It’s been 8 months since we last saw Paul “The Punisher” Williams in action. On July 9th he makes his much anticipated return. For several weeks several guys were linked with Williams before it was announed he would be fighting Japan’s Nobuhiro Ishida who was coming of a stunning first round KO over James Kirkland, however many felt this wasn’t a fight worthy of HBO who promply brought in unbeaten Cuban Erislandy Lara instead. It’s not something that concerns him, he’s hungry to get back to doing what he does best and wants to make a statement following his brutal loss to Sergio Martinez. Still only 29, with an imposing 6’1 frame to go along with a wing span of 82 inches, he’s a southpaw with a high work rate making him a nightmare for pretty much everyone from 147-160. Here’s what Williams had to say ahead of his comeback.
Hello Paul, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – You’re returning to action 9 July on HBO. Can you tell us about this?
Paul Williams – I’ll be fighting the Cuban Erislandy Lara in Atlantic City. I don’t want to say to much about him. I respect his ability and am looking forward to the fight but wont get caught up in a war of words with him. I am a professional and will handle myself like a gentleman. I’ll let my fists do my talking.
Anson Wainwright – What are you looking at from your performance in this fight to move forward?
Paul Williams – What I’m looking for is me to go out there and put on a good show. Like that last fight I had with Sergio Martinez they wanna know how I’m going to perform after that. I’m going to go in there and do my thing. I got caught, the best get caught. It’s not like I got beat up. For me I know there’s a possibility that can happen in a fight so I’m not worried. I just want to get in there and go to work again.
Anson Wainwright – What weight will this fight take place at? What weigh class are you intending to fight in for the foreseeable future?
Paul Williams – I don’t know it could be 54 or 60 for me it really don’t matter.
Anson Wainwright – What weigh class are you intending to fight in for the foreseeable future?
Paul Williams – I want to keep doing what I’m doing now go up and down the weight classes. Wherever we can get a big name fighter, if the money’s right and everything. If that’s the move we’re gonna make I’m game for it. I’m a fighter that’s what I do, that’s how I make my living.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team; who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?
Paul Williams – My manager is Mr Peterson, my trainer is Mr Peterson. Everybody knows him as George “Jumbo” Peterson and Al Haymon and Dan Goossen there my promoters. Well we’re down here in Washington D.C and we go to every gym around. Right now we’re actually at Club 150 Center. We go to different gyms, where the works at, we keep on the move.
Anson Wainwright – Last year you fought Sergio Martinez in a rematch, he stopped you in the second. What are your thoughts and feelings on that looking back? How difficult was this for you to deal with?
Paul Williams – After the fight we still had our party as we would if we’d won, nothing changed. I joked around with the guys. You know when you play Fight Night video games and you try to get up and put everything back together that’s how it is. Line everything back up, by that time they’d stopped the fight. I was like I’m good. I saw the doctor to make sure I was clear. Right after that fight everything went out the window, I was like it is what it is. I wasn’t crying or sad, I would have been mad if I wasn’t in shape but I was in the best shape. That first round was going to be like the second round, third round, fourth round and pick it up till the fight was over but I got caught and I have to live with it. But did I dwell on it or beat myself up on it? No I went out had my fun just like when I lost to Quintana, I had my fun. When I get back in there you better believe who ever it is is going to pay for it. As I tell everybody you can’t accept winning if you can’t accept losing. I deal with it, its business. I’d of been happy if I’d of won just like he was its competion.
Anson Wainwright – You’ve lost twice in 41 fights but have victories over both Carlos Quintana & Sergio Martinez who beat you. You have beaten Margarito, Cintron, Winky Wright etc who would you say has been the best fighter you have ever fought to date?
Paul Williams – To be honest I put all them in the same category. Not down playing their skills or anything. I never got in the ring with a guy I couldn’t do anything to, I never got in with a guy I couldn’t get off with , I always get mine in. They all have their skills. I really don’t know I just go in there to fight.
