’s massive for a super-middleweight.
“But he’s not the same fighter he was two or three years ago because the weight has caught up with him, just like it did with me at 154.
“For all these young fighters out there who think that you are getting an advantage by killing yourself I can say that is not the case.
“You want to be strong at the weight, that’s the main thing.”
Listen to Troy. He’s a man to be believed.
Words: Roy Kelly
