{"id":237681,"date":"2026-04-19T07:48:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T07:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/237681\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T07:48:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T07:48:26","slug":"boxing-hall-of-famer-finds-new-path-as-security-captain-at-orlando-health-sebastian-river-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/237681\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxing Hall of Famer finds new path as security captain at Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEBASTIAN \u2014 Retired Heavyweight Boxing Champion Sherman Williams has contended with some of the greatest names in boxing history, even trading blows with fighters like former four-time heavyweight titleholder Evander Holyfield.<\/p>\n

Williams, a Bahamian-born ringster, was recently named as an inductee for the 2026 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame<\/a> for his career spanning nearly 30 years along with his work as a trainer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Sherman \u201cThe Tank\u201d Williams faces Evander Holyfield in a boxing match in 2011 at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. PHOTO PROVIDED<\/p>\n

\u201cI was overwhelmed and overjoyed at the same time,\u201d said Williams, 53, of Port St. Lucie. \u201cI was inducted along with such greats like Emanuel Steward and a few other legends that passed on and went to glory. I\u2019m getting my recognition now while I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

But in Indian River County, Williams is making a name for himself outside of the ropes. The seasoned fighter with a record 42 wins, including 24 knockouts, took the lessons he learned in the boxing arena to a second, new career \u2013 security captain at Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cSituational awareness is the first thing you pick up in the sport of boxing. Once you put down the skipping rope and get done with cardio, the whole side of offense and defense is being alert at all times,\u201d said Williams, who still maintains a healthy regiment in the gym.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere in this setting of the hospital, we have multiple things going on. Some people have joy, some have laughter, others have grief. People are dealing with different emotions all at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to pick up and identify the problem and\/or possible potential risk if it exists \u2013 that\u2019s one of the greatest skills I think I bring to this (job) from boxing that I use here at Orlando (Health) every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Building connections<\/p>\n

On a typical day, Williams makes his rounds, going to each floor in the units every other hour for routine patrol. The retired boxer usually stops by the intensive care unit, progressive care unit, medical surgery wing and emergency room to speak with the doctors and nurses making life and death decisions every day.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a lesson of learning the mindset of someone -reading their body language and stance \u2013 that he picked up as a boxer.<\/p>\n

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Sherman \u201cThe Tank\u201d Williams (right) speaks with Kristi Powers, media relations and public affairs manager for Orlando Health East Region. PHOTO BY NICK SAMUEL<\/p>\n

Williams said the opportunity to train and adapt to living in different countries around the world \u2013 including Denmark \u2013 also helped him connect with people in the hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe diversity and multiculturalism that I experienced in my boxing career in the past is an essential tool for me to de-escalate and deal with people from different backgrounds, different cultures, even sometimes different states of mind,\u201d Williams said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI get into conversations sometimes about boxing or sports in general and it helps. Having that diversified experience goes a long way as a tool I use here on my job at Orlando Health.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Williams said the transition from boxing to security was simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done a lot of security work even in my younger days as a fighter. I kept my licenses current. I know that one day I want to own my own security company,\u201d Williams said as he sat in his office at the 145-bed hospital located at U.S. 1 and Bay Street in the Sebastian-Roseland area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCarrying over into protection was natural. I always like the customer service side of dealing with people and being the person who looks out for the safety of everyone in the hospital and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Caribbean Tank<\/p>\n

Williams, who has competed against and trained boxers around the world, earned the nickname \u201cThe Caribbean Tank\u201d because of his ferocious onslaught of punches. The tactical athlete said he was drawn to boxing as a young boy growing up in the islands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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FLYER PROVIDED<\/p>\n

Williams joined the USA junior boxing team at age 15, jabbing his way up. The power puncher\u2019s professional boxing career lasted from 1996 to 2021, a time when boxers like Holyfield and Mike Tyson dominated the headlines with attention grabbing bouts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI was running off everybody in the gym. I had this overhand right \u2013 we now call it the counterpunch \u2013 that I was basically stunning everybody with,\u201d Williams said. \u201cMy manager had an investor. He said \u2018I\u2019m going to invest in this guy on one condition \u2013 he\u2019s going to be called Sherman the Tank.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams, also known as The Tank or Tankman, said it was an honor for him to receive the ring name. Williams said his love of history made the ringside name even more worthwhile.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the General Sherman Tank that defeated the Nazis and Hitler in the second World War,\u201d Williams said of the armored vehicles that rolled across the European Theater during the war. \u201cRolling like a tank, hitting like a tank, unstoppable\u2026unmovable\u2026 impenetrable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams, a silver medalist in boxing for the 1996 Olympics, said he has trained fighters in Scandinavia, including Denmark and Sweden. He also serves as a volunteer coach with the Port St. Lucie Police Athletic League.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Serving Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital<\/p>\n

Williams began working for then-Sebastian River Medical Center back in 2022, two years before Orlando Health took over operations. The former boxer said patients speak to him occasionally about their treatments and care at the facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Sherman \u201cThe Tank\u201d Williams monitors security cameras from his office at Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital. PHOTO PROVIDED<\/p>\n

Staying vigilant is key as Williams swiftly helps to solve different scenarios at the hospital, from a patient needing help after falling down to de-escalating a situation where a family member may become angry and yell at the nurses because of their perceptions that their loved one didn\u2019t get timely care.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can be doing three things at one time and still tend to an issue and make sure everybody is safe,\u201d Williams said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Williams said he\u2019s grateful for the camaraderie among all the employees at Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital. The security captain said he sees himself working at the hospital \u2013 a big change from darting around the boxing ring \u2013 long term.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cultural Roots<\/p>\n

Williams often visits the Bahamas, especially during the country\u2019s Independence Day festivities on July 10. The 5-foot 11-inch tall, 265-pound prizefighter described himself as a \u201cproud Bahamian\u201d and said he still has family in the island nation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Sherman \u201cThe Tank\u201d Williams (middle row, second from left) was among 23 people, including boxers, trainers, promoters and media personnel, inducted into the 2026 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. PHOTO PROVIDED<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fortunate to enjoy both citizenships. The Bahamas is in my heart. It\u2019s part of who I am,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI\u2019m an Independence baby. Independence was 1972\u2026the same year I was born. I was all into history and how we became a people and a nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams said as a boy he was blessed to be taught about the Founding Fathers of the Bahamas. He was also a youngster when he learned how the Caribbean country \u2013 with its historical connections to the U.S. \u2013 got its long-awaited independence from Britain.<\/p>\n

Honoring his roots is an essential duty, something Williams says he shares with Black Americans.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I look at my African American brothers and sisters, I share that same pride, hope and optimism because we came a long way,\u201d Williams said. \u201cThe road was definitely paved by the ones before us.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SEBASTIAN \u2014 Retired Heavyweight Boxing Champion Sherman Williams has contended with some of the greatest names in boxing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":237682,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[105561,139,141,105562,140,105563,105564],"class_list":["post-237681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-boxing-champion","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-health-sebastian-river-hospital","tag-orlando-news","tag-security-captain","tag-sherman-the-tank-williams"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237681"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237681\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/237682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}