Anson Wainwright – What goals do you have in Boxing?
Paul Williams – The goals I have in Boxing. I’ve accomplished just about all my goals, becoming a world champion, that’s the main thing you want to do. And becoming a 2 time champion. Now I want to fight the best out there. I’d love to get in there with Manny Pacquiao. I call out these guys’ names but you never hear these guys call out Paul Williams’s name. You know he’s (Pacquiao) the best out there and my thing is who else can you fight who is a big name besides me only Martinez and Martinez ain’t no big name. He got a big win over me but his last fight not to down play it, I saw it on TV it seemed like the whole building could of fell in and it wouldn’t of hurt anyone cos there wasn’t that many people there.
Anson Wainwright – You were born in Aitken, South Carolina. Can you tell us about your younger days and what it was like for you growing up?
Paul Williams – I was born in Augusta, Georgia but raised in Aitken, South Carolina. I didn’t really have a tough upbringing. My mom raised us good, working 2 jobs to keep me and my two brothers and sisters. I can’t say any of my family were locked up or any bad stuff. We’re a pretty good family. My mom did the best she could. When I started to get to my teens I started hanging with my friends a little more but we never had any issues with the law or anything like that. I had a good upbringing, it made me who I am today, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I had a few street fights with my friends and other friends coming up in the neighbourhood that made me tougher like any normal kid would go through but nothing bad like real poor or anything like that. My mom did her best and put food on the table for us.
Anson Wainwright – How did you first become interested and then take up Boxing?
Paul Williams – I used to be on the school bus and the driver called Lee Wells was a friend of the family, my mom knew his wife. I used to get on the bus be bad fighting and he thought I had a lot of energy. (So he said) Hell put him in Boxing. He asked me and my older brother if we wanted to box. I was like sure I’ll do it. Then we got into it and I fell in love with it.
Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing. What are your hobbies & Interests?
Paul Williams – I like to get in my old school car and ride up and down the highway. Go to the gun range, shoot my gun you know a little fishing. Ride my bike, be out clear my head away from Boxing. Actually I plan on doing 3 more fights then hang them up. Do my Real Estate; I’ve got some houses and apartments that’s my plan. That’s what I’m already doing so I’ll keep with that.
Anson Wainwright – Would you stay involved in Boxing in some capacity?
Paul Williams – To be honest I probably wouldn’t. I don’t want to get the urge to comeback and not be hungry and get hurt. Right now I’m hungry and want to get what I can get out of it before I get old. I’ve been doing it since I turned 17 and now I’m 29 about to be 30 on July 27. This sports for the young guys. I’ve got Mr Peterson we have a good thing going on he taught me the business side and what to do with my money. So I’ve got a good nest egg with my Real estate and Property I’m renting out. I feel like 3 more big fights then I can hang my gloves up. I’d rather be home with my kids.
Anson Wainwright – You’ve had 2 fights with Martinez would you like to do a third? Who would you like to fight?
Paul Williams – My fans would like to see it, I ain’t got to say I want him. He knows if he wants big money there ain’t nobody but me, he knows that I beat him the first time and he beat me the second time. Let’s make a third fight. There’s no way he set that punch up. It was just a lucky punch that landed but I can’t knock him for it, it landed. Don’t go saying you set it up, everybody knows that bull. It is what it is. I’d love to do a Pacquiao fight a Martinez fight.
Anson Wainwright – How about Floyd Mayweather Jnr. I know he’s with Al Haymon is that a doable fight?
Paul Williams – Everything is doable I think, lets make it.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans ahead of your return?
Paul Williams – Oh to my fans, I’m doing good. I’m blessed. I bought some more property to rent out to people who want to live down south. They’ll see the same Paul Williams, doing the same thing putting on a good show for my people and fans, you’re going to see a good fight.
Thanks for taking time out to speak to us Paul.
Anson Wainwright
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