Fighter of the Week (1/15-1/21):Mykquan Williams
25-year-old Mykquan Williams of Hartford, Connecticut, was coming off a draw with Paulo Cesar Galdino, 12-7-1 (9), on a major card in front of the entire boxing world. He entered the ring with Luis Feliciano, a prohibitive underdog. He also had a draw with Tre'sean Wiggins, 11-4-2 (6). In other words, there was no reason to think Williams would get past Luis Feliciano, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Felicano was once a touted Golden Boy prospect, but due to inactivity, a pandemic, and a dispute with his former promoter, Feliciano was long forgotten. However, a few wins put him back in the picture. Williams didn't care about dominating and stopping Felicano. After nearly stopping, the former blue-chipper Williams remained relentless and captured a sixth-round TKO to move his record to 20-0-2 (8), pull off the upset, pick up the biggest win of his career capture our Fighter of the Week award and establish himself as a legitimate 140-pound world contender.
Williams was simply on another level. After a bit of a feeling-out process in the opening round, the Conneticutter got cooking in the second. He scored with a chopping right hand that floored Feliciano early in the round. He was able to make it to his feet but didn't immediately regain his legs. Williams quickly dropped his foe for a second time. Feliciano made it to his feet once again, but the end looked near as Williams tried to chase his man down. Feliciano was able to survive and make it to the end of the round. In the third and fourth rounds, Feliciano fought valiantly to get back in the fight and had moments of success going to the body and boxing Williams. However, that success came to a screeching halt. Williams scored with a left hook at the end of the fourth, which for reasons unknown, was ruled a slip. Undeterred by not being credited with the knockdown. Williams kept it going in the fifth as Feliciano tried to turn the tide and press the action. Williams kept picking him off and scoring with his right hand. The end came in the sixth. Feliciano stayed on the front foot and tried slipping the underrated artillery of Williams, but he could not avoid the rights. Two rights sent Feliciano to the canvas for the third and final time. Feliciano beat the count but was very unsteady and had the bout waved off. Williams improved his record to 20-0-2 (9).
Williams is going to have a tremendous amount of doors open up for him after a win like that. The Connecticuter should look to take a step up against a more well-known name. Fighters like Omar Juarez or Rances Barthelemy would be good options. The winner of those fights is likely propelled to a world title fight. Additionally, the winner of the Jose Zepeda vs Dalton Smith fight that was just announced would be another tremendous test. Also, a win over veterans like Richard Commey and Steve Claggert would add some status to the name of Williams. Whoever the 25-year-old chooses to fight next, duplicating that type of performance getting another high-quality win will propel the youngster to a world title fight likely in 2024.
