Philadelphia’s unbeaten welterweight Mike “MJ” Jones, 25-0 (19), is promoted by J Russell Peltz, trained by Vaughn Jackson, conditioned by Danny Davis, co-managed by Doc Nowicki and oh yeah, the other co-manager who also serves as cut-man is Jim Williams.
The person you won’t see in the pictures and inside the ring is Williams. At 75 he is one of the best established cut-men in the business. He can be seen in the corner from his main boxer Jones to Ronald Cruz, 13-0 (9), of Bethlehem, PA, managed by Jimmy Deoria of Phoenixville, PA. “As a manager, Jim Williams is very knowledgeable of the game. He has very good insight on different fighters and how their styles match up with certain guys. As a cut-man, he brings a lot of experience in the corner. He is very calm and knows what he is doing in there. He works with us when Ronald Cruz fights. We are very comfortable with Jim in our Corner,” said Deoria.
“I’ve been in this business since 1970. I was taught how to be a cut-man by “Gypsy” Joe Harris,” said Williams. Harris retired in 1968 due to loss of vision in an eye. Harris was one of the most colorful boxers in the history of Philadelphia boxing and originally from Camden, NJ.
“Other than a bloody nose Mike has only been cut once. That was in the re-match with Jesus Soto Karass in February of this year. It was a little cut over his right eye caused by a head-butt,” said Williams. That’s almost unheard of considering he’s been in 25 fights.
“Mike was brought to Doc (Nowicki) and me, by his trainer Vaughn Jackson along with Kaseem Wilson, 12-3-1 (4). We liked what we saw in him and signed him as co-managers with Peltz as his promoter,” said Williams.
Williams goes back to the days when he had boxers like Nikita Tar Hocker who would come out with leopard skin everything claiming to be a prince from the Congo. Williams was a real estate in Camden, NJ, long before it grew the reputation it has today. He and Nowicki co-managed Miguel Figueroa and four European fighters in Koba Gogoladze, Ramazan Palyahi, Ramaz Gazashvili and Avtandil Khurtsidze. Those four are a story all their own.
“Mike’s a clean living guy who lives for his two daughters. He even traded in his vehicle for “a soccer family” vehicle just for them. He never curses, drinks or smokes. When he comes into the gym he’s all business. You may get a little smile out of him at first but he’s right into his routine,” said Williams.
“I met Jim in the car business at Holman Ford in Maple Shade, NJ, where he sold cars. He had fighters at the time and I got to know him. I started going to the fights and eventually we became partners with lightweight Miguel Figueroa. I like to call him the guru of boxing. He can pick up on just watching a boxer how good he can be even on film. He does this with either Vaughn (Jackson) for Mike (Jones) or Wade (Hinnant) for Teon (Kennedy). We’ve always been good friends. I remember Kaseem (Wilson) fighting in Reading when the referee was going to stop it and gave us another round. He did a good enough job the fight went the distance,” said Doc Nowicki.
Jackson, the trainer of Jones doesn’t seem to get much ink either but you can’t say I didn’t try reaching him. Since I have been barred from the Joe Hand Gym before it opened I could only try reaching Jackson by phone. After the third try in three days leaving a message I guess he wasn’t interested anymore. Prior to Jones last fight at the Arena I asked Jackson and he seemed fine about doing something with Williams. I have seen Jones at the 10th round Gym in Bucks County but otherwise have no idea how to contact him for his comments.
“Until Danny Davis (strength and conditioning) joined our corner I did the hand wraps for Mike. Danny wraps like a master,” said Williams. Nowicki and Williams also co-manage unbeaten USBA super bantam champion Teon Kennedy, 17-0 (7), along with Joe Hand, Sr. Kennedy will be headlining at Bally’s in Atlantic City this Saturday. Williams and Nowicki also recently signed unbeaten middleweight Rashad Brown, 5-0 (2), and junior welterweight Naim Nelson, 2-0 (0), along with John Howell. Williams serves as cut-man for all their fighters.
“I’ve known Jimmy for many years. When I started working for Doc wrapping his fighters hands I was joined with Jimmy. He is a great cut-man. He shares his knowledge with me unlike too many people in this business that want to take it to their grave with them. Not too many guys honest and loyal in this game but Jimmy’s one of them,” said Danny Davis. He is the strength and conditioning coach and can do pad work. He has worked with WBC/IBO light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins for 8 years. He is also currently working with unbeaten heavyweights Amir Mansour, 14-0 (11) of Wilmington, DE, and Joey Dawejko, 4-0 (1), of Philadelphia.
Last September Dennis Hasson, 11-0 (3), was cut in the first round against Tommy Speller in Atlantic City in his first 8 rounder. Williams kept him in the fight for the whole 8 rounds. “Jimmy is a good guy who does good work,” said Hasson. That’s just one example of the work Williams does. He has kept swelling down on (Teon) Kennedy in many of his wars.
Jim Williams is old school and unless you don’t want a straight answer there is no reason to ask him a question. He’s one of the most likeable guys in the business if you ever get the chance to know him like this writer has. On top of that he has a great sense of humor and you need one in this business. He has been nominated for the PA HOF by this writer and hopefully will be deservingly inducted next year! Philadelphia has had some of the best cut-men like the late Milt Bailey and currently active Joey Eye. It took until 2009 for one of the greatest cut-men in the history of the business to get inducted in the late Eddie Aliano. This writer had the privilege to nominate him. Let’s hope Jim Williams is next.
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