Paul Williams: “I was a beast in that ring, and the stuff that I know I can teach guys that listen”

Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams is a former two division world champion and a fighter that once carried the title of being the most avoided man in boxing. Williams’ career ended after a motorcycle accident and he has served as a motivational speaker for many people who have suffered life changing injuries and people looking to overcome adversities in life.

In my interview with Paul Williams, I discuss with him his new role in the sport of boxing, that being a trainer. On March 25th, Williams will make his training debut with Justin DeLoach 13-1 on ShoBox. I discuss with Paul his reasons for becoming a trainer and what he hopes to accomplish with the fighters he works with. Williams also gives his thoughts on the current boxing landscape and the potential for a Mayweather-Golovkin fight. Here is what Paul Williams had to say.

Robert Brown: What made you decide to apply your skills and knowledge as a trainer?

Paul Williams: At first I wasn’t being selfish, I just couldn’t see myself training someone, I wanted to be the one in the ring fighting. I was a beast in the ring and I couldn’t see myself training. I guess I was just being selfish in my own ways, so I apologize to the guys that reached out to me and wanted me to help them in their careers. I hope I can help somebody like George Peterson helped me.

Robert Brown: Do you believe you will be able to pass on your mental strength to your fighters and help them become better fighters?

Paul Williams: Yeah because I don’t look at myself as a trainer, I look at myself as a fighter. I know how to fight for real, I think like a fighter, it just so happens that now I’m into training. I started from zero with the knowledge that I learned from George Peterson. The stuff that I know and the stuff that he taught me, and the roads that I went down, I can put my fighters on the same kind of training and just give them instructions like I got instructions. All I need them to do is listen, if you know how to listen, you’re really fine.

(Click Play to listen to the full interview with Paul Williams)

Robert Brown: Do your physical difficulties give you a problem in being a trainer?

Paul Williams: Basically, it’s like I’m sitting in a chair telling somebody what to do, it’s simple. I just need you to listen, that’s all I need. It’s simple to me so far with everything going along, it’s nothing new.

Robert Brown: Do you see this being a long term thing for you?

Paul Williams: Now that I got into this, I’d be open to training some other guys and helping them with their careers because it’s my job now, I’m a trainer now. Why should I turn other guys away who reach out for my help? They’re going to learn my knowledge and I was a beast in that ring, and the stuff that I know and the stuff I can teach some guys that listen, they should have no problem going in the ring and being a champion or whatever they choose to be.

Robert Brown: We’ve got Pacquiao vs. Bradley III coming up, what are your thoughts on this fight?

Paul Williams: I think both of them are going to go out there and do as they always do. Fighters are going to always be fighters, they will come out and do what they always do and try to get a win. I don’t think they will try to do anything too different than what they always do, they will just go out there and fight.

Robert Brown: What do you think of the upcoming Shawn Porter vs. Keith Thurman match?

Paul Williams: That’s gonna be a good fight. Whoever gets off first or whoever lands their punches, that’s what I look at. I expect them both to go out there and put on a good fight. Everybody knows Paul Williams punches will hurt and he’s not out there no more, there ain’t no Mayweather for no more than two years if he decides to stay around.

Boxing is looking for some new big names, some new stars, so those guys are going to be out there trying to be the next big star. They want to be the next Mayweather. A lot of those guys want to stay undefeated and try to go make a name for themselves by beating somebody to talk about. You gotta go hard out there in the ring, so I’m looking forward to a lot of good fights coming up.

Robert Brown: Do you think Floyd Myweather will come back? Do you think he will take that big fight that everyone is talking about against Gennady Golovkin?

Paul Williams: I don’t know if it will be Golovkin but I know he will break that record, that’s a no brainer. If I got back and got walking, I’d be like, “Hey Floyd give me a shot, let me get a shot,” but my time is over. I’m pretty sure he will break that record and go down in history.