Paul Williams, who was set to fight Canelo Alvarez on September 15, is "likely paralyzed" from the waist down following a motorcycle crash near Atlanta, reports WRDW.

Williams, 30, has a record of 41-2 (27 KO) in the ring and was set to be a big step-up opponent for Mexican phenom Alvarez. He is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, according to manager and trainer George Peterson, but the early prognosis is not good. No matter what happens, he's not going to be fighting Canelo in September. Apart from that, we can only hope for the best.

This is absolutely awful news. Paul Williams has had a good, entertaining career, and always gave the best he had in the ring. Forget the fight: I just hope Paul Williams can beat the odds here and walk again. That's obviously the number one, most important thing in this story.

We'll have more when more is known. Our best wishes go out to Paul Williams at this time.