DaVarryl Williamson

Background

Williamson was raised in poverty in inner city Washington D.C.. He was born to a mother addicted to drugs and a criminal father. He spent his youth moving between foster homes and between schools until his father chose to resume contact at the age of 11.

Williamson showed athletic talents at high school in football and in basketball, in which he twice received all inter-high school Honors. He was given the opportunity to play football at Rochester Community & Technical College in Minnesota, and later at Wayne State College in Nebraska. Williamson quarterbacked the Wayne State Wildcats for two seasons, though he never started, leading to tryouts with the Indianapolis Colts (NFL) and the Arizona Rattlers (Arena Football). A self-proclaimed ‘jack of all trades’, Williamson would also fill in as team mascot on occasion, and could be spotted joining the ‘Yell Team’ from time to time.

Amateur career

Williamson finished his amateur career with a record of 120-17-1, 103 KOs, including victories over former Heavyweight Champion (WBO) Lamon Brewster and current top contender Monte Barrett. Failed tryouts with NFL teams led DaVarryl to try boxing. At the age of 25 he had his first match. After only two years he won a spot on the 1996 Olympic Team as the first alternate. While training for the Olympics, Williamson finished his master's degree at Northern Michigan University.

Professional career

Williamson turned professional in June 2000, in his run towards his title shot, Williamson was able to defeat Kevin McBride via TKO in the 5th, as well as Corey "T-Rex" Sanders, Oliver McCall, Derrick Jefferson, and Eliecer Castillo. He was also KO'd in the first round by Joe Mesi, and lost a disputed technical decision to Wladimir Klitschko.

The high-point of Williamson's successful run culminated with a title shot against IBF Heavyweight champion Chris Byrd in 2005. Byrd outpointed Williamson by unanimous decision. Following the fight it was revealed Williamson had postponed elbow surgery. Shortly thereafter, surgery conducted at the Steadman/Hawkins Group resulted in the removal of a mass of scar tissue. 15 “foreign bodies”, two bone spurs, and fluid in the joint were also removed during the two-hour surgery.

Williamson's shot at another title was derailed after being stopped in the sixth round in a bout against Kali Meehan in October 2007. Williamson was dropped by Meehan, but rose at the count of 8. The referee was willing to let Williamson continue, but the ringside doctor called a stop to the fight awarding Meehan a TKO victory.

Williamson returned with a second round knockout of Cerrone Fox on 9/18/08 at the Centro de Convenciones Figali in Panama City, Panama.

Williamson stopped Carl Davis in August 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. Davis was game, but Williamson sent him to the mat with a sweeping left hook in the fourth round. Davis took a knee early in the fifth following another right hand, before being floored with a picture-perfect right that caused the referee to halt the bout at 2:52 of the fifth round.

Williamson fought Ray Austin on October 31, 2009. In what was billed as a WBC Title Eliminator bout, Williamson was defeated by fourth round technical knockout after being sent to the canvas by Austin. Williamson got up, but the referee stopped it.

Personal

He is currently married to Shalifa; they have two children, Dantel and Alayana.

Amateur

1996 Olympic Trials Heavyweight

1996 Challengers Olympics Heavyweight

1996 Olympics Heavyweight Box-Offs

1997 United States Heavyweight Championships

1997 World Championships in Budapest (Heavyweight)

1998 Tournament in Tampere, Finland (Heavyweight)

1998 United States Heavyweight Championships

1998 Goodwill Games (Heavyweight)

1999: United States Heavyweight Championships

1999: Golden Gloves (Heavyweight)

1999 Multi-National Tournament in Liverpool, England (Heavyweight:)

2000 Olympic Trials Heavyweight

2000 Challengers Round Olympic Trials Heavyweight

Accolades

Facts

Education