The shocking and really devestating news about Paul really put a damper on my weekend. Im a huge fan; the first time I met him was at a BP gas station downtown on Broad street in Augusta. He's really humble, cool guy, down to earth. We talked about who he was going to fight (this was before the Winky Wright scrap, also mentioned Sergei Dzizruik as a possible too), he signed like 10 damn autographs for me and my friends, who are fans too.. Never complained one time. Gracious, and genuinely enjoying meeting a fan. I swear me and my friends had him outside talking for a good 20 minutes lol. Never complained, never tried to slide off and say he had to go. He genuinely liked his fans and enjoyed being in the moment.
I came back to this board yesterday, just looking thru some old posts. Some of the comments I read when Paul lost to Martinez were disgusting. Posting pics of him on the ground with his eyes open, posters saying, "has he woken up yet?" and "other bull**** comments like that really were uncalled for. Even on the new P-Will threads since the accident, some posters actually said," I hate Paul, but i hate to see this happen".
There has to be a REAL reason as to why you hate someone. This board erupted when he got KO'd. People were actually cheering his being hurt at the time. Allan Greene got KO'd too and the fanfare, the teasing, the taunts, the pictures were no where NEAR as abundant as they were with Paul. Some posters on here were still making light of Paul's ko 10+months after it happened.
Disliking a boxer is perfectly ok, I dislike alot of boxers too; and i truly dislike a few boxers that alot of you adore. I think a few are grossly overrated as well. But I dont hate them for being overrated. If one of the boxers i disliked were in an accident like Paul, id never mention that i dislike/hate them before I offer sympathies. For people to hate P-Will, for no other reason than how he fights, is stupid. Ive never seen a boxer that gets so much unneccessary, unwarranted direct and indirect hate that Paul, regardless if you think he is overrated or not.
With all that being said, i hope for a speedy recovery and a great life, after surgery. He was truly an exciting fighter to watch!