The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ON his way to Oberhausen, Germany, for his first fight for the year, Sherman ‘The Tank’ Williams made a pit stop in Auckland, New Zealand, where he got a chance to act as a goodwill ambassador for the Bahamas.

Williams, invited Down Under to promote his upcoming fight with undefeated Joseph Parker from Auckland, said he was pleased to provide the opportunity to showcase what the other side of the world can expect from the native of Grand Bahama when they clash on April 26.

“We talked about the culture, rugby and we got to know about each other a little better,” Williams said of his trip that will wrap up on Tuesday. “We are winding down for my departure for Austria where I will be doing three weeks of training camp with Wladimir Klitschko.”

During his visit in Auckland, Williams said the people were very interested in the Bahamas after watching him in his public training.

“They were intrigued on who I am and where I come from,” said Williams, who currently resides in Florida. “The telephone interview wasn’t sufficient for them, so they put together a package and they had me over here since last week. It went very well. The sporting community received me well in Auckland.

“The good thing about it is we are Commonwealth brothers, so our conversation went a little far deeper than just boxing. We had a bit of colonial history and I was asked a lot about why the Bahamas wasn’t doing so good in cricket and rugby as New Zealand. I got to go to the rugby pitch to watch a few matches and just enjoyed the culture of New Zealand.”

By Thursday, Williams is expected to be in Austria where he intends to get right into the ring training with Klitschko, who will headline the April 26 show at the Koenig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany when the WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion puts his world title on the line against Alex Leapai.

“The game plan is to execute the traditional Tank way in the sparring sessions with Klitschko,” Williams said. “I want to be able to put pressure on Joseph Parker and keep the fight close. I will go to the body and go to the head because Joseph Parker, for some reason, is being fast forwarded in his career.

“He’s been an outstanding amateur athlete and he has eight fights. They say he’s the next David Tuia of New Zealand. David Tua was a former world champion, different status, more my body type. Joseph Parker is 6-foot-2 and he is somewhat of a boxer with fast hands. But I question his chin and how he will react when he gets hit.”

While Williams will take his 36-13-2 win-loss-draw record with 19 knockouts into the ring, 22-year-old Parker is 7-0 with 6KOs. Parker last fought on October 10, 2013 when he stopped Afa Tatupu in the second round at the Truts Stadium in Auckland.

Williams, on the other hand, has not fought since November 22, 2013 when he won an unanimous four-round decision over Earl Ladson at the Ritz in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“I’m going to take the fight to Joseph and try to take him out as quickly as possible,” Williams said. “It’s impressive what they are doing with him in his short career, but it’s nothing like experience. Just looking at some of his fights, he has a lot of flaws, but he has fast hands and he throws a lot of wild punches.

“My main thing is focusing on getting my enduracne and my time right. The difference in this fight is getting ready mentally and physically. I’m in a good place and I’m feeling fine. There are no injures or anything that can hinder me at this point. So I’m looking forward to putting a beat down on Joseph Parker.”

Williams said it was always his wish to get a fight with one of the two Klitschko brothers. “I’ve been talking forever of fighting them, but my manager said it doesn’t seem as if that will happen, so I might as well just join them,” Williams said.

“On the flip side, they have always been very accommodating to me. They always like to have some Bahamian sunshine in their camp in the mountain in Austria.

“This will be my 11th or 12th time sparring with thrm. I’ve always wanted to fight these guys, but since they are not going to give me an opportunity, then I understand. The heavyweight division is a position where the guys on top have a chance to cherry pick all of their fights, so unless there is a way that these guys are forced to give me a shot, then I will just have to wait my chance.”

Despite not getting a chance to fight him, Williams said he’s still thrilled to once again step back in their training camp to spar together. Hopefully he can take advantage of the opportunity as he prepares to take his frustration out on Parker when they meet on April 26.