Can I Put On Your Belt?
By Jeff Mayweather (February 2, 2006)
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Aaron Williams
Everyday as I go about my daily routine of going from gym to gym. I keep my eyes open for young talent that may be able to make their mark in the boxing world one day. One youngster comes to mind and he is heads and shoulders above the rest. The young fighter I'm talking about goes by the name of Aaron Williams.

As a young amateur star Williams compiled an astounding 93-10 record; it appears he will do the same in the professional ranks. At the tender age of 19 Aaron Williams has all the tools to become Cruiserweight Champion in terms of the skills he brings to the dance. He's no average 19 year old when he steps in that squared circle. If title fights were only four rounds to six rounds he would already be World Champion.

Aaron has a quiet confidence about himself. He fights like a lightweight with extremely fast hands and solid punching power. He's a combination of one of his two favorite fighters, Muhammad Ali and Thomas "Hitman" Hearns. Williams uses his legs and dances around the ring like Ali but when he strikes he's like the Motor City Cobra. With blinding speed he throws eight and nine punch combinations with ease. I feel honored to watch this young kid develop into one of boxing's future stars. He is poised and ready for it.

Williams has wisdom far beyond his nineteen-year existence on this earth, especially when you talk to him about boxing. The youngster will talk to you about the old time fighters as though he was around during those days, which further lets me know he's a true student of the game.

I once had the pleasure of watching Aaron spar with former Cruiserweight Champion Kelvin "Koncrete" Davis and it was like taking candy from a baby. Yet I still had to pass on some words of caution to Aaron, letting him know he had to stay extremely focused with Davis because he punches extremely hard. Aaron went into his Ali mode and plastered Davis repeatedly with jabs from long-range and blazing combinations as he danced around the ring with his hands down. Aaron is blessed with very keen instincts, and he was always one inch away from being hit on the chin, sometimes he would even have his hands at his waist-side. He was in his rhythm it was almost as though I was watching the matrix, as he ever so slightly was able to free himself from harm’s way. Then it finally happened; Davis landed a vicious body shot. Aaron still stayed true to character, and although it was a noticeable shot, he kept his game face intact, like a seasoned veteran, and went back to using his jab from long-range, once again controlling the sparring. I was in awe of this kid. At the time this sparring took place, Aaron had only three professional fights.

Aaron now carries a 5-0-1 (4) KO's record. His lone setback, a draw, came at the hands of a season pro with over 40 professional fights. This was a learning experience for Williams. It kind of reminded me of the scene from Colors, the opening scenes, when Sean Penn is chasing after every single person that commits a crime while Robert Duvall sits back and waits for him to come back after his long chase. Penn comes back empty handed and Duvall passes on some words of wisdom to the young Penn. Don't waste your time running to catch one criminal, walk slowly and catch all of them. The moral was don't waste time trying to catch every single person that commits a crime, but the ones that commit big crimes, connect with the right people and then you eventually will catch them all.

Aaron's people believed so much in him that they too were anxious about his talent and were in a rush to make a statement in the boxing world. The kid is only 19 years old, he has time and eventually will get to the top, there is no need to run anymore; slow it down and walk to the Championship and maybe you can get them all one at a time.

Williams is a very soft-spoken good-looking kid whom you may sometimes forget he can't even legally drink yet when you talk to him about boxing. However, it all comes back to you when you hear how excited he gets when he talks about playing Play Station. He is just as excited about that as he is about talking boxing.

One time he came over to my house and saw my I.B.O. Championship Belt, which I have on display in front of my fireplace, and once again I saw an example of his youthful exuberance. His eyes lit up as he said, "Jeff can I put it on, man? I can't wait to get one of these." I said to him, Aaron, you have potential to get not only one belt but several before your career is over. At 19 years old I was in school at Western Michigan University and didn't become professional until I was 22 years old, following my graduation.

Aaron already has six fights under his belt and a three-year head start in the Professional School of Hard Knocks. By the time he turns 22 he may very well have the first of many belts around his waist, and when he does I will be the first to ask him, can I put on your belt?
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