The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN his first pro boxing show for the year, it didn’t take Bahamian professional fighter Rashield Williams long to dispose of American Dylan Dobbs.

Williams stopped Dobbs one minute and 22 seconds into the fourth round to improve his junior welterweight win-loss record to 5-1 with four knockouts. It was the second loss for Dobbs, who is making the transition from MMA.

“He was a tough kid. He was coming out, but I just stuck to the game plan and took him out in the fourth round,” said Williams, who returned to action on a successful note after losing in his first bout in the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, in November.

In Miami, Florida, on Friday night, the 26-year-old Williams got shaken up when Dobbs managed to pin him on the ropes and send him to the canvas with a flurry. Williams quickly got up, returning the favour to Dobbs. After he landed a combination of his own, Williams followed it up with a devastating hook that rocked Dobbs’ body.

Eventually, it forced Dobbs to drop to his knees as he spat out his mouthpiece, forcing the referee to step in to administer the mandatory 10 count. Realising that Dobbs had taken enough punishment, the referee waived off the fight, awarding Williams the TKO victory.

“It was good. My condition for the fight was good and the guy was definitely in good condition,” Williams said. “But I had a reach advantage over him and I was much stronger than him, so it helped me to get the job done when I did.”

Going into the fight, Williams said he spent the past three months since he returned to Florida and his coaches Steve Ray and Chico Rivas got him prepared.

“I was happy to be back in the amateur atmosphere, but those guys are quicker than we are as professionals,” said Williams about the World Championship that allowed the pros to fight against the amateurs.

“If I get the opportunity to go to the Commonwealth Games, I will probably go to Cuba and train for that one. My coaches here are doing a great job getting me ready for the pro ranks. But the amateur ranks is a little more difficult now to compete and train for.”

Williams will take another break before he fights in about two months. But he noted that he’s eagerly looking forward to the possibility of representing the Bahamas once again at the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July 27 to August 7 in Birmingham, England.