Two

HBO Boxing After Dark

Paul Williams vs. Verno Phillips

November 29, 2008

Citizens Business Bank Arena

Ontario, California

 

 

Featured Bouts:

WBO Interim Jr. Middleweight Title Bout (12 Rds)

Paul Williams (35-1, 26 KOs) vs. Verno Phillips (42-10-1, 21 KOs)

 

NABF \ WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title \ IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator Bout (12 Rds)

WBC C.A. Champion Chris Arreola (25-0, 22 KOs) vs. NABF Champion Travis Walker (28-1, 22 KOs)

 

 

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Paul Williams, Chris Arreola Share Bill Again

 

ONTARIO, CA.- Former WBO welterweight titleholder Paul “The Punisher” Williams (relinquished title to fight

Phillips) and heavyweight contender Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola are anxious to baptize a brand new arena

when they fight on November 29th on dual main events.

 

The sparkling Citizens Business Bank Arena in the city of Ontario will host Williams' attempt to win the

WBO interim junior middleweight title when he fights IBF titleholder Verno Phillips (42-10-1). Also, Arreola

gets his stiffest test, against Travis Walker, in a battle of American hopefuls.

 

One more treat: U.S. Olympian Shawn Estrada of East Los Angeles debuts under the Goossen-Tutor

Promotions banner.

 

First, let's talk about Williams - After beating Antonio Margarito, no easy feat, the lanky fighter from Georgia

lost to Carlos Quintana, then obliterated him in the rematch. He did too good a job because now it’s even

tougher to find an opponent.

 

That’s where Phillips comes in.

 

You see, Phillips has been fighting for many, many years and being avoided for many, many years just like

Williams. At age 38 – he’ll be 39 on fight day – he’s still plugging away and can still beat elite fighters.

 

Ask Cory Spinks, whom he beat by decision in Spinks' hometown St. Louis last March. Phillips ripped the

title away from the second generation Spinks fighter.

 

Instead of returning to St. Louis for a rematch with Spinks, the native of Belize opted to challenge the most

avoided welterweight in Williams, who has a huge height and reach advantage.

 

“I’ve fought tall fighters like Paul Williams before guys like Bronco (McKart),” said Phillips, who stands about

five-feet, 8 inches tall. He’s also fought other tall boxer punchers like Eddie Sanchez and J.C. Candelo, to

name two. “I’m ready to win.”

 

Williams no longer has patience. So he wants to make the fight last as long as possible.

 

“I’m going to punish him for all 12 rounds,” said Williams (35-1, 26 KOs) whose last fight ended too quickly

for his taste. “No disrespect, man.”

 

“I’d like to fight Bernard Hopkins,” said Williams, who watched the fight Hopkins won over middleweight

champion Kelly Pavlik and thinks he can do better. “I would have knocked Kelly Pavlik out.”

 

Arreola

Riverside heavyweight Arreola said testily Walker has been calling him out for a number of months and now

gets his wish.

 

Arreola blasted out Israel “King Kong” Garcia despite weight gain and promised a much better prepared

effort, though he had no problems in his last fight.

 

“I’ll be in much better shape,” Arreola (25-0, 22 KOs) said.

 

Henry Ramirez, who trains Arreola, said both Arreola and lightweight contender Josesito Lopez will be

training in Big Bear.

 

“There won’t be any problems in this camp,” said Ramirez.

 

Walker feels that he’s going to be the party pooper for the entire Southwest region when beats Arreola.

 

“He’s never fought anybody as good as me,” said Walker (28-1-1, 22 KOs), whose one loss came when a

fight was stopped though he was still standing on his feet, but sustaining punches. “I should have never had

that loss.”

 

The Florida heavyweight says that others in the division seem to get most of the press while he has to trudge

through the rankings the hard way.

 

“I understand that everyone wants a Mexican to win the heavyweight world title but I want to win the world

title too,” said Walker, who trains in Houston. “I’m going to have to show everybody who I am. I’m a

contender too.”

 

Dan Goossen, president of Goossen-Tutor, introduced Estrada, who just recently participated in the Olympic

games in Beijing, China.

 

“I only got to see him once so it was hard to tell much but I know he’s a good fighter,” said Goossen.

 

Estrada is dedicating his first fight to his father, who died this summer.

 

“My father was everything to me,” said Estrada who still trains in East L.A. “I’m really anxious for my first pro

fight.”

 

Tickets are priced at $25 to $200 and can be purchased at the arena or on the Internet via

www.Ticketmaster.com. The venue seats 11,000 people and will host the Los Angeles Lakers this Friday in

their game with Oklahoma.

 

 

- Press Release issued by Goossen-Tutor Promotions with a little editing from us (color, updated, etc...)

 

 

 

Subject to change

 

 

 

(11/19/08)