“Mr. Hollywood” Set For Stardom.

Rubin “Mr. Hollywood” Williams fights Aaron Norwood on Friday January 28th at the Decarlo Convention Centre, Warren, Michigan. The bout is a defense of Williams IBU inter continental super-middleweight crown. But as I discovered after speaking to the fighter and his manager John Carlisle, this could be the start of a very big year for the Detroit fighter. I spoke to the pair via telephone. With Rubin’s reputation for outspokenness and his “Mr. Hollywood” moniker, I was not sure what to expect. What I found was a relaxed, amiable man, confident in his own abilities. Both fighter and manager see the light at the end of the tunnel and think that Rubin is the next in a long line of Detroit fighters to become world champions.

Patrick Gibbons – Has your preparation gone well for Friday night’s fight against Aaron Norwood?

Rubin Williams – Yeah, everything’s fine, the weight is fine. I’m ready. Everything has gone fine. I’ve done the work. If you put the work in it’s like money in the bank come fight time. You can’t cheat in this game.

PG – Did you train at the Kronk for this fight?

RW – Yes, I’m training at the Kronk and also at another gym on the other side of Detroit.

PG – So were you inspired by the famous fighters who emerged from the Kronk in the mid-eighties and early nineties?

RW – Yes. I am a Detroit native and grew up watching them fighters.

PG – So is it still a thrill to be training in the same building where they all learned their trade?

RW – Well to tell you the truth, I been going there for so long I’m used to it. It’s a place of work to me now.

PG – How did you get into the fight game initially?

RW – From the mean streets of the hood. I grew up in a harsh environment and boxing was an outlet. I was also into basketball and track. I would describe myself as a natural athlete.

PG – You have a high number of early knockouts on your record, but you also consider yourself a boxer. How would you describe your style?

RW – If someone brings it to me I’m gonna fight, but I love the chess match side of boxing as well. I would describe myself as a boxer, but if you bring it, you will have to pay a price.

PG – I have noticed in a lot of your press and in interviews, you seem a little frustrated at the rate of progress you are making in your career. Is this going to be the year that Rubin Williams steps up?

At this point in the interview, Rubin’s manager John Carlisle comes on the line to speak.

JC – We have a chance of fighting Jeff Lacy in March. The provisional date is March 5, at The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The fight will be on Showtime television. We have accepted the fight, but Lacy’s camp have not got back to us yet.

PG – That is great news.

RW – It is great for us, but not for him if he accepts.

PG – It is appropriate you should mention Lacy. You have gone on record about your wish to fight him as soon as possible. I understand that beating him would raise your profile, is there something more than that.

RW – Well, yeah there is a certain rivalry there. It goes back to the Amateurs. I lost to him in the Eastern Olympic trials in 1996 on a 17-15 decision. I thought I won that fight, but they gave it to him. Ever since I turned professional, I wanted to fight him. Now he has a title for me to take off him, even better.

PG – Did you get annoyed at the amount of exposure and TV fights Lacy got, from the start of his professional career?

RW – No, it didn’t annoy me at all. He deserved it. He made it to the Olympics, so he deserved it.

PG -How do you rate some of the other top ranked fighters in your division and how do you think you would fare against them? Joe Calzaghe for example.

RW – I think I’d knock Joe out. Joe is a very good fighter, but he’s been getting hurt and knocked down in his last few fights. Of course, I believe I’d knock him out.

PG – What about Anthony Mundine?

RW – Never seen him fight.

PG – Antwun Echols?

RW – Oh, yeah, yeah. I’d love to have a fight with Antwun Echols. Decent puncher. Can’t box a lick. I would easily outbox him.

PG – Well, thank you for your time Rubin. I hope it goes well on Friday and I really hope the Lacy fight happens.

RW – So do I. Thank you very much for your time.

I would like to thank Rubin and his manager Mr. Carlisle for making time to speak to Saddoboxing.com

Patrick Gibbons can be reached at patrick.gibbons4@btinternet.com