The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RASHIELD Williams felt what it was like to be on the other side of his professional boxing career after he suffered his first loss in his second fight this year.

Williams, coming off a quick first round knockout victory over Carlos Monroy at the Restaurant Los Olvidados, Playa del Carmen on February 9, lost a split decision to Jamaican born American Javaune James on Friday night at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida.

“The guy came out a little too aggressive, throwing a lot of punches,” said Williams of James, who remains undefeated in three fights since he turned pro last year as well.

“He tried to take me out, but I kept my composure. I had a chance to knock him out in the last round, but he backed away. The judges called it a split decision in his favour.”

Williams, 29, said what made it even more difficult for him was the fact that James was fighting out of his own backyard.

“It was very disturbing for me because I knew I won the fight,” Williams said. “It frustrated me. It bothered me a lot. I could accept the loss and just continue to push forward.”

With his third pro fight already set for April 6 in Mexico, Williams said he’s going back to the drawing board to try and polish up on the mistakes that he made against the 24-year-old James.

Williams’ coach Normal Wilson, from the Contenders Boxing Gym in Fort Lauderdale, said they will be alright because it was one of the growing pains that he had to endure.

“He fought against a hometown boy, but it was good for him because he faced some adversities that he needed to get through in the sport,” said Wilson, who has been working with Williams since December.

“We’re not going to let this get us down. He will be back. The fight didn’t go our way, but he fought out of his weight class against a guy who was much taller and that caused him to try and change his game plan.”

Wilson said despite the differences in height, he felt Williams should have won the fight after he knocked James to the canvas in the third. The judges, however, felt Williams didn’t do enough to get the nod over James.

“We have some things that we will correct in the gym, but when he gets into the ring, he still has to learn to be a little more patient sometimes,” Wilson stated. “He likes to get up on you and he tries to take his opponent out.

“He just has to slow it down a bit. He knows how to box and he knows how to fight. He knows how to do all that stuff. Everything he has to work on is mental. But he is good physically. He will be alright. This was just an early lesson for him to learn.”