Lewis: I want to be in camp with Usyk

Williams and Cleary….back in action on February 8

FORMER amateur sensation Lewis Williams has reached out to the greatest current heavyweight of them all, Aleksander Usyk, in his quest to be a pro superstar.

Leamington’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist – one fight into his professional journey -wants to train with the Ukrainian legend.

Manager Edwin Clearly said: “He wants to go into camp with Usyk, he wants to train with him, see how he does things.”

Edwin has sent a message to Usyk’s team and is awaiting a response.

After demolishing usually resilient Lamah Griggs in his debut, Williams is out again on February 8 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. In the opposite corner will be Portsmouth’s Cristian Awaka who, with only one win in five, may be in for a similar short, painful night.

Cleary, however, is taking nothing for granted. “Awaka is 6ft 5ins, he’s had a lot of time to prepare for this. It’s his moment in the sun.”

I cannot see the 39-year-old upsetting the applecart. Lewis, a former Team GB star, is backed by a major promoter and is on the path towards big things. He is an arena fighter.

And, like Usyk, he represents a new breed of heavyweights - lean, mean and lightning fast.

Despite measuring 6ft 7ins – exceptionally tall even for heavyweights, Lewis won’t go into action over 16-and-a-half stone.

Making the 14-and-a-half stone amateur heavyweight limit – remember, there’s a super-heavyweight category in the unpaid code – must’ve been no picnic for the lad. “Not sure how he did it, not sure many could. But he did for quite a few years, Cleary admitted.

“Lewis is strong and I don’t think he should sacrifice speed (by putting on more weight). I’m sure the same was said about Muhammad Ali. I like what I see.

“I think there’s probably half-a-stone to add to him, then that’s it. If it slows him, we’ll take it off.”

At 26, time is on Lewis’ side – and Cleary will not fast-track him towards titles. “The next fight is over four rounds, it’ll be six after that.  There’s no real rush to step-up. Maybe after eight, nine, ten fights he’ll go for titles.

“There’s no rush, no recipe to getting where he wants to go. When he’s ready, he’s ready. People ask me, how far can he go? Well, he’s sparred most of the top lads at super-heavyweight for years on GB holding his weight back. Now with his breaks off, watch him go.

*For the Manchester bout, tickets, £48 standard, are available and a coach being laid for an extra £20. Get them from Lewis or Cleary’s Boxing.