Paul Williams to Defend His Title on February 9th

WBO welterweight strap on the line in Temecula, CA on HBO.

He became WBO Welterweight Champion of the World last July by pounding out a unanimous decision victory over ‘the most avoided welterweight world champion' Antonio Margarito in Carson, California. Next month, Paul "The Punisher" Williams will return to Southern California to make his first defense of that title.

California's beautiful Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, will be the site for the Saturday, February 9, 2008 World Welterweight Championship battle between Williams (33-0, 24 KOs) and 31-year old Puerto Rico native, and the #10-ranked WBO contender, Carlos "El Indio" Quintana (24-1, 19 KOs).

This intriguing main-event match up of hard-hitting southpaw knockout artists will be presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions, in association with Pechanga Resort & Casino, and will be televised worldwide on HBO.

"I feel great defending my title at Pechanga on HBO," said Williams who, in addition to his world title win over Margarito, also stopped undefeated Argentinean Walter Matthysse at the Home Depot Center on an earlier HBO telecast.

A 26-year old native of Aiken, South Carolina, the 6-2 Williams is the welterweight division's biggest champion, and he uses his considerable heavyweight reach (82 inches) advantage, southpaw style, and fast hands to inflict non-stop punishment to any one of the challengers that dare to fight him.

"The people of Southern California have shown me a lot of love there," an appreciative Williams acknowledged. "They know that when they come to see me fight, they will get their money's worth. I plan to take care of business there and dish out severe punishment to Carlos Quintana.

"For his part, Quintana's only loss as a pro came in his one other previous attempt at a world title – against William's most wanted fighter on his ‘Punishment List,' Miguel Cotto, for the then-vacant WBA Welterweight crown in December, 2006. Six months earlier, in a WBA Welterweight Eliminator to earn that title shot, Quintana registered his biggest win against the then proclaimed ‘future of the welterweight division,' Joel Julio, who at the time had 21 KOs in his 22 wins.

"I was the only one willing to step up and fight Williams because I know I can beat him. They are saying the same things about him as they did with Julio, that he's the man in the welterweight division. Well we all know how I easily I beat the ‘great' Julio," a confident Quintana said.

Goossen Tutor has promoted a number of high-profile televised boxing events at Pechanga in recent years, featuring stars like former world champions James Toney, Michael Moorer, Vasilliy Jirov, and Vernon Forrest.

"It's great having Pechanga host an event of this magnitude, where we promoted so many other major boxing events during their growth as one of the preeminent casinos in the world," promoter Dan Goossen exclaimed.

"Los Angeles just witnessed Paul, the ‘most feared fighter in the world' today with a sellout crowd of over 8,000 fans and now he brings his entertaining and all action knockout power to the great fans of Pechanga.

"The full HBO card and preliminary bouts, along with ticket information and prices will be announced shortly.