Paul Williams: Life on the Line

Can you ever recall that moment in your life where you said to yourself, “this is it.” Where one moment of time, one small, 36-minute window decided your entire career? Whether you continue on a difficult road to redemption, or just get written off? Where you came into the public’s eye as a champion, and on one bad night at the office, you are not even mentioned anymore?

Meet Paul “The Punisher” Williams.

He stands 6 feet, 2 inches tall and is a former WBO Welterweight champion/WBO Interim Junior Middleweight champion. On an average night he will throw over 100 punches per round. He succeeded with the angles he chooses to attack, fierce relentless in attacking his opposition, great stamina and strong chin.

The Aiken, South Carolina native is 39-2 with 27 knockouts. He has faced the likes of Antonio Margarito, Carlos Quintana (twice), Verno Phillips, Sergio Martinez (twice), Kermit Cintrol and Ronald “Winky” Wright, all former champions.

Williams has never ran from a fight. Now, he’s fighting for his career.

After dispatching Phillips and Wright, Williams faced Martinez in what would be an epic fight. Both fighters knocked the other down in the 1^st round, battling through tough shots from one another throughout the fight, battling fatigue and leaving it all in the ring. Williams would win via decision on the scorecards. A freaky ending to Williams’ brawl with Cintron led to a rematch with Martinez at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the same place these two had one of the greatest fights in years.

Then Williams’ career took a complete 180.

It was vicious. The sound every Williams supporter will remember.  The sound, of a man, knocked unconscious. It was that kind of knockout that had most people, even if they bet on Martinez, having their hand over their mouth. (The knockout can be seen here). “This is part of our business,” Williams said after the fight. “You can’t accept winning if you can’t accept losing.” 

Now he’s in the fight of his life on Saturday, July 8^th at the same place he experienced so much triumph over the years, and also the worst defeat of his career. His opponent: Erislandy Lara, a 27 year old Cuban fighter who is a southpaw like Martinez and won the amateur world championship at welterweight in 2005. Lara may not have any significant victories thus far in his career, but he plans to land it over Williams. "I will finish where Martinez left off…After I'm done with him, there won't be any further returns because I'll end his career."

The true grit, will, and champion in Paul Williams will be proven Saturday. These are the fights champions are made of; when pressed against the ropes and literally fighting for your life. Will it be the end, or a new beginning?