20-year-old Junior Welterweight prospect Mykquan Williams (11-0, 7 KOs) will realize one of his dreams Saturday night when he appears in his first main event bout taking on Matt Doherty in a scheduled eight-round bout at Foxwoods Resorts Casino in Connecticut.
The entire fight card can be streamed on Live.DBE1.com.
Williams grew up in nearby East Hartford and will make his 10th appearance at Foxwoods making the venue his home away from home.
“It’s definitely become my home,” said Williams excitedly. “When I first turned pro I was fighting early on the cards and then after each fight I saw myself coming out later and later so I knew eventually I would be the main event.”
Williams credits his fast start in the professional ranks with how hard his team works for him every day. Williams still trains with Paul Cichon who is the only trainer he has ever known and is managed by the legendary Jackie Kallen.
Williams lost his father to gun violence when he was just eight days old spends his time when he is not in the ring working with young kids in the community.
“I come from the same community as these kids,” said Williams. “People like my trainer Paul Cichon have helped me get to where I am today so it’s only right I do the same when I can.”
After 58 amateur fights including capturing the New England Golden Gloves and the National Silver Gloves championship, Williams signed with Kallen to be his manager and was signed to a promotional deal by Lou DiBella.
“Boxing was just built into me,” explained Williams. “It’s really all I know from when I was very yound and boxing just stuck with me. I watched my aunt fight when I was seven and I told her that night I wanted to go with her to the gym. My trainer today was her trainer back then.”
That same trainer was the one who made the key introduction to Kallen when a 14-year-old Williams was racking up amateur championships.
“After I met her we kept in touch and she would fly out to watch me fight,” recalls Williams. “She helped guys like James Toney become world champions and she said she wants to do the same for me.”
So far 2018 has been good to Williams as he two first round stoppages in his two appearances at Foxwoods. Although he will take another knockout on Saturday, Williams also wants the experience of going some rounds as the competition becomes better.
“I was always taught if the other guy doesn’t belong in there with me then I have to take them out so we will see what happens on Saturday.”
Header photo by DiBella Entertainment
