December 07, 2009
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: PAUL WILLIAMS
By G. leon
Punisher eager to face Martinez again ASAP GL: Congrats on your victory. Can you give us some thoughts on your performance? “It was a tough fight, and I like fights like that. It was a back and forth non stop action fight and the fans got their monies worth. Martinez is a very tough guy and he proved why nobody wanted to fight him.”
GL: He hit you with more clean shots than anybody ever has. What do you attribute that to and what about him surprised you?
Paul Williams: “I wouldn’t say there was anything that surprised me or nothing. Not to take nothing away from him because he fought great, but I only had like three weeks of training for him and stuff, and that threw me off a little bit, having to adjust for me. If I would have had my whole camp, I think it would have been a lot different, because I would have been prepared to deal with his style and his fighting and stuff. Bottom line is he’s a very good fighter, we both came to fight and gave the fans their monies worth.”
GL: It was a close fight, a hard fought battle that could have gone either way, so how do you feel about the 119-110 scorecard?
PW: “The 119-110 scorecard, I feel like he won more than one round, so I have to give the man his props. In my book he won more than one round.”
GL: Should there be a rematch?
PW: “Of course. I know the fans want one, I want one and he should want one. We put up a good fight, so of course there’s going to be some controversy. Some people are going to think he won, some people are going to think I won, so it only makes sense for us to do it again. I’m going to let my cuts heal and go back to the drawing board and hopefully train for him. I wouldn’t mind him being my next fight.”
GL: How are the cuts? How many stitches did it take to close them up and when will they no longer be a concern?
PW: “We haven’t gotten stitches yet. We’re going to see a specialist. The same scar I had reopened, the tissue and stuff. They’re going to sew it up from the inside-outside.”
GL: With a full training camp to prepare for him, how differently does the fight play out?
PW: “It would be a war, but I would be better prepared. The fans would get their monies worth again and it would be another one of the best fights of the year.”
GL: Was that the most hurt you’ve ever been in a boxing ring?
PW: ”I wouldn’t say hurt. I got caught with a shot I didn’t see and he knocked me down. But I got right back up and kept fighting. We both caught each other with good shots, but he never had me hurt.”
GL: What do you need to do in order to make sure that slick guys like this don’t give you too many problems?
PW: “I don’t even know yet. I haven’t even seen the tape yet, I’ve just been enjoying some time with my kids. Once I see the tape, then I’ll know.”
GL: HBO’s commentators made it clear several times during the telecast that you and Martinez are the two best junior middleweights in the world fighting at 160. With that being said, if there’s going to be a rematch, should it take place for his belt?
PW: “I definitely think it should be for his belt. I came in at 157 and we ate breakfast the morning of the weigh-in, and we were training to come in at 160 and stuff. I know I would definitely fight him at 154 for the title. He put on a good show at 160, so now I’ll come down to his weight and put it on him.”
GL: It makes sense to make the fight at 154, since your dream fights are Pacquiao and Mayweather and they both fight at 147.
PW: ”Most definitely.”
GL: If you can’t get Martinez next, who else are you looking at?
PW: “Bernard Hopkins I guess, but we’re going to leave my next move up to Dan (Goossen) and Al (Haymon).”
GL: Closing thoughts?
PW: “For the fans, when I get in there I’m going to give it my all and y’all will enjoy it. People who aren’t my fans, know I’m coming to put on a fight and do my best, so I take my hat off to Sergio Martinez. It was one of the most fun I’ve had in a fight, I went at it, got knocked down and never cracked when I was getting caught with clean shots. Next time around, I promise I’m going to give y’all a whole lot of action.”
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