Paul Williams to face Verno Phillips at 154

Looks as though the table is set for current WBO Welter champ Paul Williams 35-1 (26) as he ventures into The Jr. Middleweight field Against 3 time & current 154 Champion Verno Phillips 42-10-1 (31).The match up is for the interim WBO Jr.Middleweight strap,set for Nov.29 & taking place in Ontario Ca...... to be aired by HBO.

Ive always liked Phillips,honest fighter over many years, counters well and owns a nice left hook and has had some up's & down's but in this one, I think he is the perfect match for Williams who is looking to make a breakthrough at 154 & 160.I think this is where Williams belongs and I just do not see him staying around at Welter,even though there is talk of him reigning in 3 divisions....simoutaneously :o.He and his camp may be getting well ahead of them selves with that,no doubt.Feel pretty safe in saying he is going to take cagey Phillips here.....?

Co main event features Heavyweights Chris Arreola vs. Travis Walker.....Arreola better be in good form.In his last outing,Arreola came in at a ridiculous career high weight off 258 + .Walker is long,can box with some pop and will be a stern test.

good match-ups. alot of people look at Phillip's 10 loses and automatically think he sucks. but there are some fighters (I.E. Glen Johnson) with alot of loses in their careers that can still be at the top of the division at any time. Phillips is one of those guys. not trying to hype the fight but i think this should be a great match-up of styles that makes for an exciting bout.
slight edge going to Williams who has the youth behind him.

Was very disappointed in Spinks not getting the decision against Phillips I thought Phillips won 4 rounds of that one with only 2 or 3 others being close.

That being said, he is a belt holder and a lot of people have him as the guy in the division. I just don't think it's a good style matchup for him, he was walking through Spinks' jab and coming forward almost jumping forward then getting down on the inside where he did all his work. Nothing really beautiful about it he just kept leaping in when he thought he could catch Spinks flatfooted. Don't think that will cut it against Williams I think Williams wipes the floor with him to be honest. Not to overrate Williams, while I do highly rate him I just think that Verno's best is behind him and Williams is on the upswing.

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Originally Posted by amat

Was very disappointed in Spinks not getting the decision against Phillips I thought Phillips won 4 rounds of that one with only 2 or 3 others being close.

That being said, he is a belt holder and a lot of people have him as the guy in the division. I just don't think it's a good style matchup for him, he was walking through Spinks' jab and coming forward almost jumping forward then getting down on the inside where he did all his work. Nothing really beautiful about it he just kept leaping in when he thought he could catch Spinks flatfooted. Don't think that will cut it against Williams I think Williams wipes the floor with him to be honest. Not to overrate Williams, while I do highly rate him I just think that Verno's best is behind him and Williams is on the upswing.

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Agreed.
Now that Williams knows how hard he actually hits now, expect him to apply more power to his volume. He's going to hurt alot of people for now on.

I like this match up. Verno is a guy i respect for getting the most out of his ability and his great perserverance. But Williams has impressed massively lately and i think he could could box rings around Verno. I def wannawatch this.

man paul is fighting for a belt at 154 and still has the WBO belt at 147. if he wins he should make the top 10 p4p list shouldnt he for having belts at 2 divisions even if they guys he beat werent the best in the divisions?

Why is this for the interim WBO belt? Sergei is the champ & defends that belt against Joel Julio on Nov 1st. Isn't Verno the IBF JMW champ? A belt he won vs. Cory Spinks last March.

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

man paul is fighting for a belt at 154 and still has the WBO belt at 147. if he wins he should make the top 10 p4p list shouldnt he for having belts at 2 divisions even if they guys he beat werent the best in the divisions?

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Agreed. Good test for P-will.

Credit to Goosen - he continues to put together good cards.

The Areolla v. Walker should be another good fight on the same night.

I like Verno always have and would like for him to do well here but I don't see that happening. He might get stopped which would be a bit of a shame.