By Cliff Rold

In taking the Team USA first round mark to 3-1, 19-year old Raynell Williams of Cleveland, Ohio turned in the most complete American performance thus far, outspeeding Italy’s Alessio di Savino by a score of 9-1 during the first session of day three in Beijing.

Williams showed speed and craft from bell to bell, but he wasn’t perfect.  Attempts at lead southpaw right hooks would have been more effective had he planted and stepped into them more.  Instead, many of those shot strayed wide, allowing di Savino to step inside of them.  Williams was looking to circle and potshot, a proven effective Olympic strategy, but his wide shots could get him in trouble against men with the speed to counter when Williams misses.

Williams also limited his scoring opportunities by not using his laser fast right jab enough.  Focus on lead hooks meant less straight jabs, and di Savino was open down the middle throughout the bout.  Had Williams fought used a more orthodox offense, with the jab setting up left hands up the pipe, he might well have doubled his 9 points.

Given the wide scoring gap, these were minor offenses.  Williams displayed a number of qualities that could serve him well in his efforts to secure Gold.  Unlike other teammates, Williams was unfazed by attempts from di Savino to body him up with clinches and lunges.  Williams had the calm to simply wrap up, step out, and go back to work.  Williams also kept his eyes locked on his man throughout, always coiled to throw, but he was rarely wild and displayed intelligent shot selection when he let his hands go.

In other words, Williams punched when the openings were there.  Nothing was forced.  He also occasionally switched from his southpaw stance to land an orthodox lead left to the body.  The shot wasn’t scoring but Williams had the discipline to know it would create other openings and stayed with it.  When di Savino did throw the occasional flurry, Williams stellar and subtle head movement had the Italian hitting lots of air.

Short on international experience, Williams displayed a keen acumen with ring movement that used all of the available geography.  He has learned on the fly and is one to watch.

Round One Grade: A

Chances to watch him continue in only a few short days.

Williams, Olympic television commentator Teddy Atlas’s sleeper pick in the Games, can feel secure in having posted the first real “A” performance of his team in the Games.  His draw in the round of 16 will provide him a stern test.  France’s Khedafi Djelkhir posted an exciting, competitive 13-9 win over Australia’s Paul Fleming, a rousing start to Djelkhir’s second Olympic Games.

His is not a face unfamiliar to Williams.  The two faced off at the 2007 World Amateur championships with Williams capturing the 28-18 upset.  If he can do it again this Friday, August 15, Williams sleeper bid will take a big step forward as will America’s overall medal hopes in Beijing.

More on Team USA and “The Quest for Gold”

Round One

Day One Results  

https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15327  

Middleweight Report Card – Shawn Estrada https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15332

Day Two Results

https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15336

https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15337

https://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=15339  

Light Welterweight Report Card – Javier Molina

https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15341

Welterweight Report Card – Demetrius Andrade - Coming Soon

Day Three Results

https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15346

https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=15347  

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Sadam Ali (Lightweight)

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Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com