Williams Hammers Celaya to Earn Spot on U.S. Team

Ricardo Williams Jr. was dazzling in every way Friday night.

From his sparkling gold teeth to his Ali Shuffle to his crisp combinations, Williams was a thing of beauty in the ring.

“I showed people I can take it to the next level,” said Williams, who did exactly that in defeating Jose Celaya, 15-6, to claim a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team.

Williams, from Cincinnati, dominated Celaya of Salinas, Calif., to win the 139-pound championship in the U.S. box-offs at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Jose Navarro (112 pounds) of Los Angeles, Ricardo Juarez (125) and Jermain Taylor (156) also won positions on the U.S. team with victories.

Brian Viloria (106), Clarence Vinson (119), Marshall Martinez (132) and Michael Bennett (201) claimed positions on the team Thursday.

There will be four deciding bouts today, including Larry Mosley of Los Angeles fighting Dante Craig of Cincinnati at 147 pounds.

Williams, 18, came in as a big favorite and showed why. Williams peppered the less decorated Celaya with left-right combinations throughout the four-round bout.

In the last round, Williams, a two-time U.S. champion (1998, 1999), showboated by shuffling his feet, for which he was warned by the referee.

Williams and the rest of the box-off winners advance to the Americas qualifier March 27-April 1 in Tampa, Fla., where they can qualify for the Olympic Games.

Although Williams appears headed for Sydney and an opportunity to bring home the gold, he wasn’t totally satisfied with his performance.

“I give myself an eight,” Williams said. “My stamina pulled me through. I was able to step it up in the later rounds.”

Navarro defeated two-time U.S. champion Roberto Benitez, 10-4.

Juarez won a controversial 11-8 decision over Steven Luevano of La Puente. Luevano was sharper the first two rounds, but Juarez, one of four world champions competing in the box-offs, rallied.

“That’s one of my weaknesses--I start out slow,” Juarez said. “I knew I was being beaten. I knew I had to keep the pressure on.”