I gave up on Paris 2024 Olympic dream to be with my dying dad… I’ve turned pro and want to spar Usyk for Fury rematch

4 months ago 47

LEWIS WILLIAMS will never regret sacrificing an Olympic dream to share his father’s last days.

The 6ft 7in heavyweight coasted to Commonwealth gold in 2022 and hung the medal around the neck of proud Bob, who had just got out of hospital.

Williams seemed a shoo-in for Paris but his hero’s health dramatically declined last year[/caption]

Williams, 25, seemed a shoo-in for Paris but his hero’s health dramatically declined last year, so he decided to skip some crucial tournaments to stay at home and sleep beside his father before he passed away.

Now Williams will cheer on his replacement, Pat Brown, and the rest of his Team GB pals, safe knowing he made the right call.

He said: “I had some injuries after the Commonwealths but recovered for the European qualifiers.

“Around Christmas there was another tournament but my dad started to get really ill and went downhill.

“Luckily, one of the nurses in the hospice had a boxing background and he knew what I was going through.

“He pulled me aside and told me that time was running out. He didn’t tell me to miss the tournament but he was just honest about what was happening.

“So I pulled out of the tournaments and stayed at home with him. Me and my sister would do shifts sleeping beside him because we never wanted him to be alone.

“It was a bit of a sad Christmas for us but I am so glad I did it.

“If I had been in Sheffield training or away at a tournament I would have missed him.

“As hard as it was going through all that, I know I would be in a far worse state if I had been off training or boxing somewhere when he had gone.

“Boxing rules your life, you miss so many birthdays, weddings and funerals, training is everything.

“But that was the one time I stepped back . . . and I wouldn’t change it.

“I’m annoyed at not going to the Olympics but if I had gone to all of the tournaments and missed my dad’s passing I would have beaten myself up about it for the rest of my life.

“No matter what it has cost me, I did the right thing.”

Williams will turn pro and has offered to spar with Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his December 21 rematch with Tyson Fury.

I pulled out of the tournaments and stayed at home with him. Me and my sister would do shifts sleeping beside him because we never wanted him to be alone.

Lewis Williams

The Ukrainian’s London 2012 gold medal went into his father’s coffin and Usyk says his dad visits him in his dreams before the big fights.

Leamington-born Williams said: “That’s so cool, to know Usyk has his dad there guiding him.

“I had to deal with it for quite a long time. Every time I’d leave to travel to Sheffield for training, I’d hug him and say goodbye and tell him I’d be back on Thursday.

“But it was always at the back of my mind that that might be the last time I ever see him, so every goodbye was emotional.

“I made sure every chance we got to spend time together we did something nice, even just going for a coffee or a meal or fishing.

“I’m just glad I got to spend that time with him. I was able to dedicate proper time to him because I knew it was precious and running out.

“Of course it was a horrible time but we spent it as best as we could, together.”