“The Mighty Midget” Wins Key To The City

Local boxing champ Tramaine ​“The Mighty Midget” Williams took home an honorary key to the city, in recognition of the 27-year-old Hill resident’s nationally-renowned athletic achievements.

Williams, a Hillhouse graduate, received that honor at a celebratory press conference held outside of City Hall Monday afternoon.

It was hosted by Mayor Justin Elicker and Hill Alder Ron Hurt.

Monday was the second time Williams had met the mayor. Their first meeting took place 10 days prior, at a vigil at Ring One boxing gym on Congress Avenue commemorating the life of fellow local boxer Dayshon Smith. Smith was shot and killed in the Hill in mid-August.

The mayor and the boxer met again for happier times on Monday as Williams received a key to the city for his outstanding career as a featherweight champ.

Williams lives in the Hill and has been boxing for 19 years. He has held the International Boxing Federation (IBF), United States Boxing Association (USBA), World Boxing Organization, and North American Boxing Organization junior featherweight titles.

He has 19 wins out of a total of 21 fights.

“Your hard work and dedication display the work of a true champion,” said Hurt.

Williams is close friends with Chad Dawson, who has received a key to the city last year from then-Mayor Toni Harp. Elicker said that Monday’s key ceremony was the first chance he’s had since taking office to hand over the key to the city to an accomplished New Haven.

“I’m just feeling like finally. I know everyone in New Haven, and this has been a longtime goal of mine,” Williams said.

For the past two weeks, Williams has been taking a break from boxing. After a loss three weeks, ago he took a week to rest his body and then another week to get his ​“mind back into it.”

“I like to focus on the good moments but whenever I get awards like this I just think of how I overcame New Haven. I’ve been through things but always end out on top,” he said.

Williams’s sister, Starlet Huckaby, watched her brother accomplish another major goal of his at the Monday celebration. ​“There’s no question he’s chosen,” she said. ​“He’s always been pushing through hard times. We’ve learned to not let our hardships dictate our future.”

Huckaby said their family needed this moment of celebration after overcoming several setbacks like the death of their grandmother and uncle this year.

Huckaby said her three sons, ages two, four, and 10, have been looking up to Williams all their lives.

Williams plans to train for the next six to eight weeks. ​“I need some world titles. That’s next,” he said.

Hurt said he first met Williams while he was doing volunteer work around the Hill years ago.

The two check up on each other through phone text and calls frequently. He said they also motifvate one another.

“There’s times when I find that he’s mentoring me,” Hurt said. ​“He’s definitely an overcomer.”