The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the last two months, Sherman ‘The Tank’ Williams has been in Copenhagen, Denmark training and preparing to compete again in the ring before the end of the year.

Williams, whose original fight was called off because he couldn’t get an opponent, is now set to fight Ivica Bacurin of Croatia on December 3 at the Ceres Arena in the city of Arhus in Jutlan, Denmark.

“The only thing the delay has done is given me the extra incentive to go out there and take care of Ivica Bacurin,” Williams told The Tribune. “It’s a 10-round fight. If it goes my way, I will try to get him out in five.

“It’s important for me to give a good showing as my camp is campaigning for several fights. One is possibly Evander Holyfield-Sherman Williams II and one that is more a reality, for the British Commonwealth Boxing Championship.”

A lot will depend on what happens when Williams, the 44-year-old Grand Bahamian who resides in Vero Beach, Florida, takes on Bacurin, a 6-foot, 2-inch Croatian who sports a 26-10-1 win-loss-draw record. Williams, who stands at 5-11, is 38-15-2.

“I’ve been here over two months. It’s been good. I’ve gotten a lot of sparring in with the young Danish fighters as well as how to use the ring and their ringmanship,” Williams said. “So my stay here has actually been two- fold.”

During his training sessions, Williams said he’s been able to display the Bahamian flag and he also gets to play some Bahamian music so he feels right at home away from home.

“I’m at home, so spending the time here has not only been good for myself, but good publicity for the Bahamas, so I’m enjoying the ride,” he said.

“I’m adjusted already. In the gym they call me the ‘Black Viking. ‘I’ve been adjusted. It started snowing here since November 2 and I do my road work behind Frederick’s Palace. The Danish people are very nice. I went over to Sweden for some promotion and they too have been very respective to me.”

With a few more weeks of training, Williams said he would be ready to go “physically, spiritually and mentally. I’ve found a good Anglican Church next to the Royal Palace, so it’s like home. Everything is flowing naturally.

“So I’m just waiting to get into the ring on December 3 and wait on the outcome of the British Commonwealth title on December 16. I’ve already gotten the go ahead to take on the winner during the first part of next year, possibly in January or February. So I’m excited.”

As for the possibility of a rematch with Holyfield, the former undisputed world champion, Williams said although he let it go a long time ago, every interview he’s done, he’s been asked about the fight that took place in 2011.

“When we fought, they showed it live for free in Denmark, which was a promotion for Holyfield’s fight with Brian Nielsen,” Williams said. “After he quit in the fight, it was a disappointing ending.

“We protested after he quit and it was ruled a no contest. We protested because within two months, he was planning on coming over here to fight Brian Nielsen,” Williams said. “We felt if he couldn’t see or continue to fight me, he should have lost the opportunity to fight Brian.

“He did come to Denmark and he knocked out their heavyweight champion Brian Nielsen and I just think the media here was drumming up the interest to see the conclusion of the fight between me and Holyfield. If they can make it happen, I will take the fight in a heartbeat.”

Williams said he understands that Holyfield is in the gym training to fight in Florida soon so, if it happens, Williams said he would not allow the misjudgment to reoccurr by taking Holyfield out in the first round with the “conch punch” and put him to sleep, send him into retirement and on a good cruise to the Bahamas.