Career
Wise has an IBO world title, but is best known for his 1999 upset of Julio Cesar Chavez. Wise was partially reared in Westbury, New York, from where he quickly rose to the top of the international amateur ranks and subsequently launched his professional career. Wise was an amateur standout, capturing various amateur titles, including:
1983 Virginia State Golden Gloves Champion Hampton Roads
1987 Mayor"s Cup in Washington, District of Columbia Spanish Cup
Wise ended his amateur career with an 87-10 record.
Shortly after entering the ranks of professional fighting, "Slick Willy" was given to him by his New York fans as a tribute to his ability to fight his way off of the ropes.
lieutenant was "Upset of the Year" He later lost to him in a 2003 Tijuana re-match. In the year 2000, he took IBO World Champion Belt which was one of the final highlights of his boxing career, and also fought Shane Mosley with a loss in the third round.
His boxing career ended in 2003 with a 26-11-4 professional record. 2001 IBO World Champion London
Today Wise trains and promotes other fighters at his training facility, allowing troubled youth and aspiring boxers to attend his residential training camp to teach them the lessons of boxing and discipline for life in and outside the ring.
He also works closely with young people in the local community near his home, using his own resources to take them to boxing competitions around the country.
In October 2014, Wise was seriously injured in a single car accident when he crashed his Maserati on a road near his home in Harborton, Virginia. He was airlifted by helicopter to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia with several broken vertebrae in his neck and back and traumatic brain injury. He was released from the hospital eight days later to begin physical therapy.
A statement was released on social media stating that he hoped to return to the Wise Choice Boxing Fitness and Training Center in 2015.
In July 2015, Wise announced that he would be releasing his first boxing fitness Digital Video Disc, entitled W3P: Willy Wise Workout: 3 Degrees of Power. The Digital Video Disc release marked the launch of Wise"s W3P Fitness brand, which includes apparel, water among other products.