Holman Williams

Holman Williams (January 30, 1915 in Pensacola, Florida – July 15, 1967) was a world welterweight and middleweight boxing contender. Williams is a member of the infamous Murderers' Row, a group of highly skilled black fighters who were never able to get a world title shot.

Boxing career Williams began boxing as an amateur in 1928 as a bantamweight and had a successful 38-bout career. In 1932 he turned pro as a featherweight and would eventually be recognized as one of the most clever welterweights and middleweights of his era.

In his career Williams fought in the Lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions, he fought notable champions and contenders such as Cocoa Kid, Charley Burley, Eddie Booker, Bob Satterfield, Archie Moore, Marcel Cerdan and Jake LaMotta.

When the World Colored Middleweight Championship was revived in the early 1940s, Charley Burley, who had been the colored welterweight champ, fought Williams for the title on 14 August 1942. Burley won on a 9th-round TKO, the first time Williams was stopped in his career. Williams won the title on a decision in their rematch on 16 October 1942, then lost the title on 15 January 1943 to the Cocoa Kid in a 12-round decision.

Williams retired with a record of 146–31–11 with 36 knockouts with 1 no contest.

Death On July 15, 1967 Williams was killed in a fire while asleep in the club where he worked.

Honors Williams was elected into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996 and elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes189Loss Daniel JamesPTS10Jun 30, 1948 188Loss146–30–11 Jose BasoraTKO4 (10)Mar 3, 1948 187Win146–29–11 O'Neill BellSD10Nov 28, 1947 186Loss145–29–11 Jose BasoraPTS10Nov 3, 1947 185Loss145–28–11 Bert LytellUD12Jul 4, 1947 184Loss145–27–11 Jean WalzackUD10May 18, 1947 183Win145–26–11 Henry HallUD12Mar 28, 1947 182Draw144–26–11 Henry HallPTS10Mar 14, 1947 181Loss144–26–10 Henry BrimmSD10Feb 25, 1947 180Win144–25–10 Wylie BurnsUD8Jan 23, 1947 179Win143–25–10 Deacon Johnny BrownUD10Nov 25, 1946 178Loss142–25–10 Sam BaroudiSD10Oct 14, 1946 177Win142–24–10 Eddie O'NeillUD10Sep 17, 1946 176Loss141–24–10 Jake LaMottaUD10Aug 7, 1946 175Loss141–23–10 Marcel CerdanPTS10Jul 7, 1946 174Win141–22–10 Bob SatterfieldSD10Apr 25, 1946 173Loss140–22–10 Bert LytellUD10Apr 15, 1946 172Win140–21–10 Johnny CarterTKO7 (10)Apr 4, 1946 171Win139–21–10 George HenryPTS10Feb 14, 1946 170Win138–21–10 Aaron WadeKO4 (10)Feb 4, 1946 169Win137–21–10 Butch LynchTKO3 (10)Jan 