User:Freeschool001/sandbox

Request review at WP:AFC
Statistics Real name			Derek Vernett Williams Nickname(s)				Sweet D  Rated at				     Heavyweight Height				6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  Nationality			         British Born				11 March, 1965 (47) Stockwell,London, England Stance				     Orthodox Boxing Record Total fights					35 Wins							22 Wins by KO					17 Losses						13 Draws						0 No contests					0

Derek Vernett Williams (born 11 March 1965) is a retired professional boxer. He boxed as an amateur for only a short time, compiling a record of 11 contests from which he had 10 wins, with the single loss coming via disqualification. In October 1984, he made his professional debut with a 6 round knock out of Tony Tricker. To compensate for his short amateur career, he visited other gyms to spar with leading heavyweights and gain ring experience, including champion boxers, Frank Bruno, Horace Notice, and John. L. Gardener, Hughroy Currie, Funso Banjo and Gary Mason. After 4 knock outs, he boxed the South African champion Ron Ellis, thinking he had won easily and maintaining his undefeated record but the decision was given to Ellis, the crowed disapproved of the decision and departed the arena immediately. Williams was soon back in the ring and claimed his first professional boxing championship, the Commonwealth title with a 4th round KO of Tongan champion, Young Haumona at the Royal Albert Hall, 1988. He went on to knock out big punching Noel Quarless in 1 round and former European title challenger, John Westgarth in 7 rnds and again in 2 rnds. Al ‘Chico’ Evans kayoed Mike Tyson as an amateur in the USA Amateur Championships and as a professional he arrived in the UK to try and arrange a contest with popular boxer, Frank Bruno but it never happened, Williams manager Mike Barrett offered Williams as another option, Evans handlers accepted the offer and Evans was flattened in 2 rounds by the Williams right hand which he had named ‘Sweet Dynamite’ later shortened to ‘Sweet D’. Williams claimed the European belt in 1989, after a 48 seconds knock out of former British champion and gym partner Hughroy Currie. His career hit a ruff patch when he traveled to St Dizzier, France, to make a voluntary defense of his European belt against French Champion Jean Maurice Chanet, the boxing media wrote that Chanet had no chance against Williams and that he could be seriously hurt and true to form, Williams punching was too much for Chanet, the referee allowed the fight last for 1 round before he was intending on a stoppage in Williams favor but Chanet lasted the distance and was awarded the European belt amiss controversial conditions, whispers around the boxing fraternity was that a substance had been used against Williams to make him drowsy. A rematch was arranged which ended with the same result but a riot irrupted between Williams fans, including actor Gene Hackman and Chanets supporters. Later when Chanet came to England to defend the European belt against Lennox Lewis, he was ordered by the British Boxing Board officials to remove a solution which he had sprayed his body with.

Early life Williams was born on 11th March 1965 in Stockwell, South London, England to Jamaican parents, he was the ninth of ten children. He remained in South London but moved from Stockwell to Peckham, where his first school was Bellenden Primary before another move across Peckham and attending Holydale Primary. His secondary school was Samuel Pepys, in Brockley. He enjoyed sport and was a valuble member of the basketball team.

Amateur career As an amateur, he boxed for Wandsworth ABC. Williams Amateur career was from 1982 – 1984, where he had 11 contests, winning 10 (7ko) and 1 loss (disqualification) In 1983, he arrived to box in the Novice heavyweight championship but there was no opponent. When a London team traveled to Hemel Hemstead to challenge the Home Counties team, Williams kayoed his opponent in 20 seconds. He boxed in the Open class national amateur boxing association championship in 1984, out boxing the experienced Peter French and progressing to the South West London division finals to meet Big Graham Best, an opponent Williams had kayoed in 1 round a few months previously. Having experienced Williams’s punching before, Best was contented to clinch whenever Williams got close, eventually Williams became agitated and went on to throw another punch at Best, as the referee had called break, Williams was immediately disqualified and he decided to become a professional boxer later that year.

Professional Boxing Career Williams’s professional debut was 24  October 1984 and his last contest was 18 February, 1999 His limited amateur career prevented him from signing with the leading promoters but after a few fights he was signed by top manager Mike Barrett from National Promotions, he boxed out of London based gyms, winning his first 4 fights by kayo before losing a disputed decision against South African champion Ron Ellis. A 4th round knockout of Young Haumona 1988 earned him his first title, when he became the Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion. In December 1989 he added the European Championship when he knocked out former British Heavyweight Champion Trevor Currie, in 50 seconds of the 1st round. Two decision losses to French Champion Jean Chanet, saw him enter a rough path in his glittering career. He went to New York and Florida and began to rebuild his career, knocking out Tim ‘Doc’ Anderson in 1 round and knocking out former world title challenger David Bey in 6 rounds. After a few more wins, Williams retired from the ring in 1999.

After Boxing Williams remained attached to the sport of boxing, as a professional boxing Manager and Promoter. He also trains city workers in central London, where they focus on fitness through boxing training. He is a much respected voice of boxing and often invited to Sky television as a boxing commentator for the big fight nights. He works closely with local authorities to guide youth away from gang culture and he is the Chairman of the Pedro Club in Hackney East London, which is supervised by James Cook MBE and Vice Chairman of NUCA in Peckham South London, both centres are for young guiding people and helping them to learn new skills. He is also a valued mentor and consultant with the staff at Kids Company in London.

Personal life Williams married Patricia Anderson in 1993 but they have been apart since 2011. They have two teenage children.

References: 13 february 2012 Sky tv: Boxnation Bunces boxing hour: Derek Williams interview 23 september 2009 youtube.com Lennox Lewis v Derek Williams Google.co.uk Derek Williams on his career youtube.com Derek Williams v Jean Chanet riot Google.co.uk: Dundee RIP, Derek Williams tribute Derek Williams Interview Google.co.uk: Klitschko v Sanders - Post fight analysis, Derek Williams British Boxing Board of Control year book, Professional boxing Career