rokko
11-18-2010, 03:29 AM
When they met in a December, middleweight (160 pounds) clash of southpaws, Paul Williams was considered a prohibitive favorite over Sergio Martinez, who was then a late substitute for his previously scheduled, right-handed opponent and then-WBO and WBC middleweight king Kelly Pavlik.
Few expected the highly-skilled classic which ensued, during which both fighters were dropped in the first round of an eventual, disputed, majority decision victory for Williams.
On Saturday night the duo will return to Atlantic City, site of their first meeting, for yet another HBO televised battle whose winner could rival Manny Pacquiao in the sport's pound-for-pound best fighter sweepstakes.
Martinez (45-2-2, 24 knockouts), promoted by Lou DiBella, is coming off of April's unanimous decision victory over Pavlik, whom he dethroned for his current WBC crown, even as he was later stripped of the WBO versions of his titles.
Williams (39-1, 27 KOs), whose promoter is Dan Goossen, is coming off of May's disappointing, four-round, technical decision win over Kermit Cintron, a verdict that was the result of Cintron's falling out of the ring and his failure to return.
FanHouse sought the opinions of 13 knowledgeable boxing aficionados concerning their beliefs as to which of the two fighters will win.
Click here for HBO's Ring Life on Paul Williams
Click here for HBO's Ring Life on Sergio Martinez
Bob Canobbio, CompuBox, Inc.
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I flipped a coin to pick winner. It's going to be that close. Paul Williams' volume punching -- he averaged 82 punches per round in first fight to 53 for Martinez -- vs. Sergio Martinez's selective aggression.
Williams outlanded Martinez, 300-254, in first fight, with Martinez landing 41 percent of his power punches to 31 percent for Williams. Williams had more time to prepare for Martinez, who was a late sub for Kelly Pavlik heading into their first fight.
Martinez is alot more familar with Williams too. This could come down to the final round. Williams threw 102 punches in the last round of first fight, landing 33. Williams also threw a fight-high 125 punches in last round vs. Margarito, landing 53 of those punches to ice that upset victory.
Kevin Cunningham, trainer of WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) champ Devon Alexander
Paul Williams UD 12 Sergio Martinez: I'm picking Paul Williams. I believe that he will use his height and reach against Sergio Martinez and his boxing ability and win a 12-round unanimous decision. I think that Williams and his people kind of overlooked Martinez in the first fight a little bit.
Martinez is a talented fighter, one of the best out there, and I'm not saying that he doesn't have a chance. Because it's going to be a great fight, and these are two of the top fighters in the sport.
But I just think that if Paul Williams boxes smart, and uses the advantages that he has, he should be able to win a decision. So I think that he will be busy, as usual, but that he will use his advantage of his height and reach and outbox this guy.
Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I anticipate a close fight, just like the first one. Sergio Martinez is the bigger fighter, and, according to Paul Williams' trainer, George Peterson, the faster fighter, too.
Williams has advantages in height and reach. I like Williams to eke out a points win. His chin is solid, and that'll be the difference because he does get.
Doug Fischer, Co-Editor Ring-TV.com
Sergio Martinez SD 12 Paul Williams: I'll go with Sergio Martinez in another hotly-contested 12-round bout. The decision will probably be tight, perhaps split, and it could be controversial.
Because Paul Williams figures to come forward for much of the fight and throw considerably more punches. But I think Martinez will counter-punch effectively and land the harder punches through the fight.
Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com
Paul Williams KO 11 Sergio Martinez: On the November banquet of intriguing bouts, Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez in a rematch of a Fight-of-the-Year contender is the toughest pick.
Martinez works his feet with the speed and skill of the soccer player he once was. Complementary speed in his hands creates a dynamic balance with a consistently sharp jab and solid left. He is slick, opportunistic and seemingly younger than his 35 years of age.
At 5-foot-11, however, Martinez is not big enough to sustain his energy in the battle to get inside of what figures to be a return of a 6-3 whirlwind that has confused, if not frightened, opponents when Williams is at his best. He will be at his best this time.