24, 1946 168Loss136–21–10 Archie MooreTKO11 (12)Nov 26, 1945 167Win136–20–10 Archie MooreMD10Oct 22, 1945 166Win135–20–10 Len WadsworthUD10Oct 10, 1945 165Win134–20–10 Sampson PowellUD10Oct 2, 1945 164Win133–20–10 Berlie LanierUD10Sep 27, 1945 163Win132–20–10 Bert LytellPTS12Aug 31, 1945 162Win131–20–10 Forest GeeKO6 (10)Aug 22, 1945 161Draw130–20–10 Bert LytellPTS10Aug 17, 1945 160Win130–20–9 Johnny GreenUD10Aug 1, 1945 159Win129–20–9 Charley BurleyUD12Jul 11, 1945 158Win128–20–9 Sampson PowellUD10May 28, 1945 157Win127–20–9 Joe CarterPTS15May 20, 1945 156Win126–20–9 Herbert Lewis HardwickUD12May 14, 1945 155Win125–20–9 Prentiss HallUD8May 8, 1945 154Win124–20–9 Oscar BoydUD10Apr 24, 1945 153Loss123–20–9 Herbert Lewis HardwickSD10Mar 26, 1945 152Draw123–19–9 Joe CarterPTS10Dec 22, 1944 151Win123–19–8 Kid TuneroUD10Nov 6, 1944 150Win122–19–8 Aaron WadePTS10Oct 11, 1944 149Draw121–19–8 Jose BasoraPTS10Oct 2, 1944 148Draw121–19–7 Herbert Lewis HardwickPTS12Sep 15, 1944 147Win121–19–6 Joe ReddickUD10Aug 14, 1944 146Win120–19–6 Anthony JonesPTS10Jul 21, 1944 145Win119–19–6 Lloyd MarshallMD10Jul 11, 1944 144Loss118–19–6 Lloyd MarshallPTS10Jun 7, 1944 143Win118–18–6 Jack ChasePTS12May 24, 1944 142Win117–18–6 Paul LewisPTS10May 10, 1944 141Win116–18–6 Jack ChasePTS15Apr 27, 1944 140Win115–18–6 Jose BasoraPTS10Apr 10, 1944 139Win114–18–6 Battling MonroePTS10Mar 17, 1944 138Loss113–18–6 Eddie BookerPTS10Mar 6, 1944 137Win113–17–6 Jack ChasePTS12Feb 21, 1944 136Win112–17–6 Jack ChasePTS10Feb 7, 1944 135Win111–17–6 Young Gene BuffaloPTS10Jan 24, 1944 134Win110–17–6 Tommy HubertUD10Jan 11, 1944 133Win109–17–6 Steve BelloisePTS10Dec 6, 1943 132Win108–17–6 Eddie BookerPTS12Nov 19, 1943 131Win107–17–6 Joe CarterUD10Oct 11, 1943 130Win106–17–6 John GarnerPTS10Sep 27, 1943 129Win105–17–6 Lloyd MarshallPTS10Sep 3, 1943 128Loss104–17–6 Jose BasoraSD10Aug 9, 1943 127Loss104–16–6 Kid TuneroPTS10Jul 31, 1943 126104–15–6 Charley BurleyNC10 (10)May 14, 1943 125Win104–15–6 Roosevelt ThomasPTS10May 3, 1943 124Win103–15–6 Mario Raul OchoaPTS10Apr 3, 1943 123Win102–15–6 Anthony JonesPTS10Mar 26, 1943 122Win101–15–6 Joe CarterPTS10Mar 15, 1943 121Win100–15–6 Roosevelt ThomasPTS10Feb 19, 1943 120Win99–15–6 Harold SmithPTS10Jan 24, 1943 119Loss98–15–6 Herbert Lewis HardwickPTS12Jan 15, 1943 118Win98–14–6 RJ LewisPTS12Dec 13, 1942 117Win97–14–6 Charley BurleyUD15Oct 16, 1942 116Loss96–14–6 Charley BurleyTKO9 (15)Aug 14, 1942 115Win96–13–6 Johnny JacksonPTS10Jul 27, 1942 114Win95–13–6 Lorenzo