By Rick Reeno
Four prospects under the Golden Boy Promotions banner are graduating to the next level outside of the ring. Hylon Williams Jr. (17-years-old), Ricardo Tristan (19-years-old), Jermall Charlo (18-years-old) and twin-brother Jermell Charlo (18-years-old) are all graduating from high school this weekend and plan to enter college in the fall.
All four fighters are managed by Shelly Finkel and Willie Savannah and come out of the Savannah Boxing Club in Texas. Savannah also manages former unified lightweight champion "Baby Bull" Juan Diaz who graduates in December from the University of Houston. There is a strict code at the Savannah Boxing Club - "school is a must; if you want an education inside of the ring, you must get an education outside of the ring."
Tristan compiled an amateur record of 23-3 and is said to be one of the brightest prospects to come out of Houston in the last few years. He turns pro under Golden Boy in the near future.
Lightweight Hylon Williams Jr. (1-0) is a very decorated amateur with a 145-20 record and winner of many amateur tournaments (2007 National Golden Gloves Champion at 125pounds, 2007 US Olympic Trials Champion at 125-pounds, 2007 US Olympic Box-Offs Runner-up at 125-pounds, 2006 National PAL Champion, 2005 National Jr Olympic champion, 2005 Gold medalist in Azerbaijan at the Alieyev cup, 2005 National Silver Gloves Championships.) To say there are high hopes for the kid is an understatement. He turned pro on the Hopkins-Calzaghe undercard and is scheduled to fight again on the Pavlik-Lockett undercard next Saturday in Atlantic City.
Welterweight twins Jermell Charlo (2-0, 1KO) and Jermall Charlo (yet to turn pro) are two more up and comers from the Houston amateur ranks. Tall welterweights at six-feet a piece, Golden Boy views them as the future of boxing's elite division.