By James Slater: Last seen being caught by a bomb and taken out in style by middleweight king Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams plans to return to the ring this April 30th, after having had a five month break. “The Punisher,” a fine fighter who feels he still has some great nights ahead of him, is just 29-years-old, and as devastating a loss as it was for him in November, good judges also feel he is far from done.
Sticking with him are his trainer, George Peterson, and his promoter, Dan Goossen. Goossen spoke with Ring Magazine’s website yesterday, giving the news that the former 147 and 154-pound ruler will likely be back in April against a TBA. But according to Goossen, the lanky southpaw will not be looking for a nice easy one to feel his way back in with. That’s just not warrior Williams’ style. Instead, the 39-2(27) contender wants a significant test for his first fight back.
“We’re not looking for a softie,” Goossen said. “I’ve talked to Paul and George [Peterson] and we all agree it should be the most significant fight that we can get.”
The name of Kermit Cintron (who Williams had that quite bizarre TD win over last May) has been mentioned as William’s comeback opponent, but so far nothing has been finalised. According to Goossen, however, the best weight class his fighter should return at is welterweight. The promoter says he would love to see Williams land a big fight at 147-pounds – a weight he believes Williams can not only make, but is his natural weight.
“I’d like to get Paul a big fight at 147,” he said. “That’s his natural weight. Paul is willing to go to any weight, as usual, so we’ll just have to see whose available at welterweight or above.”
Williams has not fought as a welterweight since his crushing June 2008 rematch KO over Carlos Quintana. Williams did look great that night and he sure lived up to his nickname, but since then he has boxed at no lower than 152.5-pounds. Can he really make 147 and be fully strong at almost 30-years-old? If he can, there will be no shortage of attractive-looking fights for him.
The ultimate fight for just about anybody at 147 or close to it, is a fight with the legally-troubled Floyd Mayweather Junior – or, failing that, a mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao. William is no exception, and he has called out both huge stars on a number of occasions. And, if he can still make 147 and be effective – and if that brutal loss to Martinez has done no permanent damage – Williams against either guy would be hugely intriguing.
But first Williams must get his comeback bout out of the way, with him coming through safe with a win. Who could Paul face in April?
Needing a good name, as per Team-Williams’ agreement, a fight against a top-ten welterweight could prove somewhat tricky, seeing as how guys like Mosley, Berto, Zaveck, Ortiz and Jones are all busy. A perfect return match for Williams would have been one with the solid Joshua Clottey, but the man from Ghana takes a light-middleweight return of his own on March 12th on the under-card of the Cotto-Mayorga show. Maybe Clottey will feel ready to fight again as soon as the end of April?
Whoever he fights next and in the coming months, though, it will be good to see the exciting Williams back in action. Always looking to fight the best, maybe Williams’ best is still to be seen?