StricklandPTS10Jul 24, 1942 113Win94–13–6 Randy BrownKO5 (10)Jul 10, 1942 112Loss93–13–6 Charley BurleyPTS10Jun 23, 1942 111Win93–12–6 Kid TuneroUD12Apr 27, 1942 110Loss92–12–6 Herbert Lewis HardwickPTS6Mar 27, 1942 109Win92–11–6 Kid TuneroUD12Mar 9, 1942 108Loss91–11–6 Herbert Lewis HardwickUD15Mar 2, 1942 107Loss91–10–6 Charley BurleyUD10Feb 26, 1942 106Win91–9–6 Herbert Lewis HardwickUD12Jan 19, 1942 105Win90–9–6 Jose BasoraPTS6Jan 9, 1942 104Draw89–9–6 Herbert Lewis HardwickSD10Dec 22, 1941 103Win89–9–5 Howell KingPTS10Nov 21, 1941 102Win88–9–5 Ernest RobinsonPTS10Nov 7, 1941 101Win87–9–5 Rand JacksonPTS10Oct 31, 1941 100Win86–9–5 Raul CarabantesPTS6Oct 6, 1941 99Win85–9–5 Jose BasoraPTS6Sep 29, 1941 98Win84–9–5 Jack DuboisKO6 (10)Jul 28, 1941 97Win83–9–5 Antonio FernandezPTS6Jun 18, 1941 96Win82–9–5 Jimmy LetoPTS6May 23, 1941 95Win81–9–5 Antonio FernandezPTS8May 13, 1941 94Win80–9–5 Young Gene BuffaloUD10Mar 27, 1941 93Win79–9–5 Young Gene BuffaloPTS8Mar 21, 1941 92Win78–9–5 Frankie BrittTKO4 (6)Feb 17, 1941 91Win77–9–5 Ernest RobinsonPTS6Jan 31, 1941 90Win76–9–5 Frankie BrittUD6Dec 16, 1940 89Win75–9–5 Mansfield DriskellTKO6 (8)Dec 6, 1940 88Win74–9–5 Eddie DolanSD10Oct 29, 1940 87Loss73–9–5 Izzy JannazzoPTS10Sep 4, 1940 86Win73–8–5 Bill McDowellPTS10Jul 29, 1940 85Win72–8–5 Vinnie VinesTKO4 (6)Jul 17, 1940 84Win71–8–5 Milo TheodorescuUD10Jul 4, 1940 83Win70–8–5 Joe LegonPTS6Jun 20, 1940 82Win69–8–5 Johnny DursoTKO4 (6)Jun 5, 1940 81Win68–8–5 Izzy JannazzoUD10Mar 27, 1940 80Win67–8–5 Eddie DolanPTS10Feb 2, 1940 79Win66–8–5 Steve MamakosPTS12Jan 25, 1940 78Loss65–8–5 Herbert Lewis HardwickUD15Jan 11, 1940 77Draw65–7–5 Izzy JannazzoPTS10Dec 13, 1939 76Win65–7–4 Charley BurleyPTS15Dec 1, 1939 75Win64–7–4 Tommy MollisKO3 (10)Oct 27, 1939 74Win63–7–4 Carl DellPTS6Oct 2, 1939 73Win62–7–4 Young Gene BuffaloTKO6 (10)Aug 4, 1939 72Win61–7–4 Johnny JacksonPTS10Jul 14, 1939 71Win60–7–4 Ralph GizzyKO4 (10)May 30, 1939 70Win59–7–4 Bobby SeamanPTS6Apr 17, 1939 69Win58–7–4 Jackie BurkeUD10Mar 21, 1939 68Win57–7–4 Andre JessurunPTS10Feb 20, 1939 67Win56–7–4 Francesco MontanariUD10Feb 7, 1939 66Draw55–7–4 Eddie BookerPTS6Jan 25, 1939 65Win55–7–3 Wildcat O'ConnorUD10Jan 18, 1939 64Draw54–7–3 Tony RockPTS4Nov 25, 1938 63Win54–7–2 Johnny JacksonUD10Oct 14, 1938 62Loss53–7–2 Michele PalermoPTS10Jul 11, 1938 61Win53–6–2 Jack PortneyUD10Jun 6, 1938 60Win52–6–2 Paulie WalkerUD10May 16, 1938 59Win51–6–2 Saverio TurielloPTS10Apr 25, 1938 58Win50–6–2 Jimmy BerresPTS6Feb 9, 1938 57Win49–6–2 