Niagara Boxing Legend Bill Williams
Bill Williams has spent a lifetime in boxing.
The 74-year-old Brantford resident, who will be inducted into the Niagara Boxing Legends at the 17th Annual Niagara Boxing Legends Show March 21 at the Merritton Community Centre, got started in the sport at an early age thanks to his father, Tiger Williams, who was a military policeman and member of the army boxing team.
“He used to get on his knees and do hand pads with me when I was six or seven. And we would watch fights together,” Williams said.
At age 11 or 12, he and another kid would open up army boxing cards.
When his family returned to Canada from Germany, he met boxing trainer John Chesson at Base Borden and launched a fighting career that would see him fight across Ontario and in Detroit and Buffalo. He fought from 1967 to 1974, starting as a lightweight and fighting his last bout as a middleweight.
His highlight as a fighter was winning a senior provincial championship in Kitchener in 1971 and being named boxer of the year.
He stopped boxing when he was 24.
“I got married, started working and got into some of the vices like going for a drink. All of a sudden, you don’t train and that’s about it.”
The Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition member started a boxing club at the Boys and Girls Club in Brantford which led him to establishing the Black Eye Boxing Club. He went back to his home province of Prince Edward Island in 2011 to look after his mom before returned to Brantford in 2017 and starting the Bell City Boxing Club. He has been coaching for more than 40 years and his club currently has about 100 members.
He had 11 pros train out of his clubs and through his travels, Williams got to meet many boxing legends, including Marvin Hagler, Larry Holmes and Leon Spinks.
In Brantford, he has run 15 Friday Night Fights Under the Lights outdoor shows and three Punch Out Parkinson’s cards.
He is a big fan of the sport, although, he is slightly less enamoured with modern pro boxing.
“It my passion and my love of the sport. It has changed a lot. I’m from the old school of Rocky Graziano and those guys and now they come in and it’s a half hour before they get into the ring with all the rap music and stuff. Then it is midnight before the main event and I can barely stay awake.”
Williams loves what boxing does for youth and himself.
“The big thing in our gym is to give the kids a place to go off the street. Hockey is expensive. I enjoy running shows, meeting people, meeting other boxers and coaches. And I find being around young people kind of keeps me young.”
He is not sure how much longer he will coach.
“They say you will know when it’s time and I am kind of getting that feeling.”
Also being inducted are Bruce Greenlaw, Jessie Wilcox, Gerry Ryan, Sonny Pascuzzi, Brian Baines and Baby Joe Mesi.
Tickets for the show are $20 in advance and $25 at the door with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the fighting starting at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, call 905-988-1244.
Former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney will also be in attendance at the fights.
