Skip to main content

Fighters get caught, it’s not like I got beat up by Martinez - Paul Williams

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

“The Punisher” eager to impress in Lara return

Two-time WBO welterweight title holder Paul Williams is looking forward to returning to the ring on July 9th as he takes on the undefeated Miami-based Cuban Erislandy Lara in Atlantic City. The 29 year-old was originally pencilled in to meet Nobuhiro Ishida, but the Japanese fighter was rejected by TV company HBO.

“The Punisher” now revisits the Boardwalk Hall, the scene of his most devastating night in boxing seven months ago when knocked out cold by former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez and is hoping to eradicate the memory of last November and get his career back on track at 154lbs.

“What I’m looking for is me to go out there and put on a good show,” Williams told 15rounds.com in a recent interview.

“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,” he stated.

His opponent Lara, 28, is undefeated in 16 bouts so far and comes in to the fight on the back of a majority draw against Carlos Molina, a bout in which one judge had him up four rounds. It is a huge opportunity for the Guantanamo-born southpaw and the winner would be elevated to a possible title shot later in the year.

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...

Rico Ramos captures world super- bantamweight title with KO

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Suavecito’ scores 20th straight win over Shimoda Undefeated Californian Rico Ramos produced a world-class left hand in the seventh round of his WBA title challenge against Japan’s Akifumi Shimoda to rip the belt away from the older southpaw in his first defence. The 24 year-old looked far from a world champion in the first five rounds, only gaining a foothold in the fight in round six, but ultimately produced the equalizer in the seventh to take the crown. Shimoda, 26, will be furious with himself as he bossed the majority of the fight and was up five rounds to one on my card going into the seventh round. One lapse in concentration with only thirty seconds left in round seven and Shimoda hit the canvas. The champion tried to get up at the count of nine, but stumbled over and the referee counted him out. The now former champion stayed down for a full minute before being helped to his feet and realising he no longer held the WBA belt. Also on the card i...

Tyson Fury responds to James Toney: Let’s get it on!

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former world champion could get his wish Unbeaten heavyweight Tyson Fury has reacted receptively to American James Toney’s recent advances for a clash in England this year and the fight may now be a realistic option for the former Irish champion. 43 year-old Toney, who has won multiple world titles at different weights, called out Fury in a recent interview where he also slated the US Olympic team and has never been one to hold his tongue when speaking out future opponents. 'Lights Out' seemed surprisingly respectful when speaking of Fury though and hopes to bring the lowly-regarded IBU heavyweight belt he won against former bare-knuckle champion Bobby Gunn for his first visit to the UK. Fury, 24, told WBN that he is willing to make the fading champion his 20th professional opponent, although the WBC’s number six ranked contender does admit that the Grand Rapids-born boxer has seen better days in his career. “James Toney was a ver...