First time I ever saw him was long after his lightweight title reign was over. It was in 1991 when he defeated rising prospect Todd Foster. I believe it was on USA Tuesday night fights or one of those comparable networks. I liked him from the start. Fast strait punches, good accuracy and good movement. He ended up breaking down Foster for the stoppage.. Since that time I've viewed some replays of his earlier fights. A truly talented fighter who somehow just wasn't made to last and taking four years off from 1987 to 1991 probably didn't help matters.. He recorded some four or five world title fight victories and beat some notables like Harry Arroyo and Irelis Perez before losing his IBF title to Greg Haugen.. Then went on a losing streak. When interviewed years later he said that fighting in several title fights within a short period took a lot out of him.. Thoughts, stories, memories ?
That was a real demo job he did on Arroyo and I never felt Harry was the same again after that. Couldn't figure out what was going on with him in the Haugen fight. It was like watching him in slo-mo. If that was true what he said then he was just burned out, because there was no way he should have had a problem with Greg Haugen. That fight should have been routine. If you want to see him in a good rumble, watch his fight with Alvin 'Too Sweet' Hayes. Man, when he lays out Hayes in the 6th unconscious, both of Hayes legs fold up behind him. Really sickening the way that happened.
I'll have to see if I can find it.. Paul was a really good fighter from what I've seen of him and mind you the first time I viewed one of his fights was when he was already past prime and he still looked good. He seems to have been a forgotten talent.
He was a solid alphabet champion. Laid back, counter punching style, with good power, was very effective. Not as good when forced to come forward. Haughen had a similar style and beat him at his own game. It was seen as a big upset at the time. Perhaps most famous as the target of Hector Camcho's famous challenge after beating Jose Luis Ramirez, "Come on all you ni$$ers.."
I was pizzed at him for beating one of my favorites in Arroyo, but he did so convincingly. I do put quite a bit of stock in his claim that he just petered out after a few successive title fights all going the distance (or in the case of his defense against Blake, near the distance). Kronk guys were notorious for drying out anyway, and he put a lot of mileage on his meter in a very short time. I didn't have as much of a problem with him scuffling like he did against Haugen. Haugen was tricky. I take him to task more for going the distance with Darryl Tyson or Perez. The Perez fight was actually quite taxing for him.
