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What's the latest and greatest? You've got a big show on Saturday night, Paul Williams against Carlos Quintana. Tell us all about it. "Well it's nice to get him back in the ring. Quintana stepped up, and Paul is looking forward to getting back in the ring Saturday. As I said, before, during, and after, July 14th victory over Antonio Margarito, I believe he is the best welterweight in the world today."
That's correct. If Paul Williams wins on Saturday night, where does he go from here? Is the next fight a unification fight?
DG: It's hard to get a unification, As Bob Arum spelled out before to you, and to me, he always remembered the champions of boxing always looking to fight anyone who earned that right to fight for the championship. Speaking from a positiive standpoint, it hasn't been easy for Paul getting the other champions to fight him. I'd much rather have a fighter, like Paul, who are reluctant to get into the ring with him, rather than someone that they are standing in line to get to. Keep in mind that we had to go to court to get Antonio Margarito in the ring with Paul, nothing will come easy for obvious reasons, he's a tough fighter to fight. Once you get past his height, his wingspan, his constant throwing of punches, his constant pressure, and his will to win, and especially that he loves to fight, throw that all in a left-handed stance and you could understand why people have reservations about getting in with Paul.
In your opinion do Paul Williams and Miguel Cotto need to fight each other, in order to provide Floyd Mayweather Jr. with a clear challenger to his welterweight supremacy?
DG: I've got to tell you, you are the first person I've spoken to that's understood that. Yes. People say, "Paul, who?" The bottom line is, both of them (Cotto), in their own right, have done exceedingly well in their careers. Miguel, not having that really one defining fight against a De La Hoya, or a Mayweather, but certainly raising his profile out there with victories, and a fan base. Paul, who beat Antonio Margarito in front of a sell-out crowd at Home Depot Center and building his fan base. That crowd had a lot to do with Margarito, but as much to do with Paul Williams, because Margarito has never sold out an arena of that size, nor been paid in seven figures like that before, no matter who he ever fought before Paul. He held the title for close to seven years. Paul, in his own right, has generated a good, solid fan base. People can't say Paul who, and be correct, because he gave Antonio Margarito his biggest payday to date, close to $2 Million dollars. He's giving Carlos Quintana his biggest payday.
Kermit Cintron did the opposite. We had $1,000,000 on the table to fight Cintron, but Cintron decided to take less than half the amount to fight on the undercard of Cotto. Margarito did the same to fight Cintron. As far as I'm concerned, Cotto's got his dance card filled until July. We're going to keep Paul busy, and by the end of the the year, by the last quarter of '08, I believe if Cotto is still undefeated, he and Paul have to fight to prove who is the top young welterweight champion.
It will be a perfect match, the winner of that fight will have earned their right to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., provided that Floyd is victorious against Oscar De La Hoya in September. I've got to give you credit, you hit the nail on the head, you understand it. Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Haggler, they fought everyone, and everybody. They never, ever backed away from a challenge. Even when the money was somewhat different.
Keep in mind that a Cotto-Williams fight does gigantic business. I believe it's the biggest fight Cotto could have, other than a De La Hoya or a Mayweather. The fighters in those years wanted to prove, inside the ring, who was the best. That's what Paul wants to do. He doesn't need to call anyone out, just keep laying them down, and whatever it takes to get these fighters in the ring is what we'll do.
That's correct. If Paul Williams wins on Saturday night, where does he go from here? Is the next fight a unification fight?
DG: It's hard to get a unification, As Bob Arum spelled out before to you, and to me, he always remembered the champions of boxing always looking to fight anyone who earned that right to fight for the championship. Speaking from a positiive standpoint, it hasn't been easy for Paul getting the other champions to fight him. I'd much rather have a fighter, like Paul, who are reluctant to get into the ring with him, rather than someone that they are standing in line to get to. Keep in mind that we had to go to court to get Antonio Margarito in the ring with Paul, nothing will come easy for obvious reasons, he's a tough fighter to fight. Once you get past his height, his wingspan, his constant throwing of punches, his constant pressure, and his will to win, and especially that he loves to fight, throw that all in a left-handed stance and you could understand why people have reservations about getting in with Paul.
In your opinion do Paul Williams and Miguel Cotto need to fight each other, in order to provide Floyd Mayweather Jr. with a clear challenger to his welterweight supremacy?
DG: I've got to tell you, you are the first person I've spoken to that's understood that. Yes. People say, "Paul, who?" The bottom line is, both of them (Cotto), in their own right, have done exceedingly well in their careers. Miguel, not having that really one defining fight against a De La Hoya, or a Mayweather, but certainly raising his profile out there with victories, and a fan base. Paul, who beat Antonio Margarito in front of a sell-out crowd at Home Depot Center and building his fan base. That crowd had a lot to do with Margarito, but as much to do with Paul Williams, because Margarito has never sold out an arena of that size, nor been paid in seven figures like that before, no matter who he ever fought before Paul. He held the title for close to seven years. Paul, in his own right, has generated a good, solid fan base. People can't say Paul who, and be correct, because he gave Antonio Margarito his biggest payday to date, close to $2 Million dollars. He's giving Carlos Quintana his biggest payday.
Kermit Cintron did the opposite. We had $1,000,000 on the table to fight Cintron, but Cintron decided to take less than half the amount to fight on the undercard of Cotto. Margarito did the same to fight Cintron. As far as I'm concerned, Cotto's got his dance card filled until July. We're going to keep Paul busy, and by the end of the the year, by the last quarter of '08, I believe if Cotto is still undefeated, he and Paul have to fight to prove who is the top young welterweight champion.
It will be a perfect match, the winner of that fight will have earned their right to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., provided that Floyd is victorious against Oscar De La Hoya in September. I've got to give you credit, you hit the nail on the head, you understand it. Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Haggler, they fought everyone, and everybody. They never, ever backed away from a challenge. Even when the money was somewhat different.
Keep in mind that a Cotto-Williams fight does gigantic business. I believe it's the biggest fight Cotto could have, other than a De La Hoya or a Mayweather. The fighters in those years wanted to prove, inside the ring, who was the best. That's what Paul wants to do. He doesn't need to call anyone out, just keep laying them down, and whatever it takes to get these fighters in the ring is what we'll do.
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