The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN HIS first bout since November’s disappointing loss, Sherman “Tank” Williams is all set to step back into the ring on what he calls the “long way around” to capturing the heavyweight title.

Williams (35-12-2) is scheduled to travel to Romania to face Romanian heavyweight Bogdan Dinu (9-0-0) on May 17.

Williams, the holder of the WBO China Zone heavyweight title and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title, says that while he is not overlooking his current opponent, his goal of a shot at a major title remains the top priority.

“I’m taking this fight solely for the purpose of strengthening my position and forcing a match with one of the Klitschko brothers, whether it is Wladimir or Vitali,” he said. “Unfortunately with the heavyweight division there is a lot of politics and a lot you have to go through to get a top flight bout. We tried to get Tyson Fury and we were supposed to fight to decide the vacant Commonwealth title but it never materialised. We also tried to get a bout with David Price, but guys want to be fast tracked to the title and I’m going to fight my way through and take the long way around.”

As for his matchup next month, the 40-year-old Williams, who stands at 5’11”, is faced with a familiar situation matched against a taller fighter in the 6’5” Binu.

The 26-year-old Dinu is heralded as one of the top rising prospects out of Europe with a spotless 9-0 record.

“My goal as always, when I’m faced with guys like this is to catch them with that left hook and hit him with an overhead right, which I call the conch punch,” Williams said. “In some of the most classic championship matches, overhand right and left hook, that’s the dynamic combination. Whenever you have a shorter fighter against a taller one that’s usually the classic advantage or disadvantage based on how you look at it.”

Williams is currently training with John David Jackson, who formerly trained dominant middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.

“This has been my first full week of training in camp with John David Jackson, who I also worked with for the Holyfield fight, and he is one of the top trainers here in the United States so he understands what it takes to get the job done at an elite level,” Williams said.

“We have been training in the phone booth, trying to keep everything close because from what we have picked up on the film he (Binu) doesn’t like to fight on the inside, he likes to sit on the ropes and try somewhat of a ‘rope-a-dope’ approach. So in the camp we have been working a lot on the inside and power shots in close range. In Romania, against a Romanian fighter and Romanian judges the plan for Team Tank is to maximise our gym work and our sparring, because we want a knockout. What they seem to be trying to do is to move him along as a contender. From what I have seen he’s a decent fighter, but the guys he fought were nothing like the ‘Tank.’ I’m going to Romania with one goal in mind and that’s a knockout.”

Williams was faced with a similar situation last November when he lost a 10-round unanimous decision to heavyweight contender Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius at the Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki, Finland.

Despite the loss, Williams said he enjoyed the fight and was looking forward to a possible return to Helsinki.

“It was great and a blessing for me. The people were wonderful,” he said. “God is good. Other doors have opened. They love the conch punch and talked a lot about conch and the Bahamas. God definitely gave me favour, I am thankful.”

A Grand Bahama native, Williams said he is currently in negotiations to host a championship fight in Grand Bahama this July, when he looks to defend his titles.

“I believe Freeport has the potential, always had the potential to be a main sporting and entertainment site and this event will get a lot of attention from the boxing world.”