Is Antonio Margarito avoiding his mandatory against Paul Williams?

The evolution of Paul Williams

http://www.secondsout.com/USA/news.cfm?ccs=229&cs=20148

By Matt Wells: A