Paul Williams: “I’ve been preparing for this for a while now. I realize that this is a really important fight for me because preserving my undefeated record is invaluable and I intend to do that no matter what.”

“If Quintana comes to fight, you can expect a hell of a fight. He thinks that I am looking past him, but he’s seriously mistaken because I didn’t train for so long for no reason.”

Carlos Quintana quotes:

“Paul Williams doesn’t know what he is up against. I’m much faster than anybody else that he’s fought. He has seriously underestimated me and that motivates me.”

“I didn’t take this fight for the money, I took it for the opportunity. Nobody wants to fight Paul Williams but I will. I’m not afraid to face him. I’m a warrior through and through and my past fights are proof.”

Williams-Quintana Press Conference Quotes

Pechanga Resort and Casino is known best for their fun and relaxing atmosphere, a perfect retreat when one needs to get away from reality. That was not the case Thursday in Hummingbird Hall for the final press conference before undefeated Paul “The Punisher” Williams (33-0, 24KOs) defends his WBO welterweight title against Carlos “El Indio” Quintana (24-1, 19KOs) on Saturday, February 9.

When Williams, also known as “the most feared fighter in boxing” entered the room he made an immediate impact as he made his way to meet the press.

“I’m prepared to go the full 12 rounds,” a noticably focused Williams said. “I’m not looking for a knockout. Since we are both southpaws, it evens the playing field. There are no advantages now.”

Said Quintana, whose only loss came to fellow Puerto Rican, unbeaten Miguel Cotto, in a thrilling fight for the then-vacant WBA welterweight 140lb. belt on December 2, 2006, “Everybody fears Williams, but I’m not afraid of him. I welcome the opportunity. The fans know that I can fight, I showed that against Cotto.”

“Williams is making a big mistake if he looks past me. I can’t wait until Saturday. I’m coming to win.”

HBO Boxing After Dark: Williams vs Quintana this Saturday

HBO’s late-night boxing series presents a night of compelling welterweight action when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: PAUL WILLIAMS VS. CARLOS QUINTANA AND ANDRE BERTO VS. MICHEL TRABANT is seen SATURDAY, FEB. 9 at 9:45 p.m. (ET/PT), from the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Bob Papa, Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

In the main event, undefeated welterweight champ Paul Williams (33-0, 24 KOs), from Augusta, Ga., takes on Carlos Quintana (24-1, 19 KOs), from Moca, Puerto Rico, in a scheduled 12-round contest. Williams is making his first title defense after winning the belt in a hard-fought contest against Antonio Margarito in July 2007. Quintana’s only defeat came at the hands of superstar Miguel Cotto. Both Williams and Quintana are known for their speed and power punches.

In the opening bout, undefeated sensation Andre Berto (20-0, 17 KOs), from Miami, takes on ring veteran Michel Trabant (43-2-1, 19 KOs), from Berlin, Germany, in a scheduled ten-round welterweight showdown. Berto, a former Olympian and national Golden Glove champion, continues on the fast track in his quest to secure a shot at a welterweight crown. Trabant will be looking to score an upset in his American debut.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt; director, Mike Sheehan.