Is Paul Williams Really Comic Dave Chappelle?

Ever wondered what ever happened to comedian Dave Chappelle?

Ever look at Paul Williams and say to yourself that he reminds you of somebody else?

Ever wonder why you wonder?

Ever think that maybe “The Punisher” is really the comedian who turned in his microphone and thriving television career for Everlast gloves and a chance to bash somebody’s head?

Some say Williams is a dead ringer for comedian Dave Chappelle. But the boxer with arms that reach across the ring really wishes he were fighting Floyd Mayweather and that’s no joke.

“I’d love to get in there with Mayweather,” William said.

That may never happen.

Williams (38-1, 27 KOs) faces Kermit “The Killer” Cintron (32-2-1, 28 KOs) on Saturday May 8 at the Home Depot Center in Carson. All thoughts of Mayweather are put aside as the Georgia fighter returns to the 154-pound junior middleweight division. It will be televised on HBO.

Because Williams stands nearly 6 foot, 3 three inches and has arm length the size of a heavyweight, few men including Mayweather, Shane Mosley or Manny Pacquiao care to step in the ring with the skinny fighter who can fight at 147 to 175 pounds.

“I’ll take all three of them at the same time,” said Williams jokingly.

Cintron is not laughing. The tall Puerto Rican slugger knows that he is a decided underdog against the feared Williams.

“I’m always the underdog,” Cintron said. “My strength is my power and then again I’ve been improving in the boxing game.”

In two fights with Antonio Margarito, the Puerto Rican slugger was blasted out of there. But now following the one-year suspension of the Mexican fighter for illegal hand wraps, Cintron feels Margarito loaded his gloves against him and should be banned for life.

Ironically, Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) fights on the same day but in Aguascalientes, Mexico against Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia (28-2, 21 KOs) of Texas in a junior middleweight contest. The rangy Mexican boxer has not fought since suspended on February 2009.

During a press conference Margarito was grilled by various reporters for not admitting his part in the hand wrap scandal that resulted in his former trainer Javier Capetillo facing banishment.

“What do you want me to say,” Margarito said.

Garcia, a muscular boxer who resembles former welterweight world champion Pipino Cuevas, couldn’t be happier that he’s finally fighting a marquee name. The bout will be televised on pay-per-view.

“I’ve been dreaming of this day,” said Garcia who’s been a boxing gypsy traveling from town to town in search of a gym or trainer that could take him to a world title. “I can’t believe I got this opportunity.”

Margarito has been training in Oxnard under the tutelage of Robert “Grandpa” Garcia, a former world champion, for the past two months. But though he’s preparing for the fight he is still getting battered by the press for not going in front of the California State Athletic Commission to get reinstated. A lawsuit by Margarito against the Commission for lack of due process is currently on the books in California State Superior Court.

Can Margarito remain focused for Garcia?

“I miss this,” said Margarito about preparing for a boxing match. “I’m very anxious to fight especially in Mexico.”

Garcia is a former stable mate of Alfredo “Perro” Angulo and the two sparred at the Wild Card Boxing gym recently. Freddie Roach is training the Texan.

“Upsets happen all of the time,” said Garcia, who has boxing skills to go along with his brute strength. “It’s my time.”

A few thousand miles north two former foes of Margarito will be fighting simultaneously.

Unlike Cintron, Williams believes that Margarito should be allowed to box.

“I don’t think a man should be banned because that’s how the man makes a living.

Let him go on with his life,” said Williams. “How are you going to stop a man from eating?”

One more thing, Williams really wishes he were fighting Mayweather.

“That contracts already signed,” joked Williams.

Maybe he is Dave Chappelle?

Fights on television

Fri. ESPN2, 7 p.m., Antonio Escalante (23-2) vs. Carlos Rodriguez (22-3).

Fri. Telefutura, 8 p.m., Danny Garcia (16-0) vs. Chris Fernandez (18-9-1).

Sat. pay-per-view, 6 p.m., Antonio Margarito (37-6) vs. Roberto Garcia (28-2); Urbano Antillon (27-1) vs. Brandon Rios (24-0-1).

Sat. HBO, 6:45 p.m., Paul Williams (38-1) vs. Kermit Cintron (32-2-1); also replay of Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley.

Sat. pay-per-view, 7 p.m., Lyoto Machida (16-0) vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (18-4).