Postponements and cancellations of a much-talked about showdown with Kelly Pavlik might have been a distraction for Williams. He, like the fans, could not have expected the terrific 12 rounds that transpired a year ago in a bout put together when Pavlik withdrew.
Williams got a majority decision on a night when many thought he deserved no more than a draw. Martinez got his attention, which means Williams figures to be as dangerous as ever.
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
Sergio Martinez W12 Paul Williams: Sergio Martinez is improving even at this late age and looks like he has more left in the tank. I question sometimes how much Paul Williams has left, and I think Martinez will be busier and pull out the win.
Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I like Paul Williams. I just think that everything in this fight -- from the catch-weight of 157 pounds on -- is being aligned in Williams' favor.
So I'm taking 'The Punisher' via decision over Sergio Martinez.
Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times
Sergio Martinez KO 10 Paul Williams: Sergio Martinez's improvement will carry him to victory over Paul Williams, I'll say by 10th-round stoppage. Williams will want to stay active, but he has problems with Martinez's toughness.
Long arms or not, the Argentinian's relentlessness will decide this bout.
Rick Reeno, BoxingScene.com
Sergio Martinez W 12 Paul Williams: This is a very tough call. In their last fight, Paul Williams fought Sergio Martinez on short notice, so he didn't have an adequate amount of time to properly train after Kelly Pavlik withdrew from their scheduled bout.
I expect Williams to be better prepared for the rematch. However, Martinez also took the fight on short notice, and I expect him to be better prepared as well.
I think Martinez has the hot hand right now. Their styles will always make for a close fight. I expect another classic, and another close decision, but this tim,e Martinez should pull it out.
Michael Rosenthal, Co-Editor, RingTV.com
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I think Paul williams-Sergio Martinez is a terrific fight, as well as a competitive fight, unlike the one we just witnessed with Manny Pacquiao's lopsided decision over Antonio Margarito.
I'm picking Williams by decision. Martinez was a late replacement for Kelly Pavlik in the first fight. I think Williams underestimated him.
Williams won't make that mistake this time. I think Williams will be extremely motivated and outwork Martinez to win a close, but unanimous decision.
Few expected the highly-skilled classic which ensued, during which both fighters were dropped in the first round of an eventual, disputed, majority decision victory for Williams.
On Saturday night the duo will return to Atlantic City, site of their first meeting, for yet another HBO televised battle whose winner could rival Manny Pacquiao in the sport's pound-for-pound best fighter sweepstakes.
Martinez (45-2-2, 24 knockouts), promoted by Lou DiBella, is coming off of April's unanimous decision victory over Pavlik, whom he dethroned for his current WBC crown, even as he was later stripped of the WBO versions of his titles.
Williams (39-1, 27 KOs), whose promoter is Dan Goossen, is coming off of May's disappointing, four-round, technical decision win over Kermit Cintron, a verdict that was the result of Cintron's falling out of the ring and his failure to return.
FanHouse sought the opinions of 13 knowledgeable boxing aficionados concerning their beliefs as to which of the two fighters will win.
Click here for HBO's Ring Life on Paul Williams
Click here for HBO's Ring Life on Sergio Martinez
Bob Canobbio, CompuBox, Inc.
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I flipped a coin to pick winner. It's going to be that close. Paul Williams' volume punching -- he averaged 82 punches per round in first fight to 53 for Martinez -- vs. Sergio Martinez's selective aggression.
Williams outlanded Martinez, 300-254, in first fight, with Martinez landing 41 percent of his power punches to 31 percent for Williams. Williams had more time to prepare for Martinez, who was a late sub for Kelly Pavlik heading into their first fight.
Martinez is alot more familar with Williams too. This could come down to the final round. Williams threw 102 punches in the last round of first fight, landing 33. Williams also threw a fight-high 125 punches in last round vs. Margarito, landing 53 of those punches to ice that upset victory.
