Chauncy Welliver: Ready and Resolved to Make a Statement Against Sherman Williams
By Pavel Yakovlev (June 13, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
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Later
this month, Chauncy Welliver squares off against Sherman Williams in
Macao. For the 29-year-old Welliver, the bout is an acid test.
Williams, a hard-hitting fringe contender from the Bahamas, is the
best fighter Welliver has faced since losing to Odlanier Solis in
2008. Although Welliver is riding an 18 fight winning streak –
during which he acquired a slew of regional titles and WBC and WBO
world rankings – he has been in a developmental stage these recent
years, honing his skills against trial horses while preparing for
bigger future matches. The upcoming bout marks a turning point in
Welliver’s career: should he emerge victorious, showdowns against
legitimate contenders and tough top-20 rated heavyweights will surely
follow.
Williams
is a risky opponent, but Welliver – eager to prove his mettle to
the boxing world – relishes the challenge. “You know, people are
saying I have to step it up,” he explained. “Williams was
available, he is experienced and dangerous, so we took him. Without a
doubt, he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever fought. Is he a
contender? No. But he’s the type of guy that contenders have to
beat to prove that they’re legit.”
Known
as “The Caribbean Tank” because of his strength, durability, and
compact 5’11,” 260 lbs frame, Williams is a proven gatekeeper. A
veteran of 14 years pro experience and 48 fights, he has tested many
rising prospects and big names at the crossroads of their careers.
Some fighters surmount the Bahamian slugger’s challenge, others do
not. In 2005, Williams lost a decision to the then untested Ruslan
Chagaev. That bout signaled to the boxing world that Chagaev was
legitimate, and he was subsequently granted entrée into the world
ratings. Several years earlier, the formidable Jameel McCline (who
was on the verge of becoming a top contender) was held to a draw by
Williams. Former world champ Evander Holyfield felt the full brunt of
the Bahamian’s punching power two years ago. Battered by right
hands and visibly losing strength, Holyfield was fortunate to escape
with a “no decision” after being cut by an accidental head butt.
Now, Williams is a litmus test for Welliver, who is determined to
validate himself and open doors for bigger future fights.
Welliver’s
profile as a boxer is still emerging. Because he has fought most of
his 63 bouts off-TV, on the American club circuit or in New Zealand
and China, boxing fans do not know much about him. Currently in his
11th year as a pro – until aged 18 he fought amateur smokers and
“toughman” contests -- Welliver is best known as an elite
sparring partner for the world’s best heavyweights. The list of
luminaries he has mixed with sounds almost like a “Who’s Who in
the Heavyweight Division.” Welliver explains, “I sparred Shannon
Briggs when I was 17. I’ve sparred with Tyson, Tua, Povetkin,
McCall, Huck, Gomez, Chagaev, Valuev, Helenius, Pulev, and others.”
Welliver now possesses a cornucopia of information about top
heavyweights’ traits, abilities, and weaknesses. “The hardest
puncher of them all was Duncan Dokiwari,” he reflects. “Helenius
didn’t seem to hit that hard, but he catches you when you least
expect it. He pitter patters then he catches you.” The gym wars
established that Welliver is a durable, clever fighter who can box,
counter, or swarm opponents depending on circumstances in the ring.
The
lengthy, intensive sparring stints provided Welliver with skills and
savvy that he did not have the opportunity to acquire during his
relatively limited amateur career. “I’ve learned lots of tricks
sparring with these guys,” he explains. “I had to learn to be
trickier because I didn’t come from a big amateur background. I had
to learn to compensate.” Welliver proved to be an apt pupil. “I
learned so much from David Izonritei, an excellent fighter. We
sparred over 500 rounds. Then there was Audley Harrison and Vasily
Jirov. After the sparring sessions, they’d talk to me, and tell me
how I did…what I needed to work on.” With a chuckle, Welliver
added, “Hearing that from Olympic gold medalists, you know I had to
listen to them.” Fans who are boxing historians will recognize that
Welliver’s fistic education, essentially, is akin to that of
contenders from the early and mid-20th century. In those days, talented boxers did not begin their careers
as internationally acclaimed amateurs. Rather, they learned their
craft fighting often in small clubs, and as sparring partners for
world champs.
Against
Williams, Welliver will need to draw upon the character depth and
polish he developed while sparring with top contenders and champions.
The Bahamian, a crouching infighter who stylistically resembles Joe
Frazier and Dwight Muhammad Qawi, carries pop in his left hook and
overhand right.
Interestingly,
although Welliver is not known as a heavy puncher (only 20 of his 53
career wins have come via knockout), he expects to trade with
Williams at close quarters. “I know you’d think I want to be on
the outside against Williams,” he explained. “But I need to be on
the inside with him. I respect Williams, but I’ve got to make him
respect me. I have to break him down mentally and physically to win
this fight. I’m going to be in his face.” Mindful of the Macao
television audience, Welliver continued, “The Chinese like a good
action brawl, and Williams is going to give that. We’re both very
aggressive guys. We both come forward and throw a lot of punches for
heavyweights.”
Welliver
is preparing for the upcoming fight at Vision Quest Sport &
Fitness in Auburn, Washington, working out rigorously under his
trainer Joe Hipp and conditioner Ali Crosbie. “We started sparring
last week, and we have another 77 or 78 rounds to go,” he reports.
