By Rick Reeno

Undefeated junior welterweight contender Vernon Paris (24-0, 14KOs) is a man on a mission. This coming Friday at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, Paris will challenge Tim Coleman (19-1-1, 5KOs) for the USBA title. The fight was orginally scheduled for the Tim Bradley-Devon Alexander undercard on January 29th, but Coleman withdrew with an injury.

Paris wants to use Coleman as a springboard to much bigger fights. The Detroit native is very upset with Coleman's withdrawal from their initial date, and plans to punish him in the ring.

In a minor background twist, Paris spent some time in Las Vegas working with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. Coleman is trained by Floyd's brother, Roger Mayweather. Before we get excited on a Mayweather family duel in Chumash, Floyd Sr. will not be working Paris' corner.

"I'm crushing Tim Coleman. We were supposed to fight on January 29th, but he suddenly got an injury a week before the fight. I ended up fighting Emanuel Augustus. I was definitely disappointed. I trained hard for that fight....a whole eight weeks. Hopefully he wont get an injury this time. Word is, if he pulls out this time they will take his title. So he has nowhere to run this time. Tim Coleman ain't got nowhere near the speed I got or the skills I got," Paris told BoxingScene.com.

"I just saw Roger Mayweather [in Las Vegas] and I told Roger Mayweather that I'm going to crush Tim Coleman. I really think I'm the best at 140-pounds. And once I beat Tim Coleman, it will start to making everybody know who I am and put me on that map by being ranked across the board to get into a contention fight for a world title."