Just days following a serious motorcycle accident that has left him paralyzed from the waist down, former 147- and 154-pound titleholder Paul Williams tells NBC Atlanta that he plans to walk again, and also quotes The Lion King:
"[Doctors] told me there's a very slight chance of walking, because the spine was, like, crushed, or whatever," he said. "I should be able to sit up on my own. But as far as me walking, and all that, it's all on me. I'm going to be walking, I know that. That's how I feel."
"If I can't walk, then, oh well, hakuna matata," he said. "I'll be on a boat fishing."
He laughed a bit as he spoke, a man insisting he is at peace despite his dire circumstances.
Williams, 30, would need a genuine miracle to walk again, from all the reports we've heard, but there's surely no doubt he's going to try and make that a reality.
His boxing career is over, but that doesn't matter much at this point. He can be proud of the legacy he left in the ring, and his attitude right now is almost shocking in how positive it is.
As for the crash itself, charges are pending a full investigation, but here are some details:
Here is the complete statement from the Marietta Police Department's Public Information Officer David Baldwin:
The Marietta Police Department Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.) is currently investigating a serious injury accident which occurred on South Marietta Parkway near Atlanta Road on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 7:35AM.
The on-scene investigation revealed that a modified sport motorcycle driven by Paul Williams of Grovetown, Georgia was traveling east on South Marietta Parkway near Atlanta Road at a high rate of speed. The motorcycle, which was travelling too fast for conditions, could not negotiate a curve and left the road way. The motorcycle crashed into an embankment and Williams suffered serious injuries.
Williams was transported by Metro Ambulance to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in serious condition.
Charges are pending at this time, however this case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer David Auld at (770)794-5352.