“I feel great. My wind is up. Ali’s classes are brutal. His
workouts have me tired throughout the day. Every day when I’m done
with his training, I know I can go 12 hard rounds.”
Formulating
a fight plan is top priority for Welliver. He is relying on insights
gained from ringside observation, in addition to analyzing films. “I
saw Williams at Madison Square Garden years ago when he fought Al
Cole. He was pretty dominant,” said Welliver. “I also saw him
here in Washington against Taurus Sykes. Me and Joe have a lot of
film footage of Williams sparring. We’re studying those films. I’ve
been watching his Holyfield fight, and we’ve got more DVD’s
coming in, too. We’ve been studying him, and I’m sure he’s been
studying us. It will come down to who has the better game plan.”
To
Welliver’s advantage is that Williams may not have many films to
study. Welliver’s only widely available fight video is the Solis
fight. “Everybody knows me from my films before, when I was 50 lbs
heavier than now,” he explains. “There’s so much more to me
besides the weight loss, too. I’ve really learned how to box since
then, how to sit down on my punches. Joe has taught me a lot. If
Williams is watching those old films, that’s the biggest mistake he
could ever make.”
The
Solis loss was a turning point in Welliver’s career, enabling him
to transition from an obscure club fighter into an upwardly mobile
heavyweight prospect. Welliver took the match on short notice,
underprepared and seriously overweight at 282 lbs. Solis, a product
of Cuba’s vaunted boxing program and a former world dominant
amateur on the verge of gaining recognition as a legitimate pro
contender, was expected to score a quick and easy knockout. But
Welliver lasted until the ninth round, exhibiting gameness,
durability, and respectable skill. The gritty performance made him
aware of his own potential. “I thought, if I could fight that well
on short notice, what could I achieve if I trained better?” he
explained. “From that fight on, I have trained hard. Since then
I’ve had a whole new frame of mind”
Indeed,
Welliver’s career has taken a 180 degree turn since fighting Solis.
He now enters the ring at around 235 lbs, and has since won six WBO
and WBC regional championships. Because the sanctioning
organizations’ by-laws mandate a world-rating for regional belt
holders, Welliver is rated WBC #6 and WBO #8. But his elevated
profile has attracted some negative attention. Critics complain that
Welliver did not earn his ranking by beating legitimate contenders or
creditable gatekeepers. Last year, for example, ESPN’s Dan Rafael
quipped, “The immortal Chauncy Welliver, who beats up hobos for a
living, is your WBC 10th-ranked heavyweight in the world.”
But
Welliver rolls with the punches inside and outside of the ring. Of
Rafael’s gibe, he laughed and said, “Dan Rafael’s certainly not
a fan of mine. But he’s got a deep voice in boxing, and people
listen to him. Now it’s time for me to prove him wrong.”
Noteworthy is that Welliver articulated his words with confidence.
Clearly he intends to make his point, convincingly, in the ring.
Boxing
writers are not the only skeptics that Welliver must silence.
Reportedly, a proposed bout with Seth Mitchell was recently rejected
by HBO executives, probably because Welliver’s resume, as of yet,
lacks wins over recognizable names. HBO’s decision was a letdown to
Welliver, especially given that Mitchell’s camp had already
approved of the match. But the experience has strengthened Welliver’s
resolve to upgrade the caliber of his opposition immediately.
Welliver knows that, to get the fights he wants, he must impress the
power brokers who can make those fights.
“It
was a big disappointment, because the Mitchell fight could have made
my career,” said Welliver of his experience with HBO’s heads. “If
I beat Mitchell, my career moves in the right direction, and I would
get a title fight. Preparing for Mitchell is my life…I’ve watched
every fight film he has, I watch the way he fights, the way he moves.
I’ve even studied his interviews. I’ve put together a fight plan.
Hopefully I’ll get Mitchell sometime down the road. Meanwhile, I’ve
been able to shift my attention to Sherman Williams. I’ve been
studying him just as hard as I study Mitchell.”
How
good is Welliver as a fighter, and how will he fare against
legitimate top ten or top-20 rated opposition? The most reliable
answers may come from industry insiders who have had exposure to
Welliver in the gym. Miami trainer Rick Fisler, who has watched
Welliver sparring against prominent heavyweights, offers interesting
observations.
“Welliver
is cagey. He can switch styles back and forth, and he has a way of
staying out of danger,” said Fisler. “He’s a very good
defensive fighter. Basically, he can punch from all angles. When he’s
on the inside, he can throw uppercuts and angle out, then reset and
continue his combinations.” Of Welliver’s prospects against
established contenders, Fisler said, “Welliver can definitely
outpoint a lot of guys. Remember, there are very few real “A”
level heavyweights out there today. Chauncy could surprise a lot of
people. I think he might have beaten Mitchell, who is vulnerable to
getting hit from a lot of angles, and who can be outboxed.”
In
pro boxing, the word from the grapevine often says more than the
record books or what we see on our television screens. This
correspondent is favorably impressed with insiders’ feedback about
Welliver. The Williams fight is likely to be rough, especially for
the first five rounds. But Welliver will very probably win over 12
rounds, and convincingly, too. Do not be surprised if he eventually
appears on big television -- as a fan favorite and a “live”
underdog – against leading heavyweights.
Author’s
email: boxingnews@fastmail.net
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