Kevin Cunningham, trainer of WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) champ Devon Alexander
Paul Williams UD 12 Sergio Martinez: I'm picking Paul Williams. I believe that he will use his height and reach against Sergio Martinez and his boxing ability and win a 12-round unanimous decision. I think that Williams and his people kind of overlooked Martinez in the first fight a little bit.
Martinez is a talented fighter, one of the best out there, and I'm not saying that he doesn't have a chance. Because it's going to be a great fight, and these are two of the top fighters in the sport.
But I just think that if Paul Williams boxes smart, and uses the advantages that he has, he should be able to win a decision. So I think that he will be busy, as usual, but that he will use his advantage of his height and reach and outbox this guy.
Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I anticipate a close fight, just like the first one. Sergio Martinez is the bigger fighter, and, according to Paul Williams' trainer, George Peterson, the faster fighter, too.
Williams has advantages in height and reach. I like Williams to eke out a points win. His chin is solid, and that'll be the difference because he does get.
Doug Fischer, Co-Editor Ring-TV.com
Sergio Martinez SD 12 Paul Williams: I'll go with Sergio Martinez in another hotly-contested 12-round bout. The decision will probably be tight, perhaps split, and it could be controversial.
Because Paul Williams figures to come forward for much of the fight and throw considerably more punches. But I think Martinez will counter-punch effectively and land the harder punches through the fight.
Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com
Paul Williams KO 11 Sergio Martinez: On the November banquet of intriguing bouts, Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez in a rematch of a Fight-of-the-Year contender is the toughest pick.
Martinez works his feet with the speed and skill of the soccer player he once was. Complementary speed in his hands creates a dynamic balance with a consistently sharp jab and solid left. He is slick, opportunistic and seemingly younger than his 35 years of age.
At 5-foot-11, however, Martinez is not big enough to sustain his energy in the battle to get inside of what figures to be a return of a 6-3 whirlwind that has confused, if not frightened, opponents when Williams is at his best. He will be at his best this time.
Postponements and cancellations of a much-talked about showdown with Kelly Pavlik might have been a distraction for Williams. He, like the fans, could not have expected the terrific 12 rounds that transpired a year ago in a bout put together when Pavlik withdrew.
Williams got a majority decision on a night when many thought he deserved no more than a draw. Martinez got his attention, which means Williams figures to be as dangerous as ever.
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
Sergio Martinez W12 Paul Williams: Sergio Martinez is improving even at this late age and looks like he has more left in the tank. I question sometimes how much Paul Williams has left, and I think Martinez will be busier and pull out the win.
Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I like Paul Williams. I just think that everything in this fight -- from the catch-weight of 157 pounds on -- is being aligned in Williams' favor.
So I'm taking 'The Punisher' via decision over Sergio Martinez.
Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times
Sergio Martinez KO 10 Paul Williams: Sergio Martinez's improvement will carry him to victory over Paul Williams, I'll say by 10th-round stoppage. Williams will want to stay active, but he has problems with Martinez's toughness.
Long arms or not, the Argentinian's relentlessness will decide this bout.
Rick Reeno, BoxingScene.com
Sergio Martinez W 12 Paul Williams: This is a very tough call. In their last fight, Paul Williams fought Sergio Martinez on short notice, so he didn't have an adequate amount of time to properly train after Kelly Pavlik withdrew from their scheduled bout.
I expect Williams to be better prepared for the rematch. However, Martinez also took the fight on short notice, and I expect him to be better prepared as well.
I think Martinez has the hot hand right now. Their styles will always make for a close fight. I expect another classic, and another close decision, but this tim,e Martinez should pull it out.
Michael Rosenthal, Co-Editor, RingTV.com
Paul Williams W 12 Sergio Martinez: I think Paul williams-Sergio Martinez is a terrific fight, as well as a competitive fight, unlike the one we just witnessed with Manny Pacquiao's lopsided decision over Antonio Margarito.
I'm picking Williams by decision. Martinez was a late replacement for Kelly Pavlik in the first fight. I think Williams underestimated him.
Williams won't make that mistake this time. I think Williams will be extremely motivated and outwork Martinez to win a close, but unanimous decision.