(November 20) Los Angeles, CA — “At Last” only nine more days until the first bell rings on Saturday, November 29, at the Inland Empire’s newest state-of-the-art building, Citizens Business Bank Arena located in Ontario, California and broadcast on HBO. Presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions, the main event features 2-time WBO Welterweight World Champion and “The Most Feared Fighter in Boxing” Paul “The Punisher” Williams taking on 3-time World Champion, Verno Phillips, in an interim 12 round WBO Super Welterweight World Championship bout.. In addition, Riverside’s and Inland Empire’s Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola, the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion battles NABF Heavyweight Champion, Travis “Freight Train” Walker also in an IBF Heavyweight Elimination bout.
Shawn Estrada, the 2008 US Olympian from East Los Angeles, will also be making his professional 4-round debut.
The following is a question and answer with the 3-Time World Champion, Verno Phillips on his upcoming fight against Williams:
QUESTION: How can you prepare for a fighter as tall and long as Paul Williams?
ANSWER: I am going to use the experience from my past fights. I won’t give away my techniques that I am going to use but I can tell you that I’m going to chop him down to my size.
QUESTION: It is seldom that a natural 147-pound fighter such as Williams is bigger than most middleweights. With you being 5-7 and having a 69″ reach, how difficult will it be to try to hit Williams on the chin given his height of 6-3 and 82″ reach? Now keep in mind, the Klitschko’s, current Heavyweight World Champions, 6-6 Wladimir and the 6-7 Vitali, have a reach of 81″ and 80″ respectively.
ANSWER: He’s going to get hit. Trust me. I fought Silvio Blanco from Italy. He’s taller than Paul and I had no problem hitting him. I’ll tell you what; Williams chose the wrong date to knock on my door for an opportunity. November 29-fight night is also my birthday and I ain’t coming to California to lay down.
QUESTION: You’ve seen Williams beating Antonio Margarito (who beat Miguel Cotto) and avenging his only loss with a devastating 1st round KO of Carlos Quintana (who went 5-rounds with Cotto). What does Verno Phillips need to do that these two well-respected fighters couldn’t do?
ANSWER: Antonio Margarito and Carlos Quintana are good fighters with top names and I’m a good fighter. Maybe not as recognized, but their difficulty is that they couldn’t get into a rhythm and I am always in my rhythm. Always.
QUESTION: How do you envision the fight going, and do you believe you can knock him out?
ANSWER: I can only tell you one thing about November 29 – I am coming to fight and you’ll see a new WBO Champion on that night.
QUESTION: Which opponent in your storied career would you compare to Williams?
ANSWER: Corey Spinks, Kassim Ouma (who I could have beat, but I had some issues throughout my camp that I don’t want to mention. Ike Quartey (who I dropped twice). With those fighters, I have learned my best techniques and on November 29 I will bring everything I learned from the past into the present.
QUESTION: We know you have fought many, many big punchers throughout your career, including the powerful Julian Jackson, and have only been stopped once (1988). Do you feel you can take Williams punch?
ANSWER: I can take anyone’s punch. I’m coming in knowing that there is going to be a fight. I can give and take a punch.
QUESTION: Do you believe the weight factor will be in your favor or his?
ANSWER: Williams is coming from 147 to 154 and I am a natural 154 pounds. I am very comfortable with my weight, so naturally the weight factor is in my favor.
QUESTION: Needing a very honest answer, what has been in your mind since accepting this challenge against Williams knowing the so many different obstacles to overcome such as height, reach, volume punching and the added strength in his punching power?
ANSWER: Since I accepted the challenge against Williams I didn’t pay attention to all those things that you consider obstacles. I know that he can take a punch, but I also know that I have been training hard. He’s no different than any other fighter that I have been in the ring with except that the press is blowing him up like he’s invincible.
FINAL COMMENT: I know that he’s looking past Verno Phillips thinking I ain’t no thing. He needs to know that on November 29, Verno Phillips is going to have something for him. He ain’t gonna lay me out like Quintana.