Imagine the gut-wrenching fear of not knowing if your family is safe after a devastating hurricane. This was the reality for British boxer Troy Williamson when Hurricane Melissa ravaged Jamaica, where his father, siblings, and their family business were in the storm's path. But here's where it gets even more heartbreaking: the storm didn't just disrupt lives—it obliterated them, leaving Williamson's family homeless and their beloved sports bar, G's Cool Spot, in ruins.
For four agonizing days, Williamson, a Darlington fighter set to face Callum Simpson on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer this Saturday, was left in the dark. He trained, he waited, but the silence from Jamaica was deafening. “When nobody could get in touch, we had no idea what had happened,” Williamson recalls. “The worst-case scenario was that they weren’t here anymore.”
Finally, a glimmer of hope appeared: a message from his father, Gerald Atkinson, who had managed to find a Wi-Fi signal after phone lines failed. Relief was short-lived, though, as the extent of the damage became clear. The hurricane had wiped out their home and the family-run sports bar, a popular spot for locals and British tourists in Black River, St Elizabeth. “It demolished their home and business,” Williamson explains. “As it stands, they have nowhere to live. They’re trying to repair and rebuild.”
Hurricane Melissa, a category five storm, struck Jamaica on October 28, leaving 28 confirmed deaths and impacting over 1.5 million people—more than half the nation’s population. International aid efforts have pledged up to $6.7 billion (£5 billion) over three years to support recovery, but the road ahead is long. Williamson himself has launched a fundraising campaign, raising funds through initiatives like auctioning a signed glove for £1,000, to help cover essentials like food, clothing, and temporary shelter.
And this is the part most people miss: While Williamson prepares for his upcoming fight, he’s also grappling with a career that feels “stalled” after four defeats in his last six bouts. A late bloomer who didn’t lace up gloves until 17, he’s racked up 68 amateur bouts, boxed for Team GB, and won international medals. As a professional, he claimed the British light-middleweight title, but he believes his career has suffered due to poor promotion. “I don’t believe I’ve been promoted properly,” he says. “I’ve never had a solid promoter, even when I won the British title.”
Williamson attributes this to his location in Darlington, a small town in the North East, a region he feels is overlooked despite its boxing talent. He points to stars like Pat and Luke McCormack, Savannah Marshall, and Josh Kelly as examples of the region’s potential, but laments the lack of a unified platform. “You could sell out a stadium in the North East with the talent we’ve got, but we’re with different promoters, which isn’t ideal,” he adds.
A win against the unbeaten Simpson would not only revitalize Williamson’s career but also provide crucial financial support for his family’s rebuilding efforts. “The full village and island are basically ruined, so it will take a while to rebuild,” he says. “But I’d love to go out there after my fight.”
Controversial question: Is the boxing world doing enough to support fighters like Williamson, who come from underrepresented regions? And how can we ensure that talent isn’t overlooked simply because of geography? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation!
