Within the mix of Kentucky’s hopeful 2028 Olympians stands Hunter “Wraith” Williams.
Williams, however, is not a sprinter, nor a basketball player, nor a fencer. The president of the UK boxing club’s desire to fight on the big stage is fortified by his determination to turn grandiose dreams to reality.
Williams, a featherweight fighter, has amassed a record of 3-1 in his pre-amateur career after his most recent bout on Nov. 23 resulted in a win where he took down Adam Speridakos, a fellow fighter in the UK boxing club, by unanimous decision.
Post-fight, Williams announced that he is leaving his pre-amateur career on a win, and he will be starting his journey as an amateur fighter.
“I’m ready. I’m coming. I’m coming for all those amateur fighters. I’m coming for the Olympics. I’m coming for the pro leagues. They better be ready for me,” Williams emphasized.
His journey to becoming UK’s first boxing Olympian is far from the traditional route. Wraith, who started his career just over two years ago, believes he has been able to make leaps in the short time he has had on the canvas.
“My improvement since I’ve started is crazy,” Williams said. “I mean, I really give all of my improvement to my coaches that I’ve had over the years, because, you know, they got me to where I am.”
Outside of the ring, Williams works extremely hard behind the scenes to keep the UK boxing club’s progression exponential. He is currently working on registering the club with USA Boxing, meaning it’ll be able to fight against other universities in exhibition matches.
“I plan on taking the club to places that nobody else probably would have been able to,” Wraith proudly exclaimed. “It’s [UK] been a dream school of mine since I was a kid, and now that I’m here and have this position, I kind of want to put our school on the map in terms of boxing.”
Despite his lofty goals, Williams is aware that he should keep his backup plans ready. He is currently a sophomore studying physical education with a minor in coaching and believes his role as president of the club will help mold him into the best possible coach and educator.
In fact, Williams wasn’t even planning to be president, but heavy influence from club founder and social media manager, Emi Arzola, convinced him to take on the position. Arzola, a third year studying neuroscience and psychology for a dual degree, founded the club in her first month as a freshman on campus.
“Hunter has a great work ethic. He knows what he wants to do with his life, and that’s related to boxing as a sport and becoming hopefully an amateur and professional fighter,” Arzola said when asked why she pushed for him to run. “His motivation to lead in the club is what made me want him as a leader.”
Looking back on it now, Williams is thankful to have gotten elected president of the club and carries that honor with pride.
“I love what I do for the club, I love it. I put my time into it. I’m glad they made me president even though I didn’t run, but I’m glad I’m in the position I’m in,” he boasted.
When it comes to his fighting career, Wraith knows it takes time to be great.
“In boxing, it takes years to master your craft and how you fight,” Williams explained.
Regardless, his tenacity and drive keep him pushing towards his ultimate goal: the 2028 Olympics.
As Williams steps out of the pre-amateur spotlight and into the vicious world of amateur boxing, his journey is sure to embody resilience and determination. His story isn’t just about winning fights but elevating the UK boxing community and inspiring others to chase their dreams.