MANSFIELD — “Prince” Charles Williams has never forgotten his formative years.
That’s why he wants to give back to Mansfield youth.
The retired world champion boxer hosted a “Knock Out Child Poverty” event Saturday in conjunction with Mansfield Sertoma and Moore’s Downtown Automotive Repair Center.
“I just want to do something to help the kids,” Williams said. “I came up the hard way myself. I know how hard it is.
“I see a lot of kids having kids and they don’t have nothing.”
The event included a car show and food trucks in the parking lot behind Moore’s Mansfield location. Organizers also had 150 drawstring backpacks with school supplies to distribute.
About half of the backpacks were left midway through the event. Steve Allen of Mansfield Sertoma said any remaining would be donated to local schools for children in need.
Williams credited Allen, Mitch Morrison and Bill Mellick of Moore’s with helping to organize the event.
“All I did is say ‘Go ahead and do what you gotta do. I’ve got your back,’ ” said Williams, the International Boxing Federation’s light heavyweight champion for 5 1/2 years. “I just want to thank everybody that was involved in helping me do this for the kids.”
Williams and other organizers said they hope to make “Knock Out Child Poverty” an annual event.
Williams grew up in Mansfield as one of nine siblings. He was inspired to take up boxing by his older brother, Joe.
He went 34-2 in the amateur circuit and finished runner up to Tony Ayala at the 1977 Junior Olympics when he was just 15.
Williams made his pro debut in 1978, less than a month after his 16th birthday. He went on to KO’d Bobby Czyz for the IBF light heavyweight title in 1989 and defend it eight times.
Williams retired in 1996 with a career record of 27-7-3 with 28 knockouts.
In 2021, Mansfield City Council approved legislation to rename a section of Harker Street as Prince Charles Williams Street.
