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ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights Paul Williams vs. Sergio Rios
April 12, 2006 Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino Lenmoore, California
Jr. Middleweight Bout (10 Rds) Paul Williams (28-0, 20 KOs) vs. Sergio Rios (17-2, 15 KOs)
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Paul Williams Puts Undefeated Record On The Line Against Rios at Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino In Lenmoore, CA
Los Angeles - If the “punishment fits the crime,” as they say…Sergio Rios could be in for a long night on Wednesday, April 12th.
“I believe I’m the most feared welterweight since Tommy Hearns was on the scene,” an animated Paul Williams insisted. “He was the Hitman and I’m the Punisher.”
The undefeated Williams and twice-beaten Rios are slated to square off in a 10-round welterweight main event on Goossen Tutor Promotions upcoming boxing show at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, CA, Wednesday, April 12, which will be televised on ESPN2.
Williams, nicknamed the “The Punisher” is a tall, hard-punching southpaw built along the lines of the former great world champion, Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, in his days as a dominant welterweight. Since turning pro in July 2000, the Augusta, GA native has won all 28 of his bouts – including 20 by knockout.
Managed and trained for his entire career by George Peterson, the 24-year-old Williams will be making his second straight appearance in Lemoore, having registered a fifth-round knockout of Alfonso Sanchez at the Tachi Palace last December.
The Mexican-born Rios brings a formidable 17-2 (15 KOs) record and an astounding KO ratio of eighty-eight percent into his bout with Williams. Currently training in Oxnard, CA, Rios began his pro career with seventeen victories in his first eighteen bouts. Rios, now being trained by former world champion Robert Garcia in his last two bouts, bounced back into the winning column by capturing a six-round unanimous decision over Vincent Thompson in his only previous bout in Lemoore, before sustaining a TKO loss to former WBC and IBF welterweight champion Vernon Forrest last July.
“I told Robert (Garcia) that I wanted the opportunity to fight such a great name in Forrest because I believed I could beat him. But my lack of experience showed in my performance. It was my biggest moment and I realized I wasn’t ready for the jump up. With Williams, we are very similar in our experience. Fighting Forrest on the big stage gives me the experience edge along with my punching power,” said Rios.
“These fights have far more risk than reward for Paul Williams,” promoter Dan Goossen said candidly. “I can remember the early Hitman days when it was virtually impossible to get a name or top contender in with Tommy. Who wanted to fight a 6”1’ – 147 pounder? No one. With Williams and Hearns exact type of body build, lean and mean, the same challenges face us with Paul. It’s a dilemma we love to have.”
Also scheduled on the April 12th card in Lemoore, is Tulare, CA lightweight Hector Alatorre (10-0, 5 KOs) against Las Vegas’ Arturo Quintero (14-3, 9 KOs) in an 8-round bout and in separate bouts undefeated Riverside heavyweight Chris Arreola (14-0, 12 KOs) will look for another KO victory in an 8-round bout and women’s lightweight warriors, the beautiful Jessica Rakoczy (22-2, 7 KOs) will battle with “Her Sweetness”
Angel McNamara (5-4-1,
2 KOs) also fighting in an 8-round bout.
Subject to change
(4/11/06) |
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