Punisher's opponent Q&A

Aiken boxer and WBO welterweight champion Paul "The Punisher" Williams will face three-time world champion Verno Phillips on Nov. 29 in a scheduled 12-round interim bout for the WBO super welterweight (154-pound) title.

With the promoters trying to drum up enthusiasm for the fight on HBO, here's a Q&A with Phillips that was emailed by Goossen-Tutor Promotions on Thursday:

QUESTION: How can you prepare for a fighter as tall and long as Paul Williams?

PHILLIPS: I am going to use the experience from my past fights. I won’t give away my techniques that I am going to use but I can tell you that I’m going to chop him down to my size.

QUESTION: It is seldom that a natural 147-pound fighter such as Williams is bigger than most middleweights. With you being 5-7 and having a 69-inch reach, how difficult will it be to try to hit Williams on the chin given his height of 6-3 and 82-inch reach? Now keep in mind, the Klitschkos -- current heavyweight world champion, 6-6 Wladimir and the 6-7 Vitali -- have a reach of 81 and 80 inches respectively.

PHILLIPS: He’s going to get hit. Trust me. I fought Silvio Blanco from Italy. He’s taller than Paul and I had no problem hitting him. I’ll tell you what; Williams chose the wrong date to knock on my door for an opportunity. November 29, fight night, is also my birthday and I ain’t coming to California to lay down.

QUESTION: You’ve seen Williams beating Antonio Margarito (who beat Miguel Cotto) and avenging his only loss with a devastating first round knockout of Carlos Quintana (who went 5-rounds with Cotto). What does Verno Phillips need to do that these two well-respected fighters couldn’t do?

PHILLIPS: Antonio Margarito and Carlos Quintana are good fighters with top names and I’m a good fighter. Maybe not as recognized, but their difficulty is that they couldn’t get into a rhythm and I am always in my rhythm. Always.

QUESTION: How do you envision the fight going, and do you believe you can knock him out?

PHILLIPS: I can only tell you one thing about Nov. 29 -- I am coming to fight and you’ll see a new WBO Champion on that night.

QUESTION: Which opponent in your storied career would you compare to Williams?

PHILLIPS: Corey Spinks, Kassim Ouma, who I could have beat, but I had some issues throughout my camp that I don’t want to mention. Ike Quartey, who I dropped twice. With those fighters, I have learned my best techniques and on Nov. 29 I will bring everything I learned from the past into the present.

QUESTION: We know you have fought many, many big punchers throughout your career, including the powerful Julian Jackson, and have only been stopped once (1988). Do you feel you can take Williams punch?

PHILLIPS: I can take anyone’s punch. I’m coming in knowing that there is going to be a fight. I can give and take a punch.

QUESTION: Do you believe the weight factor will be in your favor or his?

PHILLIPS: Williams is coming from 147 to 154 and I am a natural 154 pounds. I am very comfortable with my weight, so naturally the weight factor is in my favor.

QUESTION: Needing a very honest answer, what has been in your mind since accepting this challenge against Williams knowing the so many different obstacles to overcome such as height, reach, volume punching and the added strength in his punching power?

PHILLIPS: Since I accepted the challenge against Williams I didn’t pay attention to all those things that you consider obstacles. I know that he can take a punch, but I also know that I have been training hard. He’s no different than any other fighter that I have been in the ring with except that the press is blowing him up like he’s invincible.

QUESTION: Final comment?

PHILLIPS: I know that he’s looking past Verno Phillips thinking I ain’t no thing. He needs to know that on Nov. 29, Verno Phillips is going to have something for him. He ain’t gonna lay me out like Quintana