Los Angeles – In 2004, a movie starring Thomas Jane -- based on a Marvel Comics hero who took it upon himself to rid America of crime by acting as judge, jury and executioner -- hit the big screen. It was called “The Punisher.”
Last Saturday night, “The Punisher” made a real-life big splash on the big screen as undefeated welterweight sensation Paul Williams used a relentless head and body attack in disarming and dismantling previously undefeated Argentine knockout artist Walter Matthysse on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark.” Referee Jack Reiss stepped in and mercifully stopped the onslaught at 1:56 of the tenth round in a scheduled 12-round battle for the vacant WBO NABO and WBC USNBC Welterweight Titles.
With the victory, the 24-year old Augusta, GA native not only registered his 30th consecutive win to start his career and 22nd win via knockout, but his dominant performance skyrocketed his stock among the world’s top welterweights – young or veteran alike.
The lanky, 6-1 Williams has been drawing comparisons as a southpaw version of Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. But his promoter, Dan Goossen, points out that Williams established his own identity as a major force in the sport of boxing.
“Paul has come into prominence by being exactly what his name indicates: ‘The Punisher,” Goossen declared. “Paul’s consistent and constant offensive pressure wears his opponents down into a state of exasperation and helplessness before applying a furious finish. But don’t think his defensive skills are lacking, because they’re not. He will be a hard man for anyone to beat.”
Williams made believers of the non-believers Saturday night.
