The fight was on the Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson undercard and ended less than a day before the opening bell after Carlos Adames was removed from the event after being hospitalized while cutting weight.
Toussaint entered the fight on extremely brief notice, increased weight and had no real time to prepare for a pressure fighter like Williams. This was essential because from the first rounds the fight was more fierce than expected.
The first three rounds were fierce and relatively even. Williams pressed forward but struggled to create pristine separation early on, while Toussaint stayed composed, counter-attacked and did enough to avoid being run over. Williams began to take control in the fourth round when a pointed lead cut knocked down Toussaint, briefly changing the tenor of the fight.
From that point on, Williams dictated the action. He worked behind the jab, got to the body and spent long stretches cutting away the ring. Toussaint took punishment, particularly in the fifth round when he was trapped on the ropes, but he never stopped competing. After being knocked down, his approach changed towards survival and discipline, staying upright and avoiding prolonged rallies.
Williams won most of the remaining rounds clearly. What never came was the finish. Against an opponent who was fighting above his natural weight on brief notice, Williams was unable to force a stoppage or completely break Toussaint. The judges reflected his control on the cards, scoring 98-91, 99-90 and 99-90.
For Toussaint, covering such a distance in such conditions inspired respect. For Williams, who is currently 20-1, the result allows him to move forward on paper but leaves room for doubt in practice. It was supposed to be a presentation after the canceled title chance. Instead, it was a blue-collar victory that raised familiar concerns about his ability to impose himself on fighters who refuse to give up.
At this level, winning wide is not the same as convincing, and Williams will need more than just commanding the next time the stakes get higher