The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHERMAN ‘The Tank’ Williams said he threw enough “conch punches,” but was highly disappointed in the judges, calling it “ridiculous” after he suffered an unanimous 10-round decision to hometown favourite Joseph Parker at The Trusts Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday night.

Two judges scored it 100-90 and the other had it 97-94 as Parker stayed undefeated to retain his World Boxing Association (WBA) PABA and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Oriental titles.

The 5-foot, 11-inch Williams, who gave it his all going toe-to-toe with the 6-4 giant Parker, expressed his displeasure in the outcome. While Parker, 22, improved to 11-0 with nine knockouts, the 42-year-old Williams was dropped to 36-14-2 with 14 KO.

“It was very ridiculous. Some of the media sided with me, some saw it as a draw, a toss up,” said Williams of the controversial decision. “I hit him with all my power, the conch punch was working and I think I was in control of the fight for the first four rounds.

“By the sixth round, he basically got on his bicycle and just ran. The last two rounds, be basically just ran. The two judges who scored it 100-90 were watching a whole different fight. One judge scored it 96-94, giving me five rounds. She was a female judge. But at the press conference, I had indicated that I felt I would not get a fair shake because the other two judges were from New Zealand.”

If that wasn’t enough for Williams to deal with, he noted that the same referee, Brad Vocale, who was the third man in the ring, was the same one who officiated his match against Chauncy Welliver in Macao, China, for the WBO China Zone and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles.

Vocale, who represented the WBO, was considered bias towards Williams in both fights.

“My concerns here in Auckland was the fact that they didn’t have one international judge,” he said. “The Australian referee, who represented the WBO, didn’t make it any easier for me in this neck of the woods. I not only had to fight Joseph Parker, but three judges and the referee.

“He gave a couple of warnings that we challenged. It got a little out of hand in the third. Joseph complained about some low blows, but they were all body shots. They had a big bet here for a knockout, but Joe came close to getting knocked out about four times. So they were on the edge of their seats.”

After the fight, Parker admitted that he may have bitten off more than he could chew against Williams.

“Sherman Williams is a very good fighter. He has a very hard chin,” Parker said. “Sherman Williams can take a punch, but this has developed me as a fighter. He thinks he’s won, I’m still the champion.”

Williams, in his first fight since he won a four-round decision over Earl Ladson at The Ritz in Raleigh, North Carolina, on November 22, 2013, said he asked Parker for a rematch, predicting that he will take him out in six rounds.

Parker, fresh off his third round knockout over Keith Thompson on August 9 in Sands Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, said he gave Williams a chance to do it in the fight, but he didn’t. He said the decision was not up to them, that’s why he left it in the hands of the judges.

But Parker had this much to say: “You don’t have to be a boxing expert to know he (Williams) lost every single round.”

At 20 years Parker’s senior, Williams said he gave him a “shellacking. He fought four times for the year and this was just my first fight for the year. So I was very pleased with my performance. I’m just disappointed that it was a ridiculous decision that gave Parker the victory.”

Williams, on his way back to Florida, said he intends to return to the Bahamas for some relaxation and wait for what his manager Si Stern comes up with next. He noted that he would like to return to New Zealand for a rematch, although he accepted the hometown decision.

“I just wish everybody can look at the fight and see how the conch punch had him hurt for most of the fight,” he said. “I felt good. I feel strong. I don’t have any injuries and so I thank God and my supporters. I am always able to go there and represented the Bahamas to the best of my ability.”

He only wished the results would have been in his favour.