The press luncheon at Sisley’s in Sherman Oaks,
California
lasted about two hours. I arrived early, about twelve noon. The first person I saw was Pete Rose, sitting with a group of men not affiliated with the press luncheon. Pete’s looking a little older but still has that thickened muscled look of an ex athlete. He wore white snake skin cowboy boots and a Rolex. His only disguise was an old red faded baseball cap with no emblem.
The press conference was held first in a small section of the dining area where salad, linguini and sausage, and roasted chicken with mixed vegetables were served on big platters. It was help yourself and don’t be shy about it. I wasn’t.
First Dan Goossen came in and went around the room shaking hands with everyone like the PR pro that he is. Shortly after, Paul Williams and his trainer George Peterson came in and posed for a few pictures. As we ate he answered questions for the bigger affiliates that were seated next to him. With the dinner dishes and forks clanging I couldn’t get close enough to hear much of what was being asked, but my time would come. After lunch we moved into a small meeting room where they were replaying the Margarito vs Williams fight from the Home Depot center. We were given a packet with Paul’s biography and a summery of what was being covered at the conference.
I stopped Dan Goossen and asked him just one question before we went in. I asked, "Is Paul going to move up in weight, and if he does will he face the winner of the
Hopkins
vs Pavlik fight?" Dan’s answer set me back a little. Dan said "Paul will fight anywhere from 147 to 168. I wouldn’t put any of my fighters in with that ass
Hopkins
if my life depended on it.
Hopkins
should be home sitting around contemplating how he f*ed up boxing." I just smiled and gave him the thumbs up. If you ever meet the man, just don’t get him going about
Hopkins
.
Paul Williams Speaks
Q: Paul I know motivation is a big part of this game and you want this rematch in the worst way it looks like in talking to Dan Goossen you may be taking on a mandatory or someone other than Antonio Margarito. If it’s against anyone other than Antonio Margarito, is there a chance that you could have another let down like in the first fight with Quintana?
Paul: You never know. Sometimes that’s just the way boxing goes. It goes up and down. When you get in that ring you got to be 100%. Even though I wasn’t feeling right and he was getting off on me, I just kept fighting him.
Q: Paul what was the biggest difference coming into the first Quintana fight to the rematch?
Paul: In the first fight I let Quinta walk me and drag me and do stuff like that, but in the second fight I went in their saying if you get him in the corner you leave him in the corner.
Q: If you were talking to Antonio Margarito one on one, what would you tell him?
Paul: I know you got a lot of Mexican fans out there and I know you don’t want them to see you cop-out like this after I beat you the way I did. I know you want to redeem yourself.
Q: What did you think about the Margarito vs Cotto fight?
Paul: Well actually I haven’t seen the fight yet, but what my manager told me, Cotto just ran out of gas.
Q: Of all the fighters out there, who do really want to see, because no one seams to want to step up to the plate? I know you would probably want to see Margarito again and I would think Margarito would want to redeem himself.
Paul: Well I hope so, but if he doesn’t I’m not going to wait around. I’m going to fight someone else.
Q: Now I’ve heard rumors that Oscar wants to fight the biggest and the baddest for his last fight.
Paul: Well I’m big. To me I’m big and bad, you know what I’m saying. I’m a champion. I’d like to beat Oscar right now. I’d like it to go down on my legacy.
Q: If you get the rematch with Margarito, what’s going to be different about the rematch as apposed to the first fight?
Paul: This time I’m going to stop him in the 6th or 7th round. People say he starts slowly, well I’m going to start fast this time.
My friend asked the last question.
Q: Paul, are you going to shave your head for your next fight.
Paul: No. I’m going to have a mo-hawk.
I really had a great time and came away with a lot of respect for Paul Williams. He came off very polite and respectful. I’m not good writing with a deadline, but hope this has been insightful.
