Paul Williams, two-time welterweight world champion, suffers spinal injuries after motorbike crash I don't know the specifics about the spinal cord being severed. I do know that I've been told by George that he will never walk again," Goossen said, adding that he still held out hope that Williams would defy the odds. Peterson, told WRDW-TV in Atlanta that the surgery on Wednesday would be to stabilize the upper half of the fighter's spine. The accident comes just a week after it was announced that Williams would challenge World Boxing Council welterweight world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, Mexico's rising star, on September 15 in Las Vegas. The respected Williams owns a career record of 41-2, with 27 knockouts. He won his first welterweight title with a decision over Antonio Margarito in July of 2007. In his first defence in February of 2008 he was upset by Carlos Quintana, but rebounded to win their rematch four months later and regain the title. He is also a former interim junior middleweight world champion, and notched a majority decision in a non-title bout over Sergio Martinez, who went on to win a middleweight crown.