ATLANTA (AP) – Former welterweight champion Paul Williams' promoter says the boxer is resting Friday following surgery to stabilize his spine.
By Jae C. Hong, AP
Paul Williams told RingTV.com that he was "blessed to be alive and conscious and all of that."
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Promoter Dan Goossen said the surgery lasted 6 hours, 30 minutes Friday night.
Goossen said the surgery "went as planned" and doctors said they would talk with Williams about the procedure on Saturday.
VIDEO: Williams vows to walk again
The 30-year-old Williams severed his spinal cord when he was thrown from his motorcycle Sunday morning in Marietta, Georgia. Police said he was driving too fast for conditions.
Williams' manager, George Peterson, said the former welterweight champion has no movement from the waist down.
Known as "The Punisher," Williams had been scheduled to fight Sept. 15 in Las Vegas against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. The Mexican champion spoke Friday about Williams.
"I am very upset about what happened to Paul," said Alvarez. "I know that an accident can happen to anyone and right now the most important thing is for everyone to pray for his recovery. Paul Williams is a warrior who gives everything in the ring, but right now he is fighting the biggest fight of his life outside the ring. I extend my best wishes to him in his recovery and to his family as well.
"Paul will always be a champion and I am going to dedicate my September 15 fight to him and his family. God willing and health permitting, I want to invite him and his family to be ringside on September 15 in Las Vegas."
Williams won his first major welterweight title in July 2007 by beating Antonio Margarito.
Goossen said Williams has been talking and in good spirits as he predicted he would walk again.
Williams told Ringtv.com his message to his fans is, "I'm blessed.
"To be conscious and alive and all of that," Williams said. "To know what's going on. I've got a little spine injury, or whatever. But they're working on that. But to be able to be breathing on my own … I feel real good and I love the support that I've been getting from my fans."
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