Career
Paul got his start in boxing from the suggestion of a family friend who saw him fight in a school bus. The driver suggested that Paul use his energy in the boxing gym, and connected him with a manager and trainer. Williams fought only 20-25 fights as an amateur before turning pro at the age 19.His debut was in 2000. He is promoted by the Goossens. In 2005 he outpointed amateur star Terrence Cauthen (record 25-2), later that year he knocked out Alfonso Sanchez in 5 rounds. His ESPN debut was a second round knockout of Sergio Rios on Wednesday Night Fights. Williams made his HBO debut against undefeated Walter Matthysse winning by a tenth round technical knockout, followed by a victory over former junior welterweight world champion Sharmba Mitchell. He knocked Mitchell down three times en route to a fourth round TKO.
WBO welterweight title
Williams became the mandatory challenger for WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito. The match occurred July 14, 2007, in Carson, California, at the Home Depot Center. Williams defeated Margarito to capture the WBO welterweight title with a twelve-round unanimous decision. The scorecards were 115-113 twice, and 116-112; all in Williams' favor. Williams threw an average of more than 100 punches per round.Williams fought Carlos Quintana on February 9, 2008 in his first defense of his title. Williams was out boxed by the challenger Quintana throughout and lost by decision.
Williams and Quintana had a rematch at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut on June 7, 2008 for the WBO welterweight title. Williams got off to a quick start when a left hand sent Quintana into a daze as several follow-up barrages put Quintana down. He got up, but Williams opened up with dozens of unanswered punches as the referee jumped in to stop the fight while Quintana was going down again.
Williams was rumored to be moving up two weight classes to fight Kelly Pavlik for the WBO Middleweight Title but instead Pavlik has decided to move up two weight classes himself to fight Bernard Hopkins. Williams has not yet chosen his next opponent.
See also
References
External links
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Last updated on Friday July 25, 2008 at 12:58:23 PDT (GMT -0700)
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