Richard Williams Reveals That He's Planning To Return

By Terence Dooley

Richard “The Secret” Williams let the cat out of the bag earlier this evening when confirming that he is making a return to boxing.  Williams won the IBO light-middleweight title by beating Shannan Taylor in 2001 and lost the belt to current middleweight kingpin Sergio Martinez in 2003.  Williams retired in 2006 after getting knocked out by Howard Eastman in the twelfth and final round when challenging for Eastman’s British title.

Now, though, Williams is during off the gloves at the tender age of 40, he told Sky Sport’s Ringside show that he still has something to offer.  “I said that when I retire that would be it, I wasn’t coming back, but I’ve got to eat my words,” said Williams when speaking to Ed Robinson.  “I’m working with John Rooney [of Earlsfield ABC] and feel really good.”

Williams, 21-4-1 (17), possessed excellent technical skills during his prime, he was once mentioned as a possible, if improbably, opponent for Oscar De La Hoya when “The Golden Boy” was in his pomp.  Now aiming to campaign at middleweight once again, Williams will find it hard to break into the upper echelons of a domestic division that includes Matthew Macklin, Darren Barker, Martin Murray and Paul Smith as well as upcoming prospects such as Billy Joe Saunders.

Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk or Twitter @Teryboxing.