BA: Can you give us some thoughts on your performance against Paul Williams and tell us what went wrong? "It just wasn't my night man. It's like this, I went out there and fought the dude and expected him to fight tall from the outside. When he first started banging on the inside I was surprised, thinking ain't no way he's going to beat me like this. I have to give it to him, the dude is strong, he can crack and I don't think anybody is going to beat that guy anytime soon. I wasn't at my best for certain reasons and it just wasn't my night."

BA: On television they said the doctor stopped the fight, did you agree with the stoppage?

Verno Phillips: "I'm the one who stopped the fight. I could have continued, but it wasn't my night. My tooth was really hurting me the whole week, and I had to visit a dentist in California to get a capput on it two days before the fight. The whole time I was out there, I just laid low and did my best to deal with the pain. The pain I was feeling was crazy, but I had to go out there and perform, so that's what I did.

BA: Williams worked the body effectively, did that surprise you?

VP: "Yeah, you know we watched him fight and the dude usually stays on the outside and head hunts, but you have to give him credit, he's getting better and he showed me and everyone else something new. I didn't think he would be able to fight so well on the inside."

BA: You said he can crack, did he ever hurt you?

VP: "He can punch. He never had me wobbled or hurt bad, but he's punching. I could have finished the fight, but everytime I got hit in the jaw with my tooth acting up, I ain't never felt pain like that in my life. I've been fighting for 21 years and I ain't never been stopped. I'm a proud fighter so for me to end the fight, y'all know the pain had to be crazy."

BA: But earlier you said you got it capped, did it come off during the fight or something?

VP: "Dig this, it ain't come off, but when I got back home we went to our dentist and he told me that my tooth was infected bad. We asked him if a doctor in California would have seen this infection and he said definitely. Earlier in the week I had my mouth operated on and the tooth was removed. I'm not one to make excuses, but I know I would have been able to give a better performance without this problem."

BA: You've been fighting for 21 years, was that your last fight?

VP: "Nah. I'm going to continue, because I'm still in the mix and I'm still a major player in the 154 pound division. None of these young kids they trying to promote can be considered better than me because they really haven't fought anybody. Other than Paul and Vernon Forrest, I don't know who else people can put above me at 154, but the bottom line is I ain't big on talking and I'm going to get back in the ring soon and I know as long as I win, my wife and my advisor are going to make sure I get another big fight."

BA: You said young kids they trying to promote. Like who?

VP: "Kirkland. Anfulo, Angulo or whatever his name is. That Sergio (Martinez) kid who is Vernon Forrest mandatory and anybody else that HBO or Showtime want to see me fight. And if nobody wants to fight Paul Williams still, after I get a good win under my belt, I'd fight him again too."

BA: Closing thoughts?

VP: "I want to thank all of my fans for their support and I want to let everyone know, I will be back."

M

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