By Andrew Coakley

FN Acting Editor

After a long wait, a back-and-forth juggling of dates for a fight, Sherman "The Tank" Williams left Virginia empty-handed, with no title and no big pay day.

"The Tank's" battle with former world heavyweight boxer, Evander Holyfield was a long time in the making, but when their fight ended abruptly in the third round, with a "no contest" ruling.

That meant Holyfield kept his title and "Tank" is left wondering where did his opportunity go.

The fight was called off after Holyfield sustained a cut above his left eye in the third round. On a trip to his corner, Holyfield complained about not being able to see because of the blood pouring into his eye.

Holyfield complained that "Tank" had head-butted.

With that, the fight was called off and ruled a "no contest," because it did not go beyond the third round. If that had taken place in the fourth round, and the fight was stopped, then a winner would have to be chosen from the points on the cards of the judges.

And according to reports, "Tank" was ahead by points, having delivered more hits than Holyfield in the first three rounds of the fight.

"I think that's why he did that in the third round, because he knew the rules and he knew he would get away with it," Williams said in an interview with The Freeport News.

"That was no head butt. I caught him with a overhand right and that's what caused the cut. That's when he got concerned and decided to pull that stunt and claim that I head-butt him."

After Holyfield went to his corner complaining about blood dripping into his eye, "Tank" thought that they had called the fight a K.O., but he was told that it was ruled a "no contest."

Williams said that the referee never warned him of any head butt and therefore, it proves that it did not happen.

"Everyone who saw the fight told me that I won it and that Holyfield was just using excuses to try and get out of the fight.

"I don't think that he was prepared for what I had to bring into the ring," said Williams.

"He may have thought that it would have been an easy fight and that I would not have put up a contest. But after the first round, he realised what he had stepped into and that took him off guard.

"He saw that I was serious about taking that belt, he saw that I was in great shape and that I had come to fight, and that scared him."

"Tank" said that his Manager has filed a protest with the World Boxing Federation, after which they will launch an investigation into the matter to try and determine whether or not there was a head-butt involved in the fight.

He is hoping that by Wednesday they would make a decision as to whether or not the ruling is overturned or if it remains the same.

If it is overturned, then it would have to be ruled a K.O., which means "Tank" would be entitled to the belt held by Holyfield.

If it remains as a "No contest," then there will be a rematch at a later date, to be set by the Federation.

For the Bahamian born "Tank", he's hoping that if there is a rematch it could take place in Nassau at the Atlantis Resort or in Freeport.

"I was just disappointed in the fact that this kind of stuff still goes on in professional boxing," said Williams.

"That means I have to go that extra mile to try and get what I feel should be mine. I trained hard for the fight and I was prepared for that fight.

"Mentally, physically and spiritually I went into that fight strong and I wanted to take that belt back home with me.

"I was hoping to have been back home in Freeport with the belt and planning a big party. But that was not to be, at least not yet."

Now, it's just a waiting game for "Tank" and his Managers, as they wait on word from the World Boxing Federation. He said that he's not going back into the gym right now, because he had put in tons of work in preparation for the fight.

"Tank" said that he will take a few weeks off, to relax and spend time with his family and if word comes back that it is ruled a "no contest", then he would prepare to head back into the gym and prepare for a rematch with Holyfield.