Boxing coach and promoter to be recognized during June 10 ceremony<\/p>\n
Published Jun 03, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 16\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
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Bill Williams will be inducted into the Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition as an honouree (builder-boxing) during a ceremony on June 10.Article content<\/p>\n
A lifelong love of boxing has brought Bill Williams to a place he never envisioned.<\/p>\n
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Williams, a former fighter turned coach and promoter, will be inducted into the Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition as an honouree (builder \u2013 boxing) during a ceremony on June 10 at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019ve never done the sport of boxing for any reward or acknowledgement,\u201d the 76-year-old said. \u201cIt\u2019s always been a passion since I was like five-years-old.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I heard I was nominated and when I got (notified), I really appreciated it. It\u2019s nice to get noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n
It would be hard not to notice the impact Williams has had on the sport, particularly in Brantford.<\/p>\n
Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Williams moved to Quebec and Petawawa when he was young, while also spending time in Germany.<\/p>\n
Williams\u2019 dad, Tiger, not to be confused with the hockey legend, was in the army and he would train fighters for shows to entertain the troops.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great boxing and to open the show, they always used to have me and some other young fellow from the base go three rounds,\u201d said Williams. \u201cThat was my start.\u201d<\/p>\n
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A young Bill Williams showing off his fighting chops during a bout. Williams will be inducted into the Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition as an honouree (boxing). Photo by Submitted \/jpg, BR, apsmc<\/p>\n
Eventually the family would move to Camp Borden and that\u2019s when Williams\u2019 own boxing career began to take flight. Moving to Brantford in 1968, he trained under legendary coach Frank Bricker at the Branch 90 Legion.<\/p>\n
In the early 1970s, Williams would win a provincial championship and be named boxer of the year. He was a contemporary of another local boxing legend, Gary Summerhays.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a very nervous boxer,\u201d Williams admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne time me and Gary Summerhays fought in Detroit and Frank was driving. He said, \u2018I\u2019ve got two world champions right here in the car.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
That day both he and Gary fought to draws and while Gary would go on to more greatness as a boxer, Williams\u2019 lasting contribution to the sport would coming from a different direction.<\/p>\n
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Before becoming a coach, Bill Williams had a strong career as a fighter. Williams will be inducted into the Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition as an honouree (boxing). Photo by Submitted \/jpg, BR, apsmc<\/p>\n
After his career in the ring was over, Williams started his coaching career by initiating a club at the boys and girls club. That lasted a few years and then he opened a gym at the Army, Navy and Air Force Club.<\/p>\n
Following that, he ran the Oak Street Diner Boxing Club in West Brant before starting up the Blackeye Boxing Club in the early 2000s.<\/p>\n
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Needless to say, he\u2019s impacted a lot of youth.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years I trained probably thousands of kids,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI\u2019ve trained kids that come back to me now and they\u2019re married with kids of their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several years ago he returned to Prince Edward Island and was with his mother, Catherine, when she passed. Williams then came back to Brantford where he started the Bell City Boxing Club.<\/p>\n
Of course he\u2019s trained all levels of fighters from novices all the way up to the likes of John Mercante, Darren Fletcher and Brantford\u2019s first professional female boxer, Jennifer Williams (no relation).<\/p>\n
![\"Bill](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0606-br-williams4.br_.jpg\")
Bill Williams coached Brantford\u2019s first professional women\u2019s boxer, Jennifer Williams (no relation). Bill Williams will be inducted into the Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition as an honouree (boxing). Photo by Submitted \/jpg, BR, apsmc<\/p>\n
At Bell City, he also runs a Parkinson\u2019s program called Rock Steady where those inflicted with the disease come to the gym and work out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love it,\u201d he said of that program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a great group of people. We do an hour workout every Monday, Thursday and Saturday morning. They hit the heavy bag, do balance drills and do weights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the years, Williams has met legends like Gerry Cooney, Larry Holmes, Aaron Pryor, Ray \u2018Boom Boom\u2019 Mancini and Canadian icon George Chuvalo. He\u2019s also promoted several shows in the city.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThat\u2019s something I never envisioned I\u2019d do,\u201d said Williams, who has three daughters, Amber, Ashley and Carrie Ann.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are special memories for me at the civic centre.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams plans on running an outdoor show this summer and then one later in the year in Burford. After that, he\u2019s decided to retire.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time to step away and let these younger coaches get things going,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve done my thing. It\u2019s time to step away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boxing has left a huge impact on him and those he has coached.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our rules was, what you learn in the gym, you leave in the gym,\u201d Williams explained. \u201cYou don\u2019t go to school and start a fight because if we find out, you\u2019ll be suspended.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to think I had a positive influence on the way (kids) looked at things in their life and stayed out of trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoxing has been a love and a passion. It\u2019s done a lot for me. I\u2019ve met a lot of great people.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Bill Williams is being inducted into the Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition as an honouree (boxing). Photo by Submitted \/jpg, BR, apsmc<\/p>\n
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