As a kid, watching his uncle, former WBC World Super Welterweight Champion Duane Thomas fight on TV, Detroit’s Ed Williams used to dream of becoming a boxer. That’s where he and his mother disagreed.
“I always wanted to box,” laughs Williams, “but my mother wouldn’t let me fight until I was older. My uncle even came and tried to sneak me to the gym a few times, but my mom would never let me. She just wouldn’t let me train.”
When Williams turned 17, he was finally able to box and made the most of it, going 57-9 as an amateur and winning two State Championships, the Ringside Nationals and two Detroit Golden Gloves before turning professional in 2007.
Williams won his first two fights before leaving boxing to obtain a B.Sc degree in Industrial Engineering at Eastern Michigan University. But after working in the field a few years, Williams felt the pull once again that he’d felt since childhood.
He wanted to be a boxer, full-time and give it a shot.
Now 27 years old, and 12-1-1, 4 KOs as a Kronk Gym super welterweight, Williams will make his next ring appearing by once again appearing on a Salita Promotions “Detroit Brawl” event, this one on Saturday, November 12, at the Masonic Temple against an opponent that will be announced shortly.
“It feels great to fight in Detroit,” he said. “You get support from friends and family and I’m even growing a new fan base.
Sponsored by Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar, tickets for “Detroit Brawl” will be priced at VIP $123, Box Seats $100, Ringside $93, $63, $38, and $28 and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com.
“My goal in boxing,” said Williams, “is to become the second guy in my family to win a world title. Right now, I want to have the right fights to have that opportunity. I’ve been progressing and having challenging fights and getting good opportunities, so things are going well.”
Williams is, admittedly, not your typical fighter.
“I have a boxing style that is awkward. It’s not a traditional style at all. I fight with an off-beat tempo that throws you off. And I’m tall and long, so I box you and use my jab and then I set up shots.”
While Williams says he has no regrets with his decision to pursue fighting, someone in the family does have a few…
“My mom now says she wishes she would have let me do it sooner. But I understand. She didn’t want me to get hurt and was just being protective. Now she’s my biggest fan.”
