Before a boxing match pro-fighter Titus “God Gifted” Williams of the Freeport Boxing Club in Long Island, N.Y., cues up motivational speakers like Eric Thomas and Les Brown on his iPhone playlist.
Later in the evening, he receives a prayer from his local pastor and soaks in a tub mixed with Epsom salts and water.
When the pre-match regimen is completed, Williams said he feels ready to defeat his opponent.
“I ask God to calm my nerves,” Williams explained before placing in his mouthguard. “When I’m nice and relaxed and go in there comfortable—oh somebody’s in trouble.”
Logos pressed onto advertisements of the champion boxer read, “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?”
According to Williams, it is important to maintain focus in the ring.
“Boxing is 75 percent mental and the rest is physical. You can have all the skills in the world, but if you end up like a deer in headlights, all those skills don’t matter.”
At 126 pounds, the 5 foot 8 inches Elmont, N.Y., native is a two-time Golden Glove winner and is the first featherweight champion to earn that title at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
During William’s teen years he played basketball but soon realized the sport would not be beneficial for his long-term goals.
“I stopped playing basketball. You have to be special to make the NBA and I’m one of those people that doesn’t just do things just to do it.”
After watching HBO’s first Floyd Mayweather special, Williams headed to the nearest boxing gym.
“Boxing is similar to life. You get into so many situations and you have to make adjustments,” he said. “I was trying to find my way and when I was exposed to the gym it took me away from all of my issues.”
For four hours a day, the then 18-year-old with the occasional girl or family troubles released his worries at the gym.
The featherweight amateur boxer practiced and practiced, shaking off insecurities and preparing himself for a nation-wide arena of spectators.
Williams said Muhammad Ali set the standard for pro-boxing champions.
“You never saw a heavy weight that moved that fast,” Williams said. “He was born to be in that position. He made it cool to talk trash and back it up too.”
In seventh grade, 12-year-old Williams watched the Ali movie and was inspired by the late boxing legend.
“I literally watched the movie, rewind and stopped it. I got my pen and paper and I wrote down everything that he would say.”
It was Saturday at a friend’s graduation party when Williams learned of Ali’s declining health.
Despite knowing of Ali’s 32-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease, he was shocked to hear that he died, stunned to know that the nation lost a champion that doubled as a fighter for human rights.
Williams remarked, “I didn’t want to believe it. I felt hurt like [he] was a personal friend.”
In 2013, Williams was the winner of the Sugar Ray Robinson Award for being the best open boxer at the Golden Glove tournament.
As the summer heats up, the boxing champion will pull out his black and gold uniform.
Williams steadily runs five to six miles a day in preparation for his fight this July in Atlantic City, N.J.
“I have this platform [and] it gives me a voice,” he explained. “That is what Muhammad Ali showed us. God gives us a voice and you shouldn’t be afraid to say what’s on your mind.”