Chauncy Welliver: Ready and Resolved to Make a Statement Against Sherman Williams
By Pavel Yakovlev (June 13, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
-  
Chauncy Welliver

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

--
For much more boxng headlines, news, videos, interviews and more, visit the homepage at DoghouseBoxing.

Write for Doghouse Boxing: anthonyc1974@gmail.com.



NEW: Follow Doghouse Boxing on FaceBook!
For more Boxing News 24/7 and so much more... 
visit our homepage now!



© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing Inc. 1998-2012