On the Bus with...

~ By Buster Laing

The Freeport News caught up with 38- year-old Bahamian Professional boxer, Sherman "The Tank" Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs) as he took time to relax at the beautiful Pelican Bay Resort in Lucaya over the past few days. During his rest and relaxation, 'Tank' and his manager are awaiting a pending decision by the World Boxing Federation Committee following his 'no contest" WBA title fight versus 48-year old Evander Holyfield on Jan. 22 at the historic Green-brier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

The fight was stopped after the third round because of a severe cut over the left eye of Holyfield, which the referee said was the result of an accidental clash of heads in the second round that prevented Holyfield from going any further.

However, "Tank" said that there was no head butt during the match, but rather the cut over Holyfield's eye was the result of an overhand right hook which he delivered in the second round of their fight. That blow, evidently rocked Holyfield, making him stagger in the ring.

"The Tank" is convinced that Holyfield "got out of the fight" by using the excuse that the two had a head butt.

"The Tank" and his team filed a protest with the World Boxing Federation.

Patra Albury, Financial Controller, along with the staff welcomed "The Tank" back home and to the Resort.

"On behalf of the Pelican Bay Hotel, we are happy to have Sherman "The Tank" Williams staying with us. Pelican Bay Hotel seeks to be a good corporate citizen and to promote all Bahamian athletes and ventures that will further us in the wider market."

Williams described the property as beautiful and pristine and perfect for the weekend getaway and thanked the staff for hosting him.

The Freeport News' Buster Laing then put on his gloves and went in the ring with "The Tank" as they took a ride on the bus..

BL: What schools did you attend locally and were there other sports you were good at?

SW: "I attended Bartlett Hill Primary, and then went to Eight Mile Rock High, but I graduated in 1989 from Hawksbill High school.

I ran track and played basketball. In basketball I was a hacker; basketball wasn't for me because of my aggressive style. If I didn't get picked to be on one of the street ball teams, I would make threats or take the ball and throw it over the fence."

BL: Former teachers you will always remember?

SW: "The late Mary Nabb, Mrs. Francis and Mrs. Turner at Hawksbill High School."

BL: What was life like growing up in Grand Bahama?

SW: "I grew up in the areas of Bass Lane, Hearn Lane, Playboy City (Mayfield Park) and the Ghetto (Garden Villas). We never saw it as living in the Ghetto; we saw it as the Metropolitan area that leads to downtown.

Life back then was more unusual, we had a lot of camaraderie in our neighborhoods; we ran races in the streets and played two- hand touch football in the street, but nobody had grudges, and we had more love and compassion.

If a kid took a shortcut through our neighborhood and we had an issue with him, that would be a fight, but the next day, everybody was back in school having fun ...letting 'bygones be bygones'."

BL: Who were some of your childhood friends?

SW: 'I grew up with a lot of high level and top notch athletes like track athletes Ricky Moxey, the late Neil Duncombe, boxers Christopher Thompson, Em-manuel Jones and golfers like the Maycock boys, Greg and Sidney.'

BL: When did you realize you would be good at boxing someday?

SW: Always wanted to box, I fought in my neighborhood almost daily.

Boxing was recourse for me after getting in trouble over little silly things. I could recall getting in a fight one week before taking my final GCEs O Level in the 12th grade;

it happened right across the street strangely enough from the Police Station and I was taken by the police in handcuffs and placed on probation. My probation time was grueling so I pleaded with my Probation Officer to allow me to do community service at the YMCA, where I then reconnected with my boxing coach Mr. Terry Goldsmith and things just took off from there."

BL: What is something we might not know about "The Tank"?

SW: "I am a Certified Chef. I did Culinary Arts in school and I love using my hands which God has blessed me with."

BL: Give us an update of the situation with your previous title fight with Evander Holyfield in which it was ruled as a no contest, which allowed Holyfield to retain the title?

SW: "My promoter has assured me that he is still in communication with the World Boxing Federation and I have been told that they have not sanctioned the fight between Evander Holyfield and Brian Nielson on March 5 for the WBF title until this matter is resolved.

That is a favorable decision on my side. Also, I have been told that they can either do one of two things – one is, to reverse the original judges "no contest" ruling and strip Holyfield of the title or make me interim champion which is a" champion in waiting' while the final decision is being discussed.

I would fight Holyfield at the drop of a dime; I am in favor of either decision."

BL: What are you doing in the meantime while you await the ruling?

SW: "I have a few engagements with the Ministry of Tourism and I will be travelling to Harbour Island next week to speak to some of the children there, trying to point them in the right direction."

BL: You have been busy mentoring kids

SW: "Yea back in Port Lucie, Florida where I reside, I am a part of Project Rock and Raw Dogs Organizations, which are both faith- based mentoring groups which chalenges troubled teens and rather than have them sit at home idle, we help them with their schoolwork and G.E.D.

My philosophy is that there is nothing such as a bad child, some kids, for one reason or the other, just act out what they are feeling and they do some bad things and make bad decisions.

We need to save this generation, get them before they pick up a gun, or pick up a bottle and pick up drugs. Maybe sooner than later, in conjunction with the government, we could implement programs like these ."

Sherman "The Tank "Williams: The 'reigning champ' in the hearts of all Grand Bahamians.