UBO Challenger: Hylon Williams Jr.                   

  PRINT   Add to Facebook

February 19, 2021 / BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Williams was a steady fixture on big shows, and put together nine conclusive wins inside his first year in the paid ranks. Mostly against limited opposition, but he did stop fellow prospect Edgar Portillo (3-0) in his eighth outing, showing he was one to look out for.

Despite not fighting at all in 2010, by the end of 2011 Williams had compiled a 15-0 ledger, and was deemed ready for a title fight, and acid test, against another up-and-comer in 14-0 Cuban Rances Barthelemy on February 3, 2012.

With the Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) International Lightweight title on the line, the intriguing match-up co-headlined an ESPN televised card at Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas, with the future looking bright for the winner.

On the night, Barthelemy was a notch above Williams, who found it hard to cope with the tricky style of “Kid Blast”. The first few rounds were fairly even, as Williams managed to work well on the inside, but in the second half Barthelemy was much more effective and deservedly won by unanimous decision.

Williams rebounded with a routine victory the following October, but was then inactive for almost three years before returning in August of 2015. He did well to earn a draw with contender Jason Litzau (29-3), but unfortunately never managed to build on that momentum.

He went in tough again in his next fight, losing on points to another Cuban in former IBF/WBA World Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (24-1). In 2016, -17 and -18 he boxed only once each year, losing to Rashad Ganaway (17-5-1), Darwin Price (11-0) and Sanjarbek Rakhmanov (9-0-1).

Winless in his last five, it looks like the potential of Williams was never fulfilled as he appears retired at 16-5-1 (3).