The bout was on the undercard of Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson and came together less than a day before the opening bell after Carlos Adames was pulled from the card following hospitalization during his weight cut.
Toussaint stepped in on extremely short notice, moved up in weight, and had no realistic time to prepare for a pressure fighter like Williams. That was important because from the opening rounds, the fight played out more competitively than expected.
The first three rounds were scrappy and relatively even. Williams pushed forward but struggled to establish clean separation early, while Toussaint stayed composed, fired counters, and did enough to avoid being run over. Williams began to take control in the fourth round when a sharp lead uppercut dropped Toussaint, briefly changing the tone of the fight.
From that point on, Williams dictated the action. He worked behind his jab, went to the body, and spent long stretches cutting off the ring. Toussaint absorbed punishment, particularly in the fifth round when he was trapped along the ropes, but he never stopped competing. After the knockdown, his approach shifted toward survival and discipline, staying upright and avoiding extended exchanges.
Williams won most of the remaining rounds clearly. What never arrived was the finish. Against a short-notice opponent fighting above his natural weight, Williams could not force a stoppage or fully break Toussaint down. The judges reflected his control on the cards, scoring it 98-91, 99-90, and 99-90.
For Toussaint, going the distance under those conditions earned respect. For Williams, now 20-1, the result keeps him moving forward on paper but leaves room for doubt in practice. This was meant to be a showcase after a cancelled title opportunity. Instead, it was a workmanlike win that raised familiar concerns about his ability to impose himself against fighters who refuse to fold.
At this level, winning wide is not the same as convincing, and Williams will need more than command the next time the stakes rise
Read the full article here
