The Tribune

IN dedicating his performance to his deceased mother, Yvonne Williams, Rashield Williams wasted little time in the ring as he returned to professional boxing after more than a year and a half of inactivity.

On Saturday night in Eagles Trail Drive, Tampa, Florida, Williams needed just one minute and 25 seconds in the first ring with a vicious left hand shot to the body to stop American mixed martial artist Dylan Dodds in his professional debut in the 147-pound middleweight division.

“He was an awkward fighter, but I didn’t want to stay in there with him too long,” said Williams, who improved to 4-1 with three knockouts after he disposed of Dodds, who was 8-6 in MMA. “He was just another fighter. It wasn’t a hard fight for me.

“I was really training for this fight, but it was a little difficult to train because I lost my mother about two weeks ago in the hospital in Nassau. I dedicated this fight to her because she was my biggest supporter.”

Despite her death, Williams said he knew she would want him to stay in Florida and prepare for fight. So he decided to step into the ring and put on a show just for her.

Now fighting out of the Contenders Boxing Coach, coached by Steve Ray and Chico Stevens, Williams returned to the ring for the first time since he left the Philippines where he was training before the coronavirus pandemic surface in 2020.

Having celebrated his 32nd birthday on September 13, Williams said he’s looking forward to traveling with amateur boxer Carl Hield to represent the Bahamas at the AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia from October 26 to November 6.

“The tournament allows for professionals to fight amateurs, so I’m excited to be able to go to represent the country again in a major event,” Williams said,. “I’m grateful to go out there and to represent my country.

“Right now, going back to the three round fights, I have to work on letting go of more punches because it’s a shorter fight. I have to be prepared to be more active in the ring than I would do as an amateur.”

Williams and Hield, who missed out on the opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games, are training together in Tampa in preparation for the trip to Serbia.

Williams’ last fight was on February 6, 2020 when he pulled of a technical decision over Rege Pahayag, who was 8-12-0. The fight took place at the Barangay Maranding Covered Court in Lala, Philippines.