Williams advances in LI Amateur Boxing Tournament

The opportunity has always been there for Central Islip native Tymell Williams. The trick was learning how to reach out and grab it.

Last night, at the fifth annual Long Island Amateur Boxing Tournament at the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence, Williams got his chance and ran with it, earning a decisive victory over Christian Arreaga in a 123-pound, three-round open division semifinal bout.

Williams will fight in the final on Saturday night.

"When I was younger I was a fighter, but I used to run the streets," Williams said. "Boxing has given me something to do. It's given me a purpose in life."

Williams, 18, has set lofty goals for himself, which include the 2012 Olympics. But he knows getting to that level is going to take focus.

"I just have to keep working and stay dedicated," said Williams, who fights in the Suffolk PAL boxing program out of the Brentwood Recreation Center. "I'm starting automotive school in the fall. It's what I love in life, cars and boxing."

Williams' trainer, Carlos Marchand, said his fighter has the ability and the mental fortitude to excel.

"Boxing is good for him," Marchand said. "It kept him busy and off the streets. Now he has to take advantage of what lies ahead of him."

As for the fight, Williams said he used the first round to measure his opponent's style. After that, he said, it was all a "matter of execution".

"I was feeling him out early, but in the second round I was throwing the lead left hand and a lead hook," Williams said. "He wasn't expecting that. So I went to the body and that really took it out of him."

If all goes well for Williams on Saturday, he could get a chance to put his skills to the test on the international level, thanks to an expansion to the tournament this year by Michael Carryl, director of Long Island Amateur Boxing Championships and Charities Inc.

Open division champions will travel to the Dominican Republic in October and participate in the Dominican International Invitational Tournament.

"That's even more motivation for me," the Deer Park High School graduate said. "That will be a great experience because it'll give me chance to see other fighters from other countries at 123 pounds and how to deal with different styles."

The goal of sending fighters to the Dominican Republic, Carryl said, is to give American amateur boxers exposure on the international level.

"When was the last time a U.S. boxer won an Olympic gold medal?" Carryl asked. "Too many of our young boxers today are concerned with the pros and don't know how to fight amateur style. Amateur and pro boxing are two totally different things."

Marchand agreed.

"The more exposure for Tymell the better, especially if it's in an international tournament," Marchand said. "That type of experience will make him ready for anything in the future."