Mesi Pulls Out, Williams Demands Compensation
By Keith Terceira
Sherman “Tank” Williams responds exclusively to BoxingScene.com regarding the sudden withdrawal of "Baby" Joe Mesi from their Aug. 18 bout, scheduled to take place as part of the Pinnacle Fite Nite pay-per-view from the South Town Exhibition Center in Sandy, Utah.
Williams, who was hoping to springboard his career with a win over Mesi is livid with his promoter Silverhawk, Mesi, and the promoter of the fight.
BoxingScene.com: Sherman what is reaction to the news that Mesi pulled out of the fight?
Tank: The fighter always gets the sh*tty end of the stick and its not a big deal because everyone else gets away with it. I was disappointed because I didn't hear until I sparred this morning with Mike Marrone then went to the Jungle Club where I do my strength and conditioning about 11 am. At 1pm I pick up my phone and there was a voice mail from Jeff at Silverhawk informing me that the fight has been postponed and that they knew last night.
They could have saved me the time and aggravation and the sparring I had to pay for today if they had called me last night.
BoxingScene.com: How much money are you out in expenses Sherman?
Tank: Now about five thousand dollars!
BoxingScene.com: This was a showcase fight for you?
Tank : Absolutely, The whole offer to fight when it came to me a month ago wasn’t that attractive but an undefeated white heavyweight. I’d have take pleasure in knocking that bum out on national TV and he would be retired definitely. They must have heard that I was really training hard in Vero Beach, that I was doing everything necessary to beat Joe Mesi and he came up with an excuse to back out of the fight.
BoxingScene.com: Do you have any recourse to recoup your expenses ?
Tank: I would love to be compensated for the money I have laid out for this fight, between the Mesi camp and the promoter for this fight. Someone needs to get in contact with me and see that I receive some of this money. This is just another black eye for boxing. And this guy is already scheduled to fight next month in Michigan. I am hoping that my promoter Silverhawk will kick in some cash to cover my losses. Unfortunately I am unable to get a response from Silverhawk and haven’t had any direct communication with anyone there. I found out through a voicemail and I took it a little distasteful that everyone knew from last night that it was a no-go
BoxingScene.com: Has anyone talked to you personally today at all?
Tank: Not from Silverhawk, neither from Pinnacle.
BoxingScene.com: Everything else was on hold of course in your career?
Tank: Of course, I had offers from Germany, Russia and everything was put aside for this fight. At this point in my career I really wanted a guy like Mesi, that is high profile, he has only had one or two real fights and I was looking forward to exposing this guy. Putting a beating on this guy . I think it was in 2003 that I signed to fight him and I was training out of Miami and the same thing happened. A week or so before the fight it was canceled. I remember like it was yesterday because I put in five weeks of training and got disappointed.
I feel the way any professional athlete feels after making the sacrifices, watching what I do and where I go, running every morning, it’s a great sacrifice and all I want is to fight. What I put out for the sparring, the gas the hotels for some of these guys, I’m hoping that the promoters, Silverhawk, and the Mesi camp do the right thing and cover my costs.
What is sad about it is I know if it was New York, Nevada, or Florida I would have had a great chance to get the money and have the local commission behind me. But because of his license issues obviously he has to go to these remote desolate locations where promoters and fighters get away with everything.
BoxingScene.com: Thanks Tank, I’ll call back tomorrow and check if things are working out for you.