DaVarryl Williamson

DaVarryl Williamson (born July 25, 1968 as DaVarryl Jerome Williamson) is an American boxer originally from Washington, D.C., but later a resident of Aurora, Colorado. His ring nickname is "Touch of Sleep". He has a current professional record of 26-6, 22KO

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.

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.

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.

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

Amateur

1996 Olympic Trials Heavyweight

• Defeated Harold Sconiers ko 1
• Defeated David Washington ko
• Lost to Nate Jones on points

1996 Challengers Olympics Heavyweight

• Defeated Lamon Brewster on points

1996 Olympics Heavyweight Box-Offs

• Lost to Nate Jones on points

1997 United States Heavyweight Championships

• Defeated James Jackson ko 1
• Defeated Terry Smith ko 2
• Defeated Calvin Brock ko 3

1997 World Championships in Budapest (Heavyweight)

• Defeated Garth da Silva (N-Z) on points
• Lost to Mark Simmons] (Can) on points

1998 Tournament in Tampere, Finland (Heavyweight)

• Defeated Kai Brankarr (Fin) tko 1

1998 United States Heavyweight Championships

• Defeated Sam Sleezer tko 2
• Defeated Kevin Montly ko 1
• Defeated Stanley Mc Clain ko 3
• Defeated Calvin Brock on points

1998 Goodwill Games (Heavyweight)

• Defeated Mocerino ko 1
• Defeated Kshinin ko 2
• Lost to Félix Savón (Cub) ko 1

1999: United States Heavyweight Championships

• Defeated Sifou Sua ko 4
• Lost to Jason Estrada on points

1999: Golden Gloves (Heavyweight)

• Defeated Devin Vargas ko
• Defeated Patrick Nuwamu ko
• Defeated Jason Estrada on points
• Defeated Jeremiah Muhammad ko 2
• Defeated Michael Bennett (boxer) ko 2

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

• Defeated Kevin Evans (Gal) tko
• Lost to Garth Da Silva (N-Z) on points

2000 Olympic Trials Heavyweight

• Defeated Anthony Stewart points
• Defeated Mike Kirkman points
• Lost to Michael Bennett (boxer) points

2000 Challengers Round Olympic Trials Heavyweight

• Lost to Malik Scott points

Accolades

• Former NABF & WBO Latino American Heavyweight Champion. Ranked as high as #10 by the WBC, #6 by the WBO & #8 by the IBF.
• National Golden Gloves Champion - 1996, 1999
• United States National Heavyweight Champion – 1996 through 1998 (1st and only Heavyweight to ever accomplish this feat)
• 10-Time National Amateur Boxing Champion
• Goodwill Games Silver Medalist - 1998
• U.S. Olympic Team - First Alternate - 1996
• U.S. Olympic Festival Champion - 1995
• American Boxing Classic Champion - 1995, 1996, 1999
• National Police Athletic League Champion - 1999
• Amateur Record: 120-17-1, 103 KO’s (88% KO rate)
• His professional opponents have a combined record of 337-150-6

Facts

• Former football quarterback at Wayne State College (1991–1993)
• Tried out with the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts (1993)
• Began boxing at 25 yrs old
• Holds a master's degree
• Has performed as a stand-up comic

Education

• Masters of Arts, Administrative Services - 1998 - Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan
• Bachelor of Science, Recreation - 1993 - Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska