MIAMI, Okla. (March 24, 2016) – All eight fighters, including the six undefeated ones, made weight Thursday for the ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader tomorrow/Friday March 25, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Buffalo Run Casino.

In the main event, unbeaten emerging star, Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (16-0, 13 KOs), of Houston by way of New Orleans, will meet Mexico’s Aaron “The Jewel” Herrera (29-4-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout.

Four unbeaten boxers will collide in two of the three eight-round bouts: Hard-hitting Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk (9-0, 8 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., faces upset-minded Nick “King Beamen” Givhan (16-0-1, 10 KOs), of Kalamazoo, Mich., in a super lightweight scrap and Ukrainian Ivan “The Volk” Golub (10-0, 8 KOs, 5-0 in World Series of Boxing), of Brooklyn, N.Y., takes on Marlon Aguas (9-0, 6 KOs), of Quito, Ecuador, in a welterweight match.

In the eight-round telecast opener, undefeated super welterweight and local favorite Dillon Cook (16-0, 6 KOs), of Seneca, Mo., will meet once-beaten Justin DeLoach (13-1, 7 KOs), of Augusta, Ga. DeLoach is trained by former ShoBox fighter and two-time world champion, Paul Williams, who is making his training debut.

Tickets for an event presented by DiBella Entertainment and Tony Holden Productions are priced at $45, $55 and $75 and are available for purchase at buffalorun.com and at stubwire.com. The first live fight is at 8 o’clock.

The Weights:
Prograis: 141 pounds
Herrera: 142 pounds

Baranchyk: 139 ½ pounds
Givhan: 140 ¼ pounds

Golub: 146 ½ pounds
Aguas: 147 pounds

Cook: 154 pounds
DeLoach: 153 ¼ pounds

Here’s what the fighters said Thursday:

REGIS PROGRAIS

“This is my biggest fight. We’ve been in the gym for two months getting ready. We’re sparring with every style, anything it takes to get me ready.

“I had a whole lot fun in my last fight because (Abel) Ramos just kept coming. I’m fighting a veteran, a different kind of guy tomorrow. He’s tough with the Mexican style so I expect him to be smart and know all the tricks.

“Herrera is coming with nothing to lose, but I love fighting the Mexican style. I’ve been training in Houston, so he won’t bring anything I haven’t seen before.

“I can be a slick southpaw or I can brawl. I just love to fight, which is why I started in boxing. My mindset is to bang and fight, when it comes down to it. Sometimes if I don’t hit I get bored so I mix it up a little more so I will get hit and then I can come back. I can adjust to any style.

“This is my third fight on ShoBox and second main event. I welcome the pressure but at the same time I know I have to ignore it and just enjoy and have fun in there.

“Mentally, I feel I am ready for a major fight against any of the top contenders, but I know those kinds of fights are still a little down the line for me. I still have a lot of work to do; I need to keep pounding it until I get it all right.

“I’m looking forward to a good fight tomorrow.’’

AARON HERRERA

“This is an interesting fight because we’re both coming up in the sport. I’ve seen a few of his fights and know what I’m up against. It looks like Prograis likes to come forward and comes to fight, and I will do the same, although I am probably more of a boxer than a slugger.

“This is about taking care of business. I’ve been 12 rounds before. I’ve fought some good fighters with good records. This is only my second fight in America but I learned a lot from the first one and that will definitely help me. I have more confidence. This won’t be a new experience for me.

“I’ve fought with left-handers before so after a couple of rounds, I’m sure I’ll feel comfortable. I’m definitely coming to win. I can’t wait to hear the opening bell ring.’’

IVAN BARANCHYK

“This is 100 percent the best guy we’ve faced. Nick is a great fighter and we can’t underestimate him. We know that anything can happen in boxing. I put the work in the gym and now I need to do my job in the ring.

“I’m a puncher, I like to bring it and I’m coming for the knockout.

“I’m only 23 but I work very hard and feel I’m coming along. I’m in the gym all the time. One of the main things we work on the most is composure inside the ring. I feel like I’m settling down more and working the jab, but it is still something we work on.

“You just can’t go in and knock everybody out. It’s not that easy. You need to set up your punches sometimes. I am never going to change from being a natural puncher, my team is not trying to take away the fire in me, they just want me to settle down.’’

NICK GIVHAN

“This is a big opportunity and I feel blessed to be getting it, but it’s something I’ve been working towards for years. I feel this is where I’m supposed to be at this stage of my career. I just need to get in the ring to make sure I handle my business in the ring

“He’s definitely one of the toughest opponents I’ve faced. He’s big, powerful and hits hard the whole fight. But I’m the toughest he’s faced.

“This shapes up as a boxer versus puncher fight that favors me. He may come out jabbing at first, but once he’s touched he can be frustrated. That’s what I will take advantage of, his over-aggressiveness.

“I’m looking forward to seizing the moment tomorrow night.’’

IVAN GOLUB

“I’m very excited to be on this card and looking forward to fighting on my first ShoBox card. This is a big step up and it’s going to be a great fight.

“When I got the chance to fight on ShoBox, I didn’t even ask who I was fighting. I spar with some of the best out there (Ievgen Khytrov, Sergey Derevanchenko, etc.). But I’m more of a boxer-puncher than some of my teammates.

“I work very hard. I study boxing a lot. I know my time is coming. As long as I show good boxing skills, the knockout will come.”

MARLON AQUAS

“You have to be careful with hungry fighters you don’t know anything about, but I’m going to give 100 percent in there. I’m here to show that I have what it takes to become a world champion.

“I am very motivated. This is my first fight in the U.S. and on SHOWTIME so I’m looking to make a statement. I know that after this fight a lot of doors will open. People may not know me now, but they will know me after tomorrow night.

“I have a lot of movement but can also stand there toe to toe and brawl. They are making a mistake taking a step up and fighting me. They don’t know what they’re getting into.

“I’ve been off because of an injury to my left hand but it is totally healed and I am ready. I’ve had lots of sparring.

“I’m more of a stylist, a boxer. I like to move around a lot. But if I have to go at it and brawl I will. I really want to show the fans that I am worthy of watching again.’’

DILLON COOK

“This will be my toughest fight but I’m feeling great. I’m excited but not all that nervous. There is some pressure fighting on TV the first time, but it hasn’t been nerve-racking.

“This is such a big fight; I’m ready for anything he brings. I’m not trying to over-think anything. I just want to do what I do.

“This is a home game for me. I live about 25 minutes away. So it helps that I’m used to the atmosphere and don’t have to travel.

“I’ve seen a little of him. I feel the things he does all the time will work against him. His come-forward style is a good one for me. I’ve had plenty of time to prepare (five weeks) so there will not be any surprises.

“I believe I have the skills to go a lot father, so I want to leave a good impression.

“Speed and footwork are my biggest weapons. I’ve been dazed before, but not knocked down.’’

JUSTIN DELOACH

“Everything to this point has been a blessing for me. This is definitely a big fight and I’m looking forward to doing what I do and putting on a great show. I haven’t seen a lot of Dillon but he is undefeated and is coming to win. I’m ready for whatever he brings.

“I feel I have a lot of raw talent that has yet to be seen. My main thing is to take control of the fight from the start.

“This is so exciting. My biggest and most important fight yet. If I do what I’m supposed to I’ll be OK. This is my first eight-rounder but I’m not worried about that at all.

“We’re part of a great ShoBox show. I can’t wait.’’

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raúl Márquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

# # #

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 65 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

NEW YORK (March 15, 2016) – Former two-time world champion Paul Williams, who’s pro career came to a sudden and tragic end when he was paralyzed from the waist down after a motorcycle accident in May 2012, is back in boxing as a trainer.

The popular Williams will work the corner of once-beaten Justin DeLoach (13-1, 7 KOs) when DeLoach faces undefeated super welterweight and local favorite Dillon Cook (16-0, 6 KOs) in the opening eight-round bout of what is now a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader on Friday, March 25, live on SHOWTIME (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

DeLoach is the first boxer to be trained by Williams, the former 154-pound southpaw who has been confined to a wheelchair since the accident.

“I guess I was being selfish at first,” Williams said. “I didn’t want to deal with the fight game. I wanted to be the one fighting. But that changed.”

Williams was reluctant to train fighters for a long time. It was George Peterson, who managed and trained Williams from the time the boxer was a skinny kid with little amateur experience until his career ended, that helped persuade “The Punisher” to return to the ring. Williams trains his pupil at a private gym in his hometown of Aiken, S.C.

“You know me, I really didn’t want to do this,’’ Williams said. “But finally after three or four years of George practically begging me to try and do it, this opportunity came along and I decided to give it a shot.

“Everything is about timing. I started thinking about it, George kept asking me and messing with me about it, one thing led to another, and I finally said I’d take a stab at it.

Williams, who is enjoying his new job description, admits there are some pre-fight jitters.

“I’m scared all over again, like this is my first fight. Now, I have to think about everything that Mr. Pete was thinking about when I was fighting. I have to try and teach Justin what I knew how to do.

“George and I accomplished a lot. He made me a world champion; before that, no one knew who he or I was. We were just a couple of guys from Aiken, S.C. We gave fans fights to remember.

“I was the fighter the press labeled as ‘Most feared in boxing.’ But that’s over for me now. I’m jumping into a whole new thing. It’s been an adjustment but I’m glad I’m doing it.’’

In his role as a trainer, Williams’ mindset has changed drastically from his fighting days. “Look, I always feel good,’’ he said. “What’s happened has happened. It is what it is. This is my first time stepping back into the world. I love boxing.

“What I don’t want to see is a fighter getting hurt. This is a hard sport. I know when I was in there I was always going for broke. But I want Justin, all fighters actually, to come out of the ring the same way they came in. Win or lose, I don’t want to see anybody get hurt.’’

On DeLoach, Williams said, “He’s a good fighter and now he’s in the spotlight. I want to do my best in the training world to get him at his peak. I hope he does his best. I’d love to one-up George with Justin.’’

Becoming the best takes strenuous work on a daily basis, and Williams was no stranger to putting in the hours.

“I never took a shortcut,’’ he said. “You take shortcuts, you know what’ll happen. I took the long road home when I was fighting and fans, fighters, everybody knew what to expect when I stepped in the ring.

“Justin isn’t like this, but one thing I know is that fighters think they’re slick. Well, you can’t pull anything over me. I’ve been there, seen it all.’’

And, as always, he’ll have George Peterson by his side.

“I’m just helping Paul,’’ said Peterson, who will serve as Williams’ assistant trainer. “So far, he’s doing great.”

It will be the ShoBox and 2016 debuts — and toughest fight to date — for both DeLoach and Cook.

DeLoach was a top amateur, competing in the USA Boxing National Championships in 2012. He won a National Silver Golden Gloves title when he was 13.

The 22-year-old DeLoach, of Augusta, Ga., has won three in a row since suffering his lone loss to Cesar Villa on Feb. 6, 2015. That was before he started training with Williams.

“This has been a total blessing, and I say that every day,” DeLoach said. “Thank God. He’s the one who brought the two of us together, that’s the main thing. Paul loves it, just to be back. I think he was scared at first, his reputation was at stake and so was mine.

“But he’s been so helpful – just in the mental side of things. I was already a good boxer but he’s taken me to another level mentally. He’s been pushing me, criticizing me, giving me instructions and picking my brain.”

DeLoach and Williams grew up just 30 minutes down the road from each other.

“Me and Paul, we’ve known each other our whole lives,’’ DeLoach said. “I’m from Augusta, Ga., and he was right across in Aiken. We knew each other when I was coming up as an amateur. He came to my last pro fight that was in San Antonio. When I saw him, I got so excited. We started to talk and I said something like, ‘Hey, Paul, wouldn’t it be cool if we got together?’

“Once I came home, we started working together and he’s been training me since. I think we’re going on about three months now. It’s an unbelievable feeling to be able to work with one of my favorite fighters.”

In his last outing, DeLoach won a shutout four-round decision over Santos Benavides last Dec. 12. DeLoach, a pro since March 2013, fought six times that year and four times each in 2014 and 2015.

“I’m really looking forward to fighting for the first time for him,” DeLoach said. “I’ve gone crazy waiting for my break and an opportunity like this to fight on SHOWTIME. I know it’s not easy fighting in your opponent’s backyard, but with Paul, George Peterson and me and my skills, we are confident it will be a good fight.’’

Cook, 25, is from Seneca, Mo., which is located about 20 minutes from Buffalo Run Casino where he has fought six times. A top amateur, he won six Golden Gloves titles, a Junior Golden Gloves National title, a Heartland title and four regional Silver Gloves titles. He is popular at Buffalo Run and will be making his premium network television debut against easily his most dangerous assignment as a pro. Cook’s brother, Jesse, a welterweight with a record of 15-1-1, will box on the non-televised portion of the event.

Dillon Cook turned pro in August 2012, fought twice that year, seven times in 2013, four times in 2014 and three times last year. Five of his last seven took place at Buffalo Run, including two out of three in 2015. He’s coming off a lopsided eight-round decision over Rahman Yusubov last Nov. 14.

“I couldn’t be more excited about making my ShoBox debut, right at home, at the Buffalo Run Casino,” Cook said. “This is a huge opportunity for me, and I plan on putting on a spectacular showing, for all my fans there that night and everyone watching on TV.”

In the ShoBox main event, unbeaten super lightweight knockout artist and emerging rising star, Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (16-0, 13 KOs), Houston by way of New Orleans, will meet experienced Aaron “The Jewel” Herrera (29-4-1, 18 KOs), of Valladolid, Mexico, in a 10-round match.

Four undefeated fighters will clash in the two other eight-rounders on the telecast: Hard-hitting Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk (9-0, 8 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., faces Nicholas “King Beamen” Givhan (16-0-1, 10 KOs), of Kalamazoo, Mich., in a super lightweight scrap and Ukrainian Ivan “The Volk” Golub (10-0, 8 KOs, 5-0 in World Series of Boxing), of Brooklyn, N.Y., meets Marlon Aguas (9-0, 6 KOs), of Quito, Ecuador, in a welterweight match.

Tickets for the event promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Tony Holden Productions are priced at $45, $55 and $75 and are available for purchase at buffalorun.com and at stubwire.com.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

# # #

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 65 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

New York, NY (December 7, 2014) – Three time world champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams is the newest member of Team Fight to Walk.

A fixture on the pound for pound lists and a fan favorite, Williams had an outstanding 41-2 record with 27 wins by knockout. Williams, a two-division titlist, became paralyzed from the waist down following a motorcycle accident in May 2012. Even after becoming a paraplegic from the accident, Williams maintained his signature smile and a great attitude.

Recently, Williams connected with Team Fight to Walk co-founder Boyd Melson in New York City, where he helped Williams find speaking engagements. During their time together, Melson took Williams to Rutgers University to meet Dr. Wise Young. He showed Williams patients treated during clinical trials in China. Williams saw the patients walking following a surgical procedure that enabled their axons to regenerate. Young is planning to conduct the same trials next year in the United States. Amazed by what he saw, Williams immediately joined Team Fight to Walk.

“Being a member of Team Fight to Walk is an incredible feeling,” said Williams. “Regardless of how I felt, people were telling me that I was never going to walk again but after meeting Boyd and Dr. Wise Young, you can’t tell me anything! I saw people with Spinal Cord Injuries walking again and their cords regrowing. It’s amazing how God works because he brought all of us together and I’m confident as ever that I’ll walk again.”

Melson is also overjoyed about having Williams on board and knew it was only a matter of time until the two connected.

“From the day I heard about Paul’s accident, I tried to get in touch and let him know there was hope. Thankfully, we were able to connect and I showed him the incredible results from Dr. Young’s clinical trial in China. He’s an important member of the boxing world who can help our outreach tremendously. Like (Team Fight to Walk founder) Christan (Zaccagnino), Paul’s life changed in a split second but now he knows that results of trials overseas means there’s plenty of hope for both of them. I believe that Christan and Paul will walk again once the clinical trials take place in the United States.”

For more information on Team Fight to Walk or to donate, go to Teamfighttowalk.com. Fans can contact Paul on Twitter @1paulwilliams. All questions about Team Fight to Walk or Spinal Cord Injuries can be emailed to Boydmelson@Teamfighttowalk.com.

LAS VEGAS – A motorcycle accident took away Paul Williams’ legs, but not his confidence.

It was there, as evident as ever Friday when he came out of an elevator at the MGM Grand before the weigh-in for the Showtime-televised junior-welterweight fight between Canelo Alvarez and Josesito Lopez Saturday night.

Williams was in a wheelchair. But he made it sound as if that chair was a temporary vehicle until that day when he believes he will recover, perhaps enough to even fight again.

“I feel good,’’ Williams said. “This is a small thing for a giant.’’

Williams is in Las Vegas for a fight that was supposed to include him against Canelo before the accident in Atlanta left him paralyzed. In his brief comments to 15 Rounds and Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, it wasn’t clear what his condition was.

But his confidence was unmistakable. Williams has faith that he will walk again in a path that might even take him up those steps, through the ropes and into the ring for another opening bell.

“I think I can come back,’’ Williams said. “Give it two or three years. I’ll come back.’’

If Williams had been Canelo’s opponent instead of the undersized Lopez in a Golden Boy-promoted bout, there’s speculation that rival Top Rank would have moved Saturday night’s other fight, Sergio Martinez-versus-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for the middleweight at Thomas & Mack Center, to a different date, possibly Oct. 6.

The consensus is that Williams-Canelo would have been more competitive and marketable than Canelo-Lopez.

Weights from the MGM

About 90 minutes before the Martinez-Chavez weigh-in, Canelo and Lopez stepped on the scales. Canelo looked solid at 154 pounds, the junior-middleweight limit. Lopez looked a little soft at 153, his heaviest ever.

“I’m not as weak as I look,’’ Lopez joked a day before the weigh-in. “I just look skinny.’’

At opening bell, Lopez expects Canelo to be at 170, which would mean about a 10-pound advantage for the favored Mexican, who holds the World Boxing Council’s version of the title.

Notes, Quotes

· Golden Boy announced a sellout Friday for the Canelo-Lopez featured card. Within minutes of the announcement, tickets were still available on Ticketmaster.

· Jose Benavidez Jr., an unbeaten junior-welterweight prospect from Phoenix, has been added to the Top Rank card featuring Nonito Donaire versus Toshiaki Nishioka at Carson, Calif., on Oct. 13. Benavidez is expected to fight Raul Tovar.

Monday, June 4, 2012. Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams, wishes to send his sincere thanks and appreciation to his fans worldwide for their prayers, cards and wishes he’s received since his motorcycle accident just over a week ago. “I feel the love and support from everyone and it’s overwhelming, I am very thankful to all of my fans and friends who have rallied around me in a time when I need them the most”. Williams asks that all future letters and cards please be sent to: 3060 Will Rogers Place, Atlanta 30316.

After the unfortunate accident to former two division champion Paul Williams, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will now take on James Kirkland on September 15th in Las Vegas for the WBC Super Welterweight champions that will be the headline bout of an HBO PPV card according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“That’s not the way you want to get the fight, but it wasn’t like James wasn’t in the running in the first place,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. “You have to deal with injuries and setbacks even as severe and tragic as this one is for Paul.

“James Kirkland was always on the short list of potential opponents for Canelo Alvarez and it came down to two names, guys which are exciting and are known, and that was Paul Williams and James Kirkland,” Schaefer said. “When we were told James couldn’t fight until the end of September, that eliminated him as a potential opponent because it was important for Canelo and for us for the fight to be on Sept. 15, the Mexican Independence Day weekend, which is traditionally reserved for the biggest Mexican stars to fight on.”

“About a week ago, I was informed by (Kirkland co-manager) Michael Miller that James had made tremendous progress and that he could fight sooner than we originally thought,” Schaefer said. “But there was nothing I could do because we had already agreed to a Williams fight.

“When the tragedy happened with Paul Williams, I called Michael to see if James had been medically cleared and he was and he very much wanted the fight. It was a matter of working out the numbers, which we did in the last few days. I’m excited because it is one of those fights where you can leave the judges at home. I would bet anyone this will end in a knockout, one way or the other. This is not going to the scorecards, and that’s what fight fans like.”

Schaefer said the card will be called “Knockout Kings” — which he said he got clearance to use even though that it is the name of a popular boxing video game series — figuring that Alvarez-Kirkland and the potentially explosive co-feature — a featherweight title bout between Mexican countrymen Jhonny Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KOs) and former junior featherweight titleholder Daniel Ponce De Leon (43-4, 35 KOs) — would end in stoppages.

“Gonzalez-Ponce De Leon is another barnburner where you can leave the judges at home because you know it will end up in a knockout,” Schaefer said. “We will look to add other fights to the card that we think will end in knockouts.”

“Canelo was very saddened,” Schaefer said. “He couldn’t believe it and was in shock. God-permitting and health-permitting Canelo told me he would like to invite Paul to be ringside but we don’t know if it is going to be feasible. But Canelo was really shaken up. He was speechless. We had to explain what happened a couple of times. It was a nice gesture for him to offer to fly Paul and his family out for the fight. Canelo believes Paul will always be fighter and a champion and he told me he is going to dedicate the fight to Paul Williams.”

Former world champion Paul Williams was Paralyzed from the waist down due to a motorcycle accident that happened near his Atlanta home on Sunday.

In a statement to espn.com, George Peterson who is a Williams Manager/Trainer/Father Figure said “”They’re saying he won’t walk again or box again,” said Peterson, who flew to Atlanta from Washington, D.C., where they were training for Williams’ next fight, on Sunday. “Paul is in denial right now. It’s been that way with him. You tell him he can’t or won’t do something, and he wants to prove you different. So whatever the doctors say, he’s not listening. But they say that (walking and boxing) is not going to happen.”

Peterson said Williams, who lives about an hour outside of Atlanta, had ridden his motorcycle from his home to Atlanta to attend the Sunday wedding of one of his brothers.

Peterson said Williams, 30, is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday to stabilize the portion of his spinal cord that is intact and allows him to move his hands, arms, torso and head.

“The other part of his spinal chord is damaged and has eliminated his lower body movement,” Peterson said.

Peterson continued by saying that Williams is coherent and even joking while in his hospital bed.

Williams, who just signed for a major Pay Per View bout against WBC Super Welterweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 15th.

Popular WBC Super Welterweight champion Saul Alvarez will defend his title against the dangerous former world champion Paul Williams to help celebrate the Mexican Independence weekend on September 15th in a bout that is ticketed for Pay Per View according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

The bout will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Canelo and Williams is done. Signed, sealed and delivered,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who got the deal done on Wednesday. “I think Williams is the biggest name in the division we could get and he has been known for years as one of the most avoided fighters in boxing. He’s awkward, he’s tall, he’s a dangerous fighter and that’s what you need on a pay-per-view. You need to give fans fights where they don’t know who’s going to win the fight.

“So, yes, it’s a risk for Canelo because Paul Williams is a terrific fighter. But it’s also a dangerous fight for Paul Williams. Some people still underestimate Canelo Alvarez but he can compete with anyone and he wants to compete with everyone. People have to remember that Canelo is still only 21 years old, but if you want to earn a shot at Floyd Mayweather, you need to be able to pass this kind of test, this tall test.”

Originally, Golden Boy had looked to James Kirkland, an exciting brawler whom it promotes, as Alvarez’s opponent and offered him the fight. However, Kirkland suffered a shoulder injury in a fight in March, had surgery and will not be ready to go by Sept. 15. So they looked to Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), 30, of Augusta, Ga.

“Kirkland is not going to be able to fight in September,” Schaefer said. “I want to make sure he is healthy and ready to go before a fight like this. So now people are saying, ‘Why are you putting Canelo in with Paul Williams?’ Some people think we are nuts. But I know one thing — it’s going to be a good fight. These guys both come to fight. I think one of these guys will get knocked out. If it’s an exciting fight I don’t think there are any losers.”

“We’ve been looking for something of this magnitude. We’ll be prepared for it,” said Williams trainer George Peterson. “He is going to put on a boxing clinic against Alvarez. This is what Paul has been wanting. We know Canelo is a good boxer. He has good footwork, good power and the will to win. That’s what I think about Alvarez. But Paul has been in the ring with the best and done really well. Paul can get up for this fight. There’s been one or two fights he couldn’t get up for.”

“What has happened is a few people have written Paul off, have said that he’s on his last legs. We’re glad about that, or we wouldn’t get no activity at all,” Peterson said. “It’s gonna be a real interesting fight and Paul is excited about it. It’s an opportunity to show the boxing community that Paul Williams is back. He’s never ducked a fighter and when the bell goes ‘bing,’ the fans will see a very exciting fight. Boxing needs something like this where who the winner will be is a mystery.

“I wanted to get the fight done and now I’ll see what I will do as it relates to which network is involved in the pay-per-view,” Schaefer said.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex. – Paul “The Punisher” Williams burst on the scene years ago as a gangly, volume-punching giant whom no manager wished to match his fighter against. That made him entertaining. He is the same man today. But no one is entertained by it any longer.

In the main event of Saturday’s “Triple Threat” card from American Bank Center Arena, Williams (41-2, 27 KOs) beat Japanese super welterweight Nobuhiro Ishida (24-7-2, 9 KOs) by shutout scores of 120-108, 120-108, 120-108. Not one of the three judges scored a round for Ishida. And not one of the fans attending Saturday’s card seemed to care.

“This win feels really good,” Williams nevertheless said afterward.

Through the opening quarter of Saturday’s main event, an awkward nine minutes that saw the fighters’ limbs entangle, dropping Ishida twice on non-knockdowns, Williams was the slightly busier and more aggressive man, though Ishida gave little ground.

Round 4 found Williams finally landing effective punches, employing several times a right hook-left cross combination that backed Ishida up. After more of the same in round 5, Williams allowed Ishida to come inside in the sixth. Once inside, though, Ishida found that wasn’t necessarily where he wanted to be, as Williams, a much better in-fighter than his frame anticipates, continued to land.

And so it went.

As the crowd slowly deflated and American Bank Center Arena’s energy went away, Williams-Ishida went from main event to walk-out bout, regardless of the concerted effort both men made. When the final bell rang, the arena was quiet as it had been when the doors opened five hours earlier.

“We’re going to make it back to the top again,” Williams said, though by then the arena had emptied.

TAVORIS CLOUD VS. GABRIEL CAMPILLO
Dressed like a tiger, IBF light heavyweight titlist Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud walked into something of a lion’s den, Saturday, fighting Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo, a tricky southpaw Spaniard, before a partisan-Spanish-speaking crowd, and emerging with his title but lots of controversy.

The three official judges disagreed on what happened in many of the rounds, turning in split-decision cards of 116-110, 111-115 and 114-112 for Cloud. The 15rounds.com ringside scorecard, too, had the match for the champion, 114-113.

“He was the busier fighter, and that is what the crowd here in Corpus Christi responded to,” said Cloud, in explanation for the crowd’s vociferous disapproval of the official result.

From the opening bell, Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs) wasted no time whatever, charging out his corner and cracking Campillo (21-4-1, 7 KOs) with a lunging right cross that dropped the handsome Spaniard in the fight’s opening two minutes. Cloud would drop Campillo again with a barrage of rights and lefts, 30 seconds later, winning the first round 10-7.

“He won the first round,” Campillo said afterwards. “But after that, I dominated.”

Campillo proved his mettle in the second round. Having risen from the blue mat twice in the opening stanza, Campillo outboxed Cloud, catching him with left uppercuts and right hooks from his southpaw stance and then outclassing him with slick movement in the third.

Rounds 4, 5 and 6 found Cloud, still bemused by Campillo’s tricky style, pressing forward with greater aggressiveness, no longer retreating to the ropes and trying to set traps. Still, Campillo had the better movement and more accurate punches, while some sting appeared to come off Cloud’s blows.

The fight’s most even round, its seventh, saw a cut over Cloud’s left eye begin to bleed and cause the referee to take a double look after each clinch. The blood flowed even more loosely in the eighth, after a sustained assault by Campillo backed the champion into a corner. Cloud fought back when pressed, but Campillo’s left-uppercut lead was a riddle Cloud never solved all night.

After a trip to the doctor’s corner midway through the 11th caused Cloud to fear the fight could be stopped on account of his left eye, Cloud increased his aggressiveness three-fold, narrowly winning the championship rounds on two of the three judges’ cards.

“I felt like I won the fight,” Cloud said of his effort.

CHRIS ARREOLA VS. ERIC MOLINA
If Texans circled one match on the American Bank Center card, if there was one fight that brought them out Saturday night, it was California heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (34-2, 30 KOs) against Texan Eric Molina (18-2, 14 KOs), and the match was excellent while it lasted. Unfortunately for fans, it lasted only 150 seconds, as Arreola, despite being hurt early, dropped and stopped Molina at 2:30 of round 1.

Arreola, who has lost at least 20 pounds from previous fighting weights, now appears somehow less menacing in his trimmer figure but nevertheless brings a row every time he steps between the ropes. Molina learned this harsh lesson after stunning Arreola 90 seconds into their match.

“I said before the fight that if I had him hurt, I would come in and try to finish, and I did,” Molina said afterwards. “And he caught me.”

Arreola has more class than his detractors are often wont to admit. He looks and talks like a face-first brawler, but this brash exterior belies a stellar amateur pedigree and an impressive ability to land seemingly blind overhand rights on contender-caliber heavyweights. After being backed to the ropes by Molina and forced to clinch, Arreola used a pair of such right hands to get Molina off him.

And then it was a walloping right hand that put Molina’s lights out.

“I did my best,” said Molina.

Arreola did better.

MALIK SCOTT VS. KENDRICK RELEFORD
The evening’s first undercard fight televised by Showtime Extreme, an eight-round scrap between undefeated Philadelphia heavyweight Malik Scott (33-0, 11 KOs) and Texan Kendrick “The Apostle” Releford (22-16-2, 10 KOs), saw a technically superior though light-hitting Scott preserve his ‘0’, decisioning Releford by unanimous scores of 79-73, 80-72 and 80-72.

Throughout the occasionally sober match, Scott tagged Releford with right uppercut-left hook combinations that snapped Releford’s braided hair upwards and leftwards but did not imperil him.

Scott has every punch in the boxing lexicon, and appears to commit to each one, too, but whatever the mysterious force that gives a prizefighter one-punch stopping power, Scott does not possess it.

UNDERCARD
The undercard ended well with a competitive four-rounder between two Texas lightweights. Corpus Christi’s Gregorio Gutierrez (5-1, 2 KOs) prevailed over Brownsville’s Hector Garza (3-5, 2 KOs) by three scores of 39-37.

Saturday’s fifth fight saw the evening’s biggest upset, when unknown New Orleans super middleweight Justin Williams (4-5-1, 2 KOs) decisioned local and well-known contender Alfonso Lopez (22-3, 17 KOs) by unanimous scores of 57-56, 58-55 and 58-55. Williams was faster and better throughout, dropping Lopez once and doing everything necessary to win a fair and well-deserved victory.

Before that, hometown welterweight Julian Barboza (2-0, 2 KOs) made decisive work of San Antonio’s Arturo Lopez (0-1). Lopez, making his professional debut, came out quickly and boxed confidently for the bout’s opening minute, but then Barboza began to take him apart with tight combinations, stopping him at 2:11 of the second round.

Saturday’s first match, a hesitant six-round affair between undefeated Washington D.C. light heavyweight Thomas Williams Jr. (7-0, 4 KOs) and Louisiana’s Kentrell Claiborne (2-5, 1 KO), went to Williams by three unanimous scores of 40-35.

Opening bell rang on a silent American Bank Center Arena at 6:22 PM local time.

Follow all the action LIVE from Corpus Christie, Texas when former two division champion Paul Williams takes on former champion Nobohiro Ishida. The card will feature the IBF Light Heavyweight championship bout between Tavoris Cloud and Gabriel Campillo plus bouts involving heavyweight contenders Chris Arreola and Malik Scott. The action begins at 8pm eastern/7pm in Texas

12 ROUNDS SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS–PAUL WILLIAMS (40-2, 27 KO’S) VS NOBUHIRO ISHIDA (24-6-2, 9 KO’S)

Round 1 Williams lands a straight left…10-9 Williams

Round 2 Ishida lands a left..Williams lands a straight left to the body…20-19 Williams

Round 3 Williams lands a combination…Straight left…Ishida lands a jab…Williams lands a good straight left…Ishida lands a counter right..body shot..left hook..Right hook from Williams…30-28 Williams

Round 4 Ishida lands a good hook..Lead left hook..Counter right..Williams lands a straight left that backs up Ishida..39-38 Williams

Round 5 Williams lands a nice combinations…2 up jabs..Heavy combination..uppercut..straight left..49-47 Williams

Round 6 Williams shoeshining…3 right uppercuts…Right to the body..ishida lands 2 rights…59-56 Williams

Round 7 Lead uppercut from Williams…69-65 Williams

Round 8Williams Volume punching to the body and head..Ishida gets in a right….79-74 Williams

Round 9Lead right staggers Ishida…89-83 Williams

Round 10Williams working inside…99-92 Williams

Round 11Williams letting his hands go..109-101 Williams

Round 12 Williams punching in bunches..ishida lands a couple counter rights…Straight left from Williams…119-110 Williams

PUNCH STATS
Williams 248-934 Ishida–147-671

120-108 all 3 judges for PAUL WILLIAMS

12 ROUNDS–IBF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE–TAVORIS CLOUD (23-0, 19 KO’S) VS GABRIEL CAMPILLO (21-3-1, 8 KO’S)

Round 1 BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES CAMPILLO…CLOUD ALL OVER CAMPILLO AND DROPS HIM AGAIN…10-7 Cloud

Round 2 Campillo lands a 1-2…19-17 Cloud

Round 3 Campillo lands an uppercut..28-27 Cloud

Round 4 Cloud lands a right to the chest..Campillo lands a combination..Countering..Blood from Left eye of Cloud…37-37…CUT WAS RULED FROM A PUNCH

Round 5 Cloud lands a short left hook…Campillo lands a combination..Uppercut…Cloud lands a left hook…47-46 Campillo

Round 6 Both guys trading body shots…Campillo landing combinations..57-55 Campillo

Round 7Campillo lands a combination that moves Cloud back..Cloud lands a flurry..Campillo pressuring Cloud..Cloud lands a right..66-65 Campillo

Round 8 Campillo lands a right hook…Huge jab that is followed by a combination..straight left…76-74 Campillo

Round 9 Campillo lands an uppercut…86-83 Campillo

Round 10 Campillo continuing to land combinations..Cloud lands a right…Campillo lands a straight left and jab…96-92 Campillo

Round 11Campillo beginning to land hard shots on Cloud…Doctor now looking at the cuts on Clouds face…Cloud can continue…Cloud coming forward…Campillo landing a combination..Big right from Cloud backs up Campillo…106-101 Campillo

Round 12 Campillo lands a left…Cloud outlanding Campillo…115-111 Campillo

115-111 CAMPILLO; 116-110 CLOUD; 114-112 CLOUD

6 Rounds Super Middleweights–Alfonso Lopez (22-2, 17 KO’s) vs Justin Williams (3-5-1, 2 KO’s)

Round 1 Williams lands a short right,…Good right..10-9 Williams

Round 2 BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES LOPEZ…20-17 Williams

Round 3 Good right from Williams…2 uppercuts…Good left has Lopez holding on…Lopez lands a left and right…double right…right to top of head..Williams lands a right at the bell..30-27 Williams

Round 4 Good jab from Lopez…Good jab…39-37 Williams

Round 5 Double left from Lopez...48-47 Williams

Round 6 Lopez lands a combination…57-57

57-56; 58-55; 58-55 FOR WILLIAMS

10 ROUNDS HEAVYWEIGHTS—CHRIS ARREOLA (34-2, 29 KO’S) VS ERIC MOLINA (18-1, 14 KO’S)

Round 1 Body shot from Molina…Right to the body…Big right Hurts Arreola…...HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES MOLINA AND HE CANT BEAT THE COUNT…FIGHT IS OVER

8 ROUNDS HEAVYWEIGHTS–MALIK SCOTT (32-0, 11 KO’S) VS KENDRICK RELEFORD (22-15-2, 10 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Scott lands a combination..2 body shots…right to head..left to body..Releford lands a jab…Scott lands a nice right..nice uppercut…good tight and an uppercut…Hard lead uppercut..combination..right over top….10- 9 Scott

Round 2 Scott lands an uppercut…left…3 punch combination that ends with a great uppercut..20-18 Scott

Round 3 Scott lands a right..Relford lands a combination…Scott lands a left..right..good left to the body..good left..4 punch combination…30-27 Scott

Round 4 Good right to the body/left to the head….good right from Scott..3 punch combination..40-36 Scott

Round 5 Good left from Scott..Releford bleeding from nose…Good right from Scott..50-45 Scott

Round 6Scott lands a lead uppercut…Left from Releford…..60-55 Scott

Round 7 Double left to the body and a sharp right from Scott…uppercut…70-64 Scott

Round 8 Scott Jabbing…Good body shot..80-73 Scott

PUNCH STATS
Scott 181-530 Releford 88-523

79-73; 80-72; 80-72 UNANIMOUS DECISION SCOTT

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex. – The banner behind the scale on the hastily erected stage read “Three of boxing’s biggest threats, seeking world supremacy.” Far as promotional taglines go, it wasn’t a most-ridiculous claim, though of course it was exaggerated. California heavyweight Chris Arreola then took the stage, and the force of his mass, or personality, made the centerpiece banner fall.

“It’s the spirits!” cackled promoter Don King.

“Motherf-ckin’ Zapata!” said Arreola, identifying exactly whose spirit he believed had dropped the embellished banner. Arreola’s guess was good as any.

So ended the prefight buildup of a week that saw a few open workouts and a Thursday press conference that featured a meandering history of Texas provided by none other than King, who referred to Mexicans as “wetbacks” in a sort of slave-ship-to-White-House way King intended to be evidence of empowerment but to which others later lent their own bad faith. Arreola seemed to respond, in small part, to King and his mini-controversy, Friday, when he shouted Emiliano Zapata’s name in a tribute to a Mexican revolutionary hero whose umbrage was nevertheless reserved for Mexican hacienda owners, not Texans.

The entire spectacle was a bit confusing. Originally scheduled to happen on the outdoor patio of a nearby restaurant, Friday’s “Triple Threat” weigh-in was moved, unbeknownst to any but friends and familiars, to a spot off the staircase of American Bank Center, the host venue for Saturday’s fight. There, the fighters mingled with the crowd, sitting in chairs and posing for pictures anxiously while awaiting a chance to make weight.

First on the scale was main-event opponent Nobuhiro Ishida of Japan, who weighed 155 pounds for his super welterweight match with Paul “The Punisher” Williams, who weighed 153 1/2. The fighters’ registering two different weight classes raised some quiet confusion about where on the scale the fight would happen. Super welterweight, apparently. Though, as Williams and Ishida will not be fighting for a title, Ishida did not have to make 154.

Following them were IBF light heavyweight titlist Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud – who made 175 pounds – and Gabriel “Chico Guapo (Handsome Boy)” Campillo, who weighed 173 1/2. Cloud, who is not a prohibitive favorite in their Saturday match by any means, was all dignity and composure before and during the weigh-in, belying the storm he brings with him in the ring. “Chico Guapo,” meanwhile, took the post-scale stare down as a good chance to look over the hundred or so gathered, with his dreamy eyes.

The card’s biggest draw, the aforementioned Arreola, was sixth on the scale, weighing 245 pounds. He was preceded by Texas heavyweight Eric Molina, who made 228. Immediately after Arreola cited Zapata and appeared trimmer than the man who was once a premium-cable headliner, he got in a stare-down shouting match with Molina that was 99 percent shtick and perhaps one percent genuine animosity. Arreola, for his Mexican roots, is expected to attract whatever crowd attends Saturday’s card.

Doors open at 5:30 PM local time, with first bell scheduled to ring at 6:30. 15rounds.com will have full ringside coverage.

CLOUD – CAMPILLO WEIGH IN

ARREOLA – MOLINA WEIGH IN

The prizefighter formerly known as “Boxing’s Most Feared” has a problem with misfortune. Paul Williams, in his mind and his handlers’, has been a victim of bad luck. Williams’ trainer, George Peterson, sees no reason to make changes, Williams seems unsure if he’s ever technically lost, and Dan Goosen, who receives a promoter’s fee from Williams, says Miguel Cotto is a redemptive tale for Williams because Cotto just signed a big contract for a fight he will almost certainly lose.

With friends like these, Williams returns to battle, Saturday, against Japan’s Nobuhiro Ishida at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Tex. Williams will be joined by IBF light heavyweight titlist Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud, in a match with Spain’s Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo, and California heavyweight Chris (Chico Menos Guapo) Arreola. Showtime “Championship Boxing,” a program whose name deserves quotation marks round it this time, will broadcast the action on a couple of its channels and in Spanish, too.

The card is called “Triple Threat,” which is fitting; it is exactly what Williams’ career now faces. Having lost by 2010 Knockout of the Year to Sergio Martinez, and having won by 2011 Robbery of the Year against Erislandy Lara, Williams is in danger of making the sort of triple performance that would take him off premium cable in the future.

Is this just? Technically. Were he not going to make a rubber match with Martinez, one might argue, and many did, Williams did not deserve a rehabilitation match on HBO in July. HBO’s commentators caught this drift and effectively retired Williams in the final third of his match with Lara. That the judges’ decision went to Williams mattered little to anyone. Other events were unfolding.

Back to those in a bit. First, there is Williams’ ongoing implication that he is a victim of misfortune. This sets up a tricky conundrum for Williams. If luck was all it took for the southpaw Martinez to land an overhand left on Williams, one that cut Williams’ lights long before he landed facefirst on an Atlantic City canvas, luck is probably what got Williams his breakout decision over Antonio Margarito in 2007, his blowout rematch victory with Carlos Quintana in 2008, and his bizarre victory over Kermit Cintron in . . . OK, let’s not get carried away; luck may have had nothing to do with Cintron tossing himself out that California ring in 2010.

Luck is a poor choice of culprit for a prizefighter. It exists, sure, but it behooves no one to enter his training camp citing it. And not even luck can explain Williams’ collecting so many left hands from the southpaw Lara that observers had genuine concerns for his health in the championship rounds. Williams has no defense for fellow southpaws’ left hands, we now know – even if no one in Williams’ camp does.

But about those other unfolding events. Williams has lost favor in a way disproportionate to his performances. Never particularly popular – as a polite black man from Georgia, apparently, he offended multiple ethnic sensibilities – Williams nevertheless took a righteous path to his welterweight title by outworking Margarito and being ballsier than him in their 12th round. He then avenged a decision loss to Quintana, beat down Verno Phillips, decisioned Winky Wright and made a wonderful first match with Martinez.

But a curious thing went against Williams, very much the way it went against Juan Diaz three months or so before. Diaz, you’ll remember, made a close 2009 match with Paulie Malignaggi in Diaz’s native Houston. The decision could have gone either way, but Texas judge Gale Van Hoy gave the match to the hometown kid by a ridiculous margin, 118-110. So folks turned on Diaz.

Williams-Martinez I could have gone either way, too. But New Jersey judge Pierre Benoist favored Williams by an inexplicable 119-110 margin. And folks began to turn on Williams. Five months later, Martinez won the lineal middleweight title from Kelly Pavlik. A month after that, Williams watched in disbelief as Cintron dove through the ropes and exited their match on a stretcher, punching an ambulance door. When Williams and Martinez made their rematch in November 2010, Martinez was the prizefighter folks wanted to cheer, and Martinez gave them every reason to.

Another curious thing worked against Williams. Al Haymon, boxing’s quietest mastermind and Williams’ advisor, became a target of aficionados’ ire. Haymon, the narrative went, was chief among the reasons HBO Sports lost its way. Some of this was rival Bob Arum’s lusty spinning, and some of it was true.

Everyone h’d had enough of the Haymon-influenced regime at HBO Sports by the time Williams made his 2011 fight with Lara. When Williams spent most of the second half of that fight being abused by Lara, only to see his hand raised by majority-decision scores, Williams won the very ire aficionados had been saving for his advisor, ire that only grew when the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board – the very same group that took no umbrage with Pierre Benoist – suspended the three Williams-Lara judges.

Maybe there is something to be said for Williams’ finding a culprit in bad luck.

Ultimately, though, Williams has never stopped being in the ring what he always was: a freakishly large, volume-punching southpaw who makes entertaining matches against even difficult opponents. Outside the ring, his demeanor has turned a bit surly, but that surliness is honestly acquired. He likely feels wronged but has no idea by whom.

I’ll be in Corpus Christi, Saturday, for a couple reasons. First, Texas is my beat, and Art Museum of South Texas shares a parking lot with American Bank Center. Second, and more importantly, I do not want to think of myself as someone who wrongs Paul Williams. Boxing would be a better place if it were populated by more guys like Williams, and it will be an honor to cover him.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Former Welterweight world champion Paul Williams will be back in action on February 18th when he takes on Nobohiro Ishida on February 18th as part of a Showtime televised card that will also feature IBF Light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud defending against Gabriel Campillo according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“Paul is anxious to get back in there and re-establish himself in the minds of people who don’t give him credit for winning the fight with Lara,” said Williams promoter Dan Goossen. “People will forget real quickly with a good performance against Ishida. Whether you had Paul winning or losing (against Lara) it was an exciting fight and that’s what Paul Williams is known for — being in those types of fights. He gives as good as he gets most of the time, so I think this should be another one of those good Paul Williams fights.

“I believe Kirkland’s performance against Angulo was a factor that showed that Ishida deserved the shot with Williams in another big fight,” Goossen said. “To me, Ishida has earned his opportunity to fight a fighter like Paul Williams and Paul has earned the right to fight the man who knocked out James Kirkland. This is a fight that will be a barometer to see where Paul is. I believe he is still at the top of the class in the 154-pound division. Ishida is somebody you have to contend with to get back to that top level.”

“One of the things I love about it is that he is right-handed,” Goossen said.

If Williams is successful against Ishida, Goossen said the hope is that Williams will get a rubber match with Martinez and a rematch with Lara.

“That’s a fight we would like to get back,” Goossen said of another fight with Martinez. “They’re 1-1. Paul wants to do it again with Lara, too, even though he got the victory because Paul is the kind of fighter who wants to erase any doubts.”

“When Campillo got call to fight on Dec. 31 he took the fight immediately,” said Sampson Lewkowicz, Campillo’s promoter. “When they canceled the fight I kept Campillo in training. Now we are getting the fight on Feb. 18. We have agreed on everything. I spoke with Don King (Cloud’s promoter) and I am waiting for the paperwork.”

If it isn’t the biggest upset in many years, New Jersey’s suspension of the three scorekeepers in the decision given to Paul Williams and stolen from Erislandy Lara is a stunner that is laudable for its immediacy, yet incomplete in its scope, language and accountability.

To wit: It is hard to judge, which is something Al Bennett, Hilton Whitaker and Don Givens were not able to do on cards that must have made Lara feel like a bank teller with a note from a guy in a ski-mask.

In a letter Wednesday to Lara’s reps at Golden Boy Promotions and Williams promoter Dan Goossen, New Jersey Commissioner Aaron Davis told them of the indefinite suspensions after a review that did not turn up “evidence of bias, fraud, corruption or incapacity.’’

For now, we’ll have to take New Jersey’s word on the first three. But incapacity? It can mean a lot of things. Presumably, New Jersey meant to say that the scorekeepers were capable enough to know which end of a pencil to use.

But “being incapable” is part of Merriam-Webster’s primary definition. Synonyms include inability, incompetence and ineptitude. The three scorekeepers were all of that in scoring a majority decision Saturday for Williams in an Atlantic City bout dominated by Lara, who from opening bell through the 12th repeatedly rocked Williams by landing 49 percent of his power punches.

Davis’ letter, which included an apology, said New Jersey was “unsatisfied” by the scoring. But “unsatisfied’’ is not a satisfactory explanation for New Jersey’s assignment of three scorekeepers to a high-profile, HBO-televised bout. Bennett, Givens and Whitaker will have to undergo further training before they are issued another scorecard, according to Davis’ letter. Left unexplained is what kind of training they underwent in the first place.

A lot already has been said about their relative lack of experience. It’s been reported that Bennett, who scored it a 114-114 draw, had never worked a title fight televised by HBO or Showtime. OK, but does that explain how not one of the threesome knew that Lara was winning? Bennett was closer to reality than either Whitaker (115-114) or Givens (116-114), but all three might as well have been watching waves from a seat on the boardwalk instead of a one-sided fight from a perch at ringside.

The training, assignment and identity of judges has always been a murky process — different from state-to-state, nation-to-nation. HBO does a good job in providing some details about their respective records, including scores in significant fights. Yet, there are still nights when the three judges might as well be Manny, Moe and Jack.

Who are these guys?

For Williams-Lara, it looks as if the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board had no clue. It’s no surprise that Bennett, Givens and Whitaker didn’t either.

REMEMBERING KIMBALL
I couldn’t help watching the Lara-Williams controversy without thinking about what George Kimball would have written. It would have been uniquely his and his alone. Through the terrible toll of cancer, Kimball never lost his ability to express outrage or be outraged. I suspect it kept him alive long after doctors told him he had six months to live in 2005 when he was diagnosed with a death sentence. Kimball, who died on July 6, just loved a good fight.

Kimball was a fellow Army brat. I went to more high schools than he did. But he had more of everything else.

He became a mentor for me and then a friend during two weeks in Athens for the 2004 Olympics. During the preliminary rounds of boxing at a rundown gym in a lousy Athens neighborhood, I bet him 50 Euros that the U.S. wouldn’t win a single medal. Kimball, then a Boston Herald columnist, looked at me like the fool I was, took the American field and collected the 50 Euros on the night Andre Dirrell won bronze, two nights before Andre Ward won gold.

As I paid him off, he gave me a shrewd, amused look – pure Kimball.

“Why don’t you pay me after we get back to the Olympic Village?’’ he said. “That way, I won’t get robbed while we try to get out of this place.’’

For anybody who loves great writing from irreplaceable characters, his death robs us all.

AZ NOTES, ANECDOTES
· The Arizona market, dormant for the last few years, continues to heat up. On Friday, July 22, two cards are scheduled, one in Phoenix and one in Tucson. Longtime promoter Don Chargin is in Tucson at Casino del Sol with a card scheduled for seven fights and featuring super-bantamweight Christopher Martin (22-0-2, 6 KOs) of San Diego against Mexican Jose Silviera (12-3, 4 KOs). In Phoenix, Michele Rosado of Face II Face Events is at Madison Events Center with a card that includes two bantamweight bouts, featuring Emilio Garcia in one and Alexis Santiago in the other. If a large, noisy crowd at a Phoenix news conference Wednesday is a sign, both are becoming local attractions.

· Phoenix super-middleweight Jesus Gonzales, entertaining and gutsy in an ESPN2 victory last Friday, got six stitches for a cut over one eye suffered in an apparent heat butt with Francisco Sierra. Gonzales is expected to fight again in Phoenix sometime in the fall. Another fall fight is also expected for 19-year-old Phoenix prospect Jose Benavidez, Jr., who pushed his junior-welterweight record to 12-0 in his hometown debut six weeks ago. Benavidez fought with injuries to both hands in his last victory. The hands have healed. He’s back in the gym.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the three judges for this past Saturday’s Jr. Middleweight bout that saw Paul Williams win a controverisal majority decision over Erislandy Lara in Atlantic City have been suspended by New Jersey boxing Czar Aaron Davis.

This reporter had a five point win for Lara from ringside.

In a letter obtained by ESPN.com, New Jersey commissioner Aaron M. Davis wrote to Lara promoter Dave Itskowitch of Golden Boy Promotions and Williams’ promoter Dan Goossen informing them of the decision, which came after a video review of the fight with the judges.

“The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board was responsible for assigning all three judges who scored this contest and decided the outcome,” Davis wrote in the letter. “At the conclusion of the contest, this agency had concerns about the final scores. Due to these concerns we decided to conduct a full review of the scoring.

“As part of this review, the NJSACB called in all three judges to our Trenton offices and conducted a full analysis of the scoring of each round.”

“The NJSACB does not have the legal authority under these circumstances to invalidate the official result. This is due to the fact that all scoring is a matter of subjective judgment. In a similar fashion we cannot mandate a rematch. However, our opinion is that a rematch may be warranted.

“This agency has placed all three judges on indefinite suspension. Further, all three judges will be required to undergo additional training prior to their return to professional boxing judging.”

“Any contestant who enters a ring or cage in our state deserves the best officiating that we can provide,” Davis wrote. “While we do not mean to diminish Mr. Williams’ competitive spirit and exciting style, we feel that we did not provide our best officiating on July 9. Because we have a rich history of boxing and combat sports in New Jersey, we aspire to consistently improve in our officiating and strive to learn from this situation. We have no further comment on this matter at the current time.”

Although Lara would like a rematch, Goossen has not shown any interest, mainly because of the continuing difficulty Williams has when fighting a left-hander. Both of his official losses were to southpaws. He also won a controversial majority decision against Martinez in their first fight in addition to the hard time he had with Lara.

As for New Jersey suspending the judges, Goossen told ESPN.com, “The only thoughts I’ve had are what I’ve had from the beginning, which is what I said after the fight, that it could have gone either way. I’ve heard people say there was corruption in the decision, but we’ve got a good sport. There is no corruption here. It was a tough fight that could have gone either way.

“My difference of opinion that I argue is against those who thought Lara won by such a wide margin. Lara did an excellent job and so did Paul. As far as I’m concerned, if New Jersey felt this was appropriate, they’re a good commission, and there’s nothing more for me to say on it.”

“The most consistent launching pad for future champions for a full decade” ShoBox: The New Generation celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary with a live match between top prospects Diego Magdaleno and Alejandro Perez. Watch highlights from today’s boxing stars who made their bones on ShoBox including Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Robert Guerrero, Kelly Pavlik, Kermit Cintron, Joan Guzman, Victor Ortiz, Paul Williams, Timothy Bradley, Carl Froch, Nonito Donaire, Andre Ward, and more.

PART 2

PART 3

Eight months ago, Paul “The Punisher” Williams walked towards the ring at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Standing in the middle of the ring waiting for him was another threat to his rise to stardom, Sergio Martinez. Williams had already defeated Martinez in a closely contest twelve round slugfest that was already hailed by many as the fight of the year. As a featured fighter among HBO’s heavy stable of boxers, he was en route to lucrative pay per view showdowns and rumored to be in talks with the sport’s elite.

Six minutes after entering the ring, that all came crashing down.

With a looping overhand left, Sergio Martinez had knocked Williams out cold in the second round of their rematch. As Martinez and his team celebrated, Williams lay unconscious on the canvas; hovered over by ringside physicians. After a few minutes, he regained his composure and was able to take in what had happened. Instead of disappointment, anger, or great sadness, Williams had a look of shock on his face. He stood in disbelief as Martinez’ arm was raised.

He’s been here for years

On Saturday, Williams returns to the very ring he was knocked out in. Instead of going back to the drawing board and making changes, Williams hopped right back onto the horse. He will be facing Erislandy Lara. Formerly a star of the Cuban amateur system, he has since become a highly regarded up and coming fighter. As an amateur, he compiled an amazing record of 310-10.

Williams has been here before. In 2008, he suffered a decision loss to Carlos Quintana, only to come back four months later to knock him out in two minutes. Despite his two losses, Williams holds a claim that few fighters can; he has defeated everyone he has ever faced.

“I have never been in a comeback fight,” stated Williams, who takes exception to the word ‘comeback.’
“To me it’s just another fight. Some of the top guys out there, like many Pacquiao, he lost a couple times. He didn’t have a comeback fight – he just comes back and fights. This is what we do. Guys that do have comeback fights, they are guys that don’t know themselves what they are doing.”

Williams knows what he’s doing. He stands at 6’1” and towers over all of his opponents. Instead of backing away and working behind his jab, Williams stands in and slugs it out against his opposition. His exciting style has made him a favorite among fans of the sport.

In regards to Lara, Williams knows he is not a typical fighter to come back against. “He is the new lion on the block and all that. You always see on TV how the young lions are trying to overtake the old lions, but this old lion isn’t ready to leave… We are going to have to go through the rain and get wet. We are going to have to go through the fire and get burnt… I am looking forward to a rough fight. It is going to be exciting for the fans to see. I am going to be excited to see it too. I am just hoping that nobody gets seriously hurt…just hurt.”

And what of Lara’s extensive amateur background? Williams’ trainer George Peterson is not concerned. “Amateurs are all right,” stated Peterson, “but this is a professional boxing match. That amateur record doesn’t matter to us one way or another.”

The co-feature of the evening features two relative unknowns facing off in a super-bantamweight showdown with a title on the line. Champion, Akifumi Shimoda of Japan, squares off against Rico Ramos of California. This is an interesting scrap that could very well show us here the future of the division lies.

Chris Arreola continues his active comeback trail/weight loss showcase against Friday Ahunanya. HBO will showcase highlights of the match during the broadcast. Say what you want about Arreola, but he is just fun to be around. Arreola who has been fined in the past over his foul language, seemed to loosen the vocabulary of the presenters of the press conference on Wednesday. Kerry Davis of HBO began a sentence with a “Yo,” while promoter Dan Goosen dropped a profound “damn.” His having to lay off the late night tacos and beers brought about laughter at the packed press event.

The Championship event is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, with the Williams-Lara bout in association with Golden Boy Promotions and the Ramos-Shimoda bout in association with Teiken Promotions and hosted by Caesars Atlantic City. The Williams vs. Lara and Shimoda vs. Ramos bouts will be broadcast on HBO’s Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:15 PM ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). Tickets, priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.

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

15rounds

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that former two-division champion Paul Williams will take on undefeated Cuban, Erislandy Lara on July 9 at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom in Atlantic City.

Williams was originally penciled in to fight Nobouhiro Ishida but after HBO first approved the Japanese fighter, pulled the plug on that bout.

“Erislandy is another outstanding Cuban amateur that has been put on the fast track in the pros along with his former teammates Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlandier Solis,” said Dan Goossen, who promotes Williams. “We’re looking forward to getting Paul back into the ring, especially against a young, hungry tiger like Lara. We have all the confidence in Paul overcoming all the odds and fighting his way back to the top.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the agreed upon bout between Paul Williams and Nobouhiro Ishida will not go on as planned as HBO put the kibosh on Ishida as Williams comeback opponent.

The bout was set for July 9 in Atlantic City and the report said that HBO gave no explanation why they would not approve Ishida as the opponent.

Williams will fight on July 9 as promoter Goossen-Tutor is looking for a more suitable opponent for HBO’s liking

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that former two-division world champion Paul Williams will return to the ring for the first time after being smashed in two round by Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, on July 9th when he takes on Nobouhiro Ishida in Atlantic City.

“We’ve made a deal with Golden Boy for Ishida,” Dan Goossen, Williams’ promoter, said.

“We have a verbal agreement with Ishida and we are just waiting for the signed contract to come back,” said Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions, which co-promotes Ishida with Canelo Promotions. “Ishida agreed to the fight. Everybody involved has agreed to the fight. We’re looking forward to it.”

“We figured since this young man stopped Kirkland, he was hot since Kirkland was hot,” said George Peterson, Williams’ trainer. “We said, ‘Hey, we’ll fight him.’ ”

“We are just anxious to get Paul back in the ring and to do it against someone who just had a spectacular first-round knockout over a highly respected fighter in James Kirkland. That adds intrigue to Paul’s first fight back from the Martinez fight,” Goossen said.

“My experience has told me not to have any concerns,” Goossen said. “I have seen a lot of great fighters — Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko — be on the bad end of a great punch and come back and be dominant world champions. I’ve got no reason to think that Paul Williams won’t follow in those same footsteps.”

HBO accepted Ishida as the opponent after the Williams camp turned down a number of proposed opponents, including former titlist Sergiy Dzinziruk and former title challenger Deandre Latimore.

“It’s going to be Ishida, no doubt about that, so that is who we are preparing for,” Peterson said. “But I haven’t seen him yet. I don’t know the type of fighter he is, but we just want to fight. I heard he knocked Kirkland down three times. I thought Kirkland was a little tougher than the way it seems that fight went, but you never know when you get clocked. A lot of times you don’t recover. So I will take a look at the tape in the next couple of days. But we are looking forward to fighting. All Paul wants to do is fight.”

“The big question is going to be Paul Williams,” Gomez said. “How is he? Ishida has never been knocked out. He’s not a big puncher even though he looked like one against Kirkland. When a guy is coming off a really bad knockout, are they the same? I think we’ll know in the first couple of rounds. If Ishida lands a big punch we will know. We don’t know what Williams has left in the tank. It’s not just the Martinez fight either. Williams has been fighting tough fights since the (Antonio) Margarito fight (in 2007). How much more does he have in the tank?

“Goossen and Team Williams are doing the right thing by getting a guy that doesn’t have a high knockout ratio. But I did the same thing with Kirkland and we guessed wrong. We put Ishida in with Kirkland and, surprisingly, he knocked out Kirkland. You would figure Paul Williams should win. He’s always had a good chin and throws so many punches. But what does he have left? We’ll see what happens. Ishida has nothing to lose and will probably go for broke again.”

“We can’t hang our heads in sorrow and cry over a loss,” Peterson said. “Paul is like, ‘If I take a loss, I take a loss.’ Like (in his first career loss to Carlos Quintana), he said he had a bad night with Martinez. Paul just said, ‘Hey, I had a bad night. I got caught.’ ”

“Paul had some time off, some needed time off,” Peterson said. “We are to a point where we realize that it’s going to be a struggle getting back and getting the recognition after the devastating loss. But Paul will be back and will want Martinez again, no doubt about it. After this one, he wants to fight Martinez for a third time. He is not ducking anyone.

“When I tell people we want to fight Martinez for a third time people say you do? Why not? The guy is in the fighting business. This is his occupation. Guys who shy away from a challenge, we don’t consider them fighters. They are hustlers, pick pocketers.”

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was in Atlantic City this past weekend to capture the images from The Friday weigh-in to Post Fight Press conference that surrounded Sergio Martinez second round destruction over Paul Williams in their Middleweight championship rematch

Part 2

Part 3