Frazier Finds Truth Tough to Take : Williams Retains His Title With First-Round TKO

SAN DIEGO —  Carl (The Truth) Williams lived up to his nickname and advance billing Wednesday night.

Before his scheduled 12-round United States Boxing Assn. heavyweight championship fight (a predicted mismatch) against Rodney Frazier at Golden Hall, Williams said he wanted to dispose of his friend as quickly as possible.

That way, he said, Frazier wouldn’t suffer much pain.

Williams then scored a technical knockout over Frazier at 2:56 of the first round when referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight in front of an estimated crowd of 2,000.

Williams (20-2) used powerful uppercuts to destroy Frazier, 29, a nephew of former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, who was in Rodney’s corner. Rodney is 16-4.

“I was hoping it could be the first round,” Williams said. “I wanted to get it over with as quick as possible because we’re friends.

“He wanted to end it, too. I knew it was a matter of time. If it went on too long, I could have become lackadaisical. And if I become lackadasical, I could have gotten cut.”

Not on Wednesday.

“The referee definitely did the right thing,” Williams said. “He saw Rodney Frazier was taking serious punishment.”

Said Frazier: “He did his job, I guess. I didn’t think I was that out, but I have no trouble with the officials. He got me with a left, and the fat lady was singing.”

Now Williams hopes to fight heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. As for his friendship with Frazier--will it survive?

“Dollars and sense will survive,” Williams said.

The fight before the main event was a lot closer and longer.

James (The Heat) Kinchen won a unanimous decision over Tim Williams in a 12-round California Super Middleweight title fight between two San Diegans.

The judges had Kinchen winning, 118-111, 117-112 and 117-112.

“I was ready for everything,” Kinchen said. “Tim is no slouch. I wanted to go to the body, and I was never in trouble.

“For all those people out there who are non-believers, James Kinchen is not washed up. I think I showed that tonight.”

Remember Kinchen? He was one of the top contenders for the middleweight title before he was badly beaten by Argentinian Juan Domingo Roldan in Las Vegas last year.

Williams gained notoriety when he drew with Robbie Sims (ranked in the top 10 at the time) last February. The fight was seen on national television, and many experts felt Williams was really the winner.

For the past two years, Williams has been itching for a fight against Kinchen. His pre-fight motto was, “It’s time to clean the Kinchen once and for all.”

“I knew Tim would be tough,” Kinchen said. “A few years ago, I sparred with him. He felt he could beat me. That was a bunch of lies.”

Kinchen came out as the aggressor in the first round and had Williams against the ropes for much of the second. But he couldn’t finish him, and Williams seemed stronger as the fight went on.

Throughout the middle rounds, there were more boos from the fans than punches. In the eighth round, though, both fighters landed punches that stung.

In Round 11, Kinchen knocked Williams down with a right hand that appeared to land behind William’s neck. In the 12th, Williams landed a right hand and was getting to Kinchen, but it was too late.

Notes

Results of preliminary bouts: Levi Billups of San Diego knocked out David Slaughter of San Diego at 2:59 of the first round of a scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout. In a battle of junior-welterweights, Roberto Smith of San Diego won a four-round majority decision over Derrick Hudson of San Diego. Manuel Muniz of San Diego won a third round TKO over Felipe Ortiz of Los Angeles at 2:23 of the third round of a scheduled four-round lightweight bout.