LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Bobby Czyz would like to make his International Boxing Federation light heayvweight defense against Charles Williams Thursday night his last appearance on the undercard of a major boxing show. The next time, Czyz wants to be the headliner.
Czyz makes the fourth defense of his title on the undercard of the Thomas Hearns-Juan Roldan bout for the World Boxing Council middleweight title. Also on the card, Michael Nunn will meet Darnell Knox for the vacant North American middleweight title.
Czyz would like to coax Hearns back up to light heavyweight to challenge him. He has aimed for a bout against Hearns since he stopped Slobodan Kacar in five rounds Sept. 6, 1986 to win the title.
'This fight (against Williams) means to me, not only bigger and better fights in the money area, but it will help to increase my reputation among my peers and the general public,' said Czyz, a 25-year-old from Wanaque, N.J. 'Charles Williams stands between me and some things that are very dear to me.'
Williams, 25, will test Czyz' chin. He is 21-4-2 with 13 knockouts and has won nine straight since dropping a 10-round decision to former champion Marvin Johnson Nov. 8, 1984. Czyz is 32-1 with 23 knockouts.
Nunn also wants to make himself a headline fighter, but has had trouble attracting attention despite a 26-0 record with 17 knockouts. Nunn, a southpaw, started out as a light puncher but has won five of his last six bouts by knockouts.
He is ranked fourth by the WBC and sixth by the IBF and World Boxing Association.
'We feel Michael Nunn is the champion of the future,' said Nunn's manager, Dan Goosen. 'We've seen Michael Nunn the boxer, he's come around to being a flat-footed fighter. Now we'll see Michael Nunn the champion.'
'I don't just want to fight for the middleweight title, I want to win it,' said Nunn, a native of Davenport, Iowa, who lives in North Hollywood, Calif.
Knox, a teammate of Hearns at Detroit's Kronk Gym, is 27-1 with 21 knockouts. He has won his last six by knockout and is ranked 10th by the WBC.
The Czyz-Williams bout is scheduled for 15 rounds and Nunn-Knox for 12.
