IN a rare defeat, Birmingham super-heavyweight Matty Williams has seen his stock soar and reputation as a future world beater greatly enhanced.
On Thursday night in the prestigious BoxAm tournament staged in Benidorm, Team GB’s Williams faced the toughest test of his rampaging career.
The 22-year-old, a member of Acocks Green boxing club, faced world number one Aibek Oralbay from Kazakhstan – and gave him the fight of his life.
Oralbay endured a torrid last round, was given a standing count and came through on a majority decision.
Forget the loss, that is some performance from Williams. In fact, that’s an announcement of things to come. That’s an arrival. That’s a statement.
Think about it: Williams, a newcomer to the international arena, pushed the best super-heavy on the planet all the way.
Acocks Green coach Max McCracken is rightly jubilant over the display. “I’ve said for some time Matty Williams is a special talent,” he told me. “He’s just proved it.”
To his credit, McCracken has not taken issue over the decision. Experience was the decisive factor, he says – and Matty, a former council grass cutter, has a lot of time on his side when it comes to gaining top-level experience.
“In heavyweight terms he’s a baby,” McCracken said. “He hasn’t got his full man strength yet.
“This was great experience, he showed he is a top, world class fighter. This was a real step-up and he showed he belonged at that level, he will be a better fighter for it. There are a lot of positives to take from this fight.”
Matty, quiet and polite outside the ropes, a 6ft 4ins bundle of fury inside them, said: “It was great experience sharing the ring with the world’s number one. I came up short, but I’m proud of my performance, nonetheless.”
Williams has his sights set on the 2028 Olympics in LA. In Benidorm, he came of age and issued a medal threat. After that, a lucrative pro career beckons.
Birmingham has waited a long time for a heavyweight capable of mixing with the world’s very best. I think it’s found one in ardent Blues fan Williams.
