The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JUST 10 days away from the next step along his path toward a major title fight in the heavyweight division, Sherman "The Tank" Williams is primed for a much-needed return to the victory column.

Williams will challenge WBO Asia Pacific and WBC Asian Boxing Council Champion Chauncy "Hillyard Hammer" Welliver in a 12-round bout on June 28 in Macau, China.

Speaking from his training camp, Williams said he is eager to return to the ring, nearly a year and a half after his last fight.

"I have been training hard the last five weeks and I am ready to go. I'm feeling healthy and strong, no issues to talk about. I'm just ready to get back in the ring and do what I have to do to win this fight and continue to rise up the ranks," Williams said, "The minute I can get inside on him and throw the overhand right and get him out of there. The last thing I want to do is leave it to the referees. I'm still not over the fact that I was basically robbed and no justice done in the last fight against Holyfield, so this time around I want to leave nothing to chance and keep the decision out of the judges' and referee's hands. After I am successful in China against him, it will align me in position to challenge Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko down the line. "With this win, I will finally have one of boxing's governing bodies pushing for me to have a spot in a championship fight."

The winner of the fight will be guaranteed a number five spot in the WBO's heavyweight division.

The 29-year-old Welliver (53-5-5, 20 KO's) is riding an 18-fight winning streak and has two this year so far, over Bert Copper and Moyoyo Mensah.

He is currently the WBC #6 and WBO #8 ranked heavyweight.

Welliver is listed at 6'3" 265 pounds, four inches than the 5' 11 Williams (34-11-2, 19 KO's).

"Some people see it as a disadvantage, but I have always believed in my skills, even as an amateur I used my height as an advantage. On paper it looks like I have the disadvantage but in reality when you look at it, its quite the opposite once I am able to work my way inside," Williams said.

"I have worked with tall sparring partners. This camp has been more technical because we are fighting a tall southpaw. The toughest one [southpaw] I can remember was Tye Fields back in 2003, because he was a 6' 8" lefty, but problems then were more in my preparation for the fight than the fight itself. Outside of that, every other southpaw I won by KO."

The 39-year-old Williams has been out of action since a no contest with former champ Evander Holyfield in January of 2011.

Williams was leading on the scorecards and had dominated early before the fight was stopped after Holyfield received a gash in the 2nd round, leading to the well-publicised and controversial 3rd round no-contest ruling.

With his profile well known on the international level, Williams has said he wants each fight to double as an opportunity to forge networking ties in Macau, China, and boost sports tourism.

"Going forward, we want every opportunity to promote the Bahamas, and Freeport, Grand Bahama, in particular. My team and I put in upon ourselves to really push the Bahamas at every opportunity and see how we can look forward to capitalising on whatever exposure we can get," he said.

"Macau is the most densely populated city in the world and has the fastest growing economy in Asia. The gym we train in, we have the Bahamas flag draped everywhere and the interest is definitely growing so it is good for the entire country."