20.09.08 – by James Slater: Paul “The Punisher” Williams, the reigning WBO welterweight champion, re-tests the waters at middleweight in his next fight on September 25th. Wanting very much to become an all-time great, the 6’1″ southpaw believes if he can win world titles at welterweight right the way up to super-middleweight he will achieve his goal..
Massively ambitious, Williams is indeed a fighter to be admired. But is the proven welterweight asking too much by wanting to go as high as middleweight and super-middleweight? We will know a little more about Williams’ chances as a middleweight after he’s been in with Andy Kolle next Thursday. A good fighter and in no way a pushover, fellow lefty Kolle, 17-1(12) represents a decent test for the WBO 147-pound king.
Speaking with ESPN recently, Williams, his promoter Dan Goossen and his trainer George Peterson spoke about “The Punisher’s” lofty ambitions.
“Paul is looking to add to his resume from the standpoint of simultaneously fighting within the 147-pound to 168-pound divisions, as requested by Paul,” Goossen said. “Originally, we were looking only from 147 to 160, and Paul added that he believes any good challenges that can be made for him up to 168 pounds is on the table. Paul understands that the pool of fighters willing to fight him is very limited. He’s not the most feared man in boxing for nothing. So rather than sitting back and peeling off two or three HBO dates a year, we’re looking to keep Paul busy and to create opportunities. The fight with Kolle will answer some questions. People are going to see how does Paul handle himself against a fighter that’s naturally bigger.”
And facing a bigger fighter is something Williams relishes and is completely unfazed by.
“I’m facing a bigger guy [in Kolle], but it’s nothing,” Williams said. “I’ve been in with bigger guys all my life. I’m smaller, so I’m taking Andy very seriously, because I know if you take somebody lightly they can get you out of there. He’s bringing his A-game to the ring, I’m going to bring mine to the ring. It will be a big explosion in the ring, we’re going to have to duke it out.”
And if he comes through okay against Kolle, Williams plans to duke it out with fighters anywhere from 147 to 168-pounds in the future. His trainer George Peterson spoke about his fighter’s goals.
“Paul wanted to make a statement in the various weight classes,” Peterson stated. “His whole objective is to clean out the 147-pound division and move up through the various weight classes. This [the fight with Kolle] was an opening, and Andy is a nice opponent for us. I’m sure it’s going to be a good fight. Paul has not fought anybody his size and his reach.”
Williams, who had a few bouts at middleweight at the start of his pro career, may be moving back up to 160-pounds next week, but he is not going to give up his WBO welterweight belt.
“We’re not vacating the 147 title,” Williams said. “You know, we’ll fight anybody in there. If we can’t get any big fights at 147, we’re like, ‘Let’s go the other way.’ What other weight classes can I make? That’s how that fight [with Kolle] came about.”
September 25th’s middleweight bout promises to be very interesting.