DaVarryl Williamson
American boxer (born 1968)
title: "DaVarryl Williamson" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["boxers-from-colorado", "heavyweight-boxers", "national-golden-gloves-champions", "northern-michigan-university-alumni", "winners-of-the-united-states-championship-for-amateur-boxers", "wayne-state-warriors-football-players", "1968-births", "living-people", "american-male-boxers", "competitors-at-the-1998-goodwill-games", "20th-century-american-sportsmen"] description: "American boxer (born 1968)" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DaVarryl_Williamson" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American boxer (born 1968) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox boxer"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | DaVarryl Williamson |
| realname | DaVarryl Jerome Williamson |
| nickname | Touch Of Sleep |
| weight | Heavyweight |
| height | 6 ft 4 in |
| reach | 80 in |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| style | Orthodox |
| total | 35 |
| wins | 27 |
| KO | 23 |
| losses | 8 |
| draws | 0 |
| :: |
| name = DaVarryl Williamson | image = | realname = DaVarryl Jerome Williamson | nickname = Touch Of Sleep | weight = Heavyweight | height = 6 ft 4 in | reach = 80 in | birth_date = | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | style = Orthodox | total = 35 | wins = 27 | KO = 23 | losses = 8 | draws = 0
DaVarryl Jerome Williamson (born July 25, 1968) is an American former professional boxer. A highly-touted amateur, he challenged once for the IBF world heavyweight title in 2005.
Early and personal life
Williamson was raised in poverty in the inner city Washington D.C., 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. An accomplished high school football star, he attended Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota on a scholarship. Williamson later transferred on a scholarship to play for NCAA Division II Wayne State College in Nebraska, graduating in 1993.
He is married to Jennifer Williamson.
Boxing career
Amateur career
Williamson started boxing as an amateur at the age of 25. As an amateur, Williamson won the National Golden Gloves heavyweight championships in 1996 and 1999, and United States national amateur championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and built a record of 120 wins, 17 losses and 1 draw, with 103 wins coming by knockout (88% KO rate).
Highlights
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 TKO 1
- Defeated Stanley McClain 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
Professional career
Williamson made his professional debut in 2000 at the age of 32. He won his first eighteen fights out of 19, with 16 of them by knockout (KO) inside the first five rounds before facing another undefeated hard-hitting heavyweight Joe Mesi. In the opening minute, Mesi hit Williamson with a right-left combination, unleashing a barrage of punches which ultimately put Williamson down. Davarryl was not able to get up at the count of ten, declaring Mesi the winner by first-round KO.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUUJgW--tYo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/dUUJgW--tYo| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Joe Mesi vs Davarryl Williamson 2/3 |website=YouTube|date=28 April 2009 |access-date=13 March 2020}}
Afterwards, Williamson defeated Kendrick Releford by fifth-round TKO and Cuban contender Eliecer Castillo by majority decision before facing Wladimir Klitschko. The fight took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Just one month after the bout, Williamson defeated former world champion, 39-year old Oliver McCall, who was on the comeback trail and lost 19 lbs for this bout, by unanimous decision. He then faced former world title challenger Derrick Jefferson less than three months later, stopping him in the second round. Both fights took place at Madison Square Garden. The fight, which some observers expected to be "explosive", was marked by a series of feints and clinches. The bout went full twelve rounds, with Byrd being declared the winner by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 116–112 and one judge scoring it 115–113. The end of the fight was followed with boos from the crowd. Following the fight it was revealed Williamson had postponed elbow surgery.
Following the loss, Williamson won two fights, beating journeyman Maurice Wheeler and undefeated prospect Mike Mollo within four rounds each, After that, Williamson fought sporadically, having fought three times before retiring in 2014 after losing to Eric Molina at the age of 45.
Professional boxing record
|- |align="center" colspan=8|27 Wins (23 knockouts, 4 decisions), 8 Losses (6 knockouts, 2 decisions) |- | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Result | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Record | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Opponent | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Type | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Round | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Date | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Location | align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Notes |-align=center |Loss |27-8 |align=left|USA Eric Molina |TKO |5 |10/05/2014 |align=left|USA USC Galen Center, Los Angeles
| align=left |
|---|
| Loss |
| 27-7 |
| align=left |
| KO |
| 4 |
| 23/06/2012 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 27-6 |
| align=left |
| KO |
| 7 |
| 23/04/2011 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Loss |
| 26-6 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 4 |
| 31/10/2009 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 26-5 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 5 |
| 24/04/2009 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 25-5 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 2 |
| 18/09/2008 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Loss |
| 24-5 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 6 |
| 06/10/2007 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 24-4 |
| align=left |
| KO |
| 3 |
| 06/07/2007 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 23-4 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 4 |
| 06/05/2006 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Loss |
| 22-4 |
| align=left |
| UD |
| 12 |
| 01/10/2005 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 22-3 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 2 |
| 30/04/2005 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 21-3 |
| align=left |
| UD |
| 10 |
| 13/11/2004 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Loss |
| 20-3 |
| align=left |
| TD |
| 5 |
| 02/10/2004 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 20-2 |
| align=left |
| MD |
| 12 |
| 17/04/2004 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 19-2 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 9 |
| 17/01/2004 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Loss |
| 18-2 |
| align=left |
| KO |
| 1 |
| 27/09/2003 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 18-1 |
| align=left |
| UD |
| 10 |
| 10/01/2003 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 17-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 5 |
| 26/07/2002 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 16-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 3 |
| 25/05/2002 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 15-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 3 |
| 13/04/2002 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 14-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 1 |
| 29/03/2002 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 13-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 5 |
| 18/01/2002 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 12-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 1 |
| 30/11/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 11-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 3 |
| 16/11/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 10-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 3 |
| 25/08/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 9-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 2 |
| 04/08/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 8-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 1 |
| 21/07/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 7-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 1 |
| 06/07/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 6-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 2 |
| 25/05/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 5-1 |
| align=left |
| UD |
| 4 |
| 18/03/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 4-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 1 |
| 21/01/2001 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Loss |
| 3-1 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 4 |
| 06/10/2000 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 3-0 |
| align=left |
| RTD |
| 2 |
| 24/08/2000 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 2-0 |
| align=left |
| KO |
| 2 |
| 04/08/2000 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| - |
| Win |
| 1-0 |
| align=left |
| TKO |
| 1 |
| 30/06/2000 |
| align=left |
| align=left |
| } |
Accolades
- Williamson was inducted to Colorado Hall of Fame 2022
- National Golden Gloves Champion - 1996, 1999
- United States national amateur heavyweight champion – 1996, 1997, 1998 (first and only heavyweight to win the championships three times in a row)
- 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
- His professional opponents have a combined record of 337–150–6
References
References
- (28 August 2010). "A Touch of Sleep".
- "Storytelling Series {{!}} City of Englewood, Colorado".
- (March 13, 1997). "Perhaps the most stinging blow suffered by Davarryl Williams".
- "BoxRec: Davarryl Williamson".
- "BoxRec: Bout: Joe Mesi vs Davarryl Williamson".
- "BoxRec: Bout: Wladimir Klitschko v DaVarryl Williamson".
- "Klitschko wins split decision after head butt".
- "BoxRec: Oliver McCall".
- (2 October 2005). "Byrd Wins Snoozer over Williamson".
- "DaVarryl Williamson".
- (2021-10-20). "COLORADO SPORTS HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT SIX NEW MEMBERS McCaffrey, Callan, Williams Headline Class of 2022".
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