Manuel VictoriaPTS6Jan 11, 1938 56Win48–6–2 Remo FernandezPTS10Oct 29, 1937 55Win47–6–2 Young Gene BuffaloPTS10Oct 22, 1937 54Win46–6–2 Tony RockPTS10Oct 11, 1937 53Win45–6–2 Penna RandezellRTD3 (8)Oct 5, 1937 52Win44–6–2 Remo FernandezPTS8Oct 1, 1937 51Win43–6–2 Gallito RamirezTKO3 (10)Sep 24, 1937 50Win42–6–2 Vince PimpinellaPTS8Sep 2, 1937 49Win41–6–2 Paulie WalkerPTS8Aug 5, 1937 48Win40–6–2 Johnny LucasPTS10Jul 6, 1937 47Loss39–6–2 Herbert Lewis HardwickPTS15Jun 11, 1937 46Win39–5–2 Bobby PachoUD10Apr 19, 1937 45Win38–5–2 Slugger WhiteKO4 (10)Mar 22, 1937 44Win37–5–2 Herbert Lewis HardwickPTS12Mar 12, 1937 43Loss36–5–2 Johnny LucasPTS8Feb 8, 1937 42Win36–4–2 Joe NealonUD8Jan 28, 1937 41Win35–4–2 Tony FalcoPTS10Jan 4, 1937 40Win34–4–2 Ray NashTKO3 (6)Nov 28, 1936 39Win33–4–2 Wesley MartinTKO5 (10)Oct 19, 1936 38Draw32–4–2 Richie FontainePTS10Oct 5, 1936 37Win32–4–1 Roger SheaTKO2 (8)Aug 31, 1936 36Loss31–4–1 Herbert Lewis HardwickPTS10Apr 17, 1936 35Loss31–3–1 Herbert Lewis HardwickMD10Mar 13, 1936 34Win31–2–1 Andy BundyPTS8Oct 31, 1935 33Win30–2–1 Chuck WoodsPTS10Oct 2, 1935 32Win29–2–1 Lew MasseyUD10Aug 28, 1935 31Win28–2–1 Baby Tiger FlowersTKO8 (15)Jul 2, 1935 30Win27–2–1 Darcey WhitePTS12May 31, 1935 29Win26–2–1 Wesley FarrellTKO8 (15)May 17, 1935 28Win25–2–1 Wesley FarrellUD10Apr 5, 1935 27Win24–2–1 Tommy PaulPTS10Mar 22, 1935 26Win23–2–1 Billy VaughnPTS8Feb 26, 1935 25Win22–2–1 Billy MackKO4 (8)Feb 18, 1935 24Win21–2–1 Harry BookerTKO4 (8)Feb 11, 1935 23Win20–2–1 Harry BookerPTS8Jan 14, 1935 22Win19–2–1 Lee SheppardKO2 (8)Jan 7, 1935 21Win18–2–1 Eddie CarrollTKO2 (6)Jan 1, 1935 20Win17–2–1 Charlie BochioTKO6 (8)Dec 6, 1934 19Win16–2–1 Battling GizzyTKO1 (6)Nov 9, 1934 18Win15–2–1 Tommy CorbettTKO3 (6)Oct 11, 1934 17Win14–2–1 Chick WatsonKO3 (?)May 4, 1934 16Draw13–2–1 Harry RobertsonPTS6Feb 16, 1934 15Win13–2 Cecil LotheryPTS6Feb 14, 1934 14Win12–2 Billy MooreKO2 (?)Jan 26, 1934 13Win11–2 Frankie PalloKO3 (6)Nov 24, 1933 12Win10–2 Joe GeracePTS10Oct 30, 1933 11Win9–2 Mickey O'BrienKO3 (6)Oct 13, 1933 10Win8–2 Wilbur ChevalierPTS8Aug 30, 1933 9Win7–2 Jack DombrowskiPTS6Aug 24, 1933 8Win6–2 Jackie YoungKO4 (?)Aug 18, 1933 7Loss5–2 Chuck WoodsPTS10May 4, 1933 6Win5–1 Len HendricksonPTS8Nov 16, 1932 5Loss4–1 Chuck WoodsPTS8Oct 12, 1932 4Win4–0 Henry PacerKO2 (6)Oct 10, 1932 3Win3–0 Eddie IsaacsPTS6Sep 23, 1932 2Win2–0 Art SmithKO2 (6)Sep 2, 1932 1Win1–0 Joe LynnTKO3 (6)Aug 12, 1932

See also Murderers' Row (Boxing)

References

External links

CBZ Bio IBHOF Bio