In 1946 tough Welsh Lightweight Ronnie James was desperately looking for a World Title shot after a long career fighting many of the best fighters around his weight from the UK and overseas.
The then powerful UK promoter Jack Solomans thought he had found just the opportunity for his fighter when he was ringside for Ike Williams fight against Bobby Ruffin in New York. Ike won by TKO in the 5th but Solomons still felt that Ike Williams was nothing special and that his fighter Ronnie James was just the fighter to beat him.
Straight away Solomons entered into negotiations with the Williams camp hoping to land a title fight in Wales for his fighter. As is often the case in Boxing these negotiations proved long and at times very difficult, with many arguments taking place between the two camps. Eventually Solomons managed to get all the contracts signed for Williams to come to Wales and defend his title (the Williams camp had originally wanted a ten round non-title fight).
The fight was set for 4th September 1946 and would take place in the open air at Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales. The American Champion Williams would receive 25% of the gate and Ronnie James as challenger 15%.
Ike Williams arrived in the UK in a confident mood and was accompanied by his manager Cornelius ‘Connie’ Patrick and his trainer Harry Curley. But Jack Solomons problems were not yet over. Ike Williams then started making many demands, mainly about the food he wanted to eat, he was demanding such things like fresh fruit everyday. Solomons tried explaining to the Champion that many of the the foods he was asking for were just not available in the UK (remember this was in 1946 and food rationing was widespread). However Ike Williams wasn’t interested in excuses he wanted his requested food, and fast.
Eventually Solomons managed to cater to his demands through some contacts at the American Embassy. Then there was more problems, about two weeks before the fight it started to rain and rain and rain. Not the best of weather for a big outdoor fight. Despite many around him calling for the fight to be prostphoned Solomons insisted that the fight would still go ahead. Thankfully on the morning of the fight the rain stopped and due to this and a lot of hard work by the men preparing the arena the fight wasn’t called off.
In the weeks leading up to the fight the reports from the respective training camps was that Ronnie James was looking fantastic but Ike Williams was looking sluggish and less than motivated, this coupled with the fact that the Champion was still a few pounds over weight on the morning of the fight gave even more hope to the Welsh fans that their fighter would be lifting the Championship belt later that day.
But then the fight began, Ronnie James was a fine fighter but he was no match for the superb Ike Williams who just tore the brave Welsh fighter apart with a vicious body attack. Ronnie James hit the canvas six times that night and showed tremendous heart and bravery but in all truth he was never really in the fightand was stopped in the 9th.
Jack Solomons had made a terrible mistake, Ike Williams was indeed a great fighter who just crushed the pride of Wales that night.
