Though now in a wheelchair after his May 27 motorcycle accident, Paul Williams is still on the move, getting out to see the movie Ted and attending a local fight, according to his manager, George Peterson.
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Williams still on the move
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Even though he isn't firing punches at an opponent across the ring from him, two-time welterweight titleholder Paul Williams hasn't given up the fight. After a motorcycle accident on May 27 near Atlanta left him paralyzed from the waist down, Williams had surgery at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga., to stabilize the healthy upper half of his spine, and has been virtually unstoppable ever since. "Paul was at a local fight in Atlanta this past Saturday night, and he went to see the movie Ted, recently," said George Peterson, Williams' manager and trainer. "I mean, the man still is getting around." "Paul is doing fine. He's doing great. He's been out of the hospital for about six weeks, and he's in a wheelchair, but you know Paul. He's still managing to get around. He's just re-habbing." Peterson said Williams remains determined to defy his prognosis, having been informed that he may never walk again, and has been undergoing procedures at The Shepherd Center for Spinal Chord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation in Atlanta.
Williams (41-2, 27 knockouts) is known as "The Punisher" for his crowd-pleasing, relentless, high-volume punching style in the ring. "If you thought this guy was not going to be moving, you've got another thing coming. Paul gets around. He goes shopping, he goes to the mall. That was his first fight that he's been to since the accident," said Peterson. "Paul has his girlfriend and his brother around to help him to get out and about. Plus he's got friends who come around, so he's doing wonderful. You're going to see more of him in the near future." Williams, who turns 31 on July 27, credited the prayers, cards and well wishes "from fans worldwide" during his early recovery. Priot to his accident, Williams had signed to challenge WBC junior middleweight beltholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) on Sept. 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Read more: Paul Williams critically injured in motorcycle accident Manager: Williams is paralyzed below waist after motorcycle accident Williams: 'If I can't walk then I'll be on the boat fishing' Manager: Williams in good spirits, adds 'We like where we are' Q&A: Williams says he's 'blessed' to be alive Williams: 'The love and support is overwhelming'
Photo by Naoki Fukuda Photo by Chris Cozzone, Fightwireimages.com Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com |