Los Angeles, – The comparisons are almost unavoidable. Standing a strong and lanky 6-foot-1 and 147 pounds with knockout power in both hands, unbeaten Paul Williams (29-0, 21 KOs) is being viewed by many as boxing’s next Thomas Hearns.
On Saturday night, Williams will be featured in his biggest fight to date on HBO’s highly successful “Boxing After Dark” series, telecast from The Home Depot in Carson, CA, in a 12-round WBC (USNBC) and WBO (NABO) Welterweight championship bout against another unbeaten and hungry Argentine knockout artist, Walter Matthysse (25-0, 24 KOs).
Of Williams 21 knockouts in 29 professional fights, the Augusta, GA native has recorded 16 KOs in the first three rounds, including nine in first-round stoppages. That is arguably “Hitmanesque.” About the only recognizable physical difference between Williams and Hearns at welterweight – one that could play heavily in Williams’ favor from a competitive standpoint – is that the man known as “The Punisher” is a southpaw.
“We definitely have things in common,” Williams said of the constant Hearns comparisons. “Like him at welterweight, I am the tallest in the weight class. We both have long reach and tremendous power. The major differences are that he used his right hand and I use my left. Also, I am more elusive than he was. And Thomas liked to stay on the outside and I like to fight either inside or outside.
“Competing drives me,” Williams, who last month registered a second-round knockout of Sergio Rios, continued. “I always want to come out on top. I think about fighting one round at a time and so far it’s been working out pretty good.”
Another similarity to Hearns is Williams’ ambition to hold as many world title belts in as many weight classes as possible, and he is putting all titleholders in his path on alert.
“I’m going into the collection business; I’m on a mission of collecting belts,” Williams, not short in height or confidence, revealed. “I walk around at 153 pounds and am comfortable fighting at 147 and 154. I could capture all the belts at 147 and 154 at the same time.
“I am not looking past Matthysse, but I really want to fight (WBO Welterweight Champ) Antonio Margarito next. He says nobody will fight him, but I certainly will and I’m going to earn that right Saturday night. Then I’ll look for (Arturo) Gatti, (Ricky) Hatton and maybe (Floyd) Mayweather.”
Of course his manager/trainer George Peterson and advisor Alan Haymon, along with promoter Dan Goossen, will help make the best choices for Williams.
“Paul has that classy confidence about himself, in and out of the ring. Throw in this type of challenge against Matthysse, an undefeated KO artist being promoted by Oscar De La Hoya, and you know with a victory he’ll make everyone else a believer. I know we are,” said Goossen.
But first things first: One round at a time against Walter Matthysse Saturday night – it doesn’t get any better than this for fans.
