Paul Williams Forces Verno Phillips To Call Surrender

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - The latest version of Boxing’s ‘most feared man’ looked the part on Saturday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. Punishing combination punching and sustained body work from 27-year old former Welterweight titlist Paul Williams (36-1, 27 KO) proved too much for a 39-year old three-time Jr. Middleweight titlist in Verno Phillips (42-11-1, 21 KO) who was otherwise celebrating a birthday, forcing a corner stoppage after round eight in place of a gift.

In doing so, Williams may well have blown out the candles on a long and respectable 20-year career while creating the next opportunity for his own. The bout was contested for an ‘interim’ title at 154 lbs. after Phillips vacated his IBF title to take the fight and creates a mandatory shot at the man who might be the world’s best Jr. Middleweight, WBO titlist Sergiy Dzinziruk (36-0, 22 KO). [details]

[Flawless 2]

What a beats Williams is beats everyone from 147 to 154 but 160 50/50

[crold1]

No need to rush to the elite at 60.

[SweetScience31]

Chris and Paul "two the hard way"

Both guys pull off real big wins and show off why they get all the hype. First chris gets knocked down and realy showed his huevos by getting up and beating the breakes off the train. Then Paul gets a nasty cut over the eye from a head butt and just takes out the trip to the doctors for the stiches out on Verno so much in fact he stops a guy who never quits. Both guys tonight showed they were A listers and maybe deserve a little of the hype they get.

[dde91]

Paul Williams was hitting that body all nite. I liked how he didn't lose his head after he got his cut. He just focused on his game and came out with that win.

[BetterCallSaul]

Both guys pull off real big wins and show off why they get all the hype. First chris gets knocked down and realy showed his huevos by getting up and beating the breakes off the train. Then Paul gets a nasty cut over the eye from a head butt and just takes out the trip to the doctors for the stiches out on Verno so much in fact he stops a guy who never quits. Both guys tonight showed they were A listers and maybe deserve a little of the hype they get.

A Listers?

Williams..yes

Arreola..no

[BoxingScribe]

Paul Williams was hitting that body all nite. I liked how he didn't lose his head after he got his cut. He just focused on his game and came out with that win.

Those were some NASTY right hooks to the body. Margarito fans arent up this morning I see....lol

[buckdacious]

you wonder why Margarito wants no part of that!!!

[Vader21]

Good win for P.Will. I hope he sticks around at 154 for awhile, there is good talent in that division. I'd like to see him fight Daniel Santos or Sergio Martinez next.

Did you guys see the how many people were in the stands though? Not many. I think that is what is actually hurting him the most in terms of getting big fights.

I'd like for him to stick to one class instead of jumping from one to the other, that way he'll eventually work himself as a mandatory or something and get a big name in the ring. If not, the main draws in the 147-160 divisions will skip over him and say "he's not from this division, bla bla" etc.

[salsaking]

I was at the fight last night and honestly, people cared more about Shawn Estrada and Arreola than Williams. The atmosphere was awesome for the Arreola and Estrada fights but once the main event started, the fan enthusiasm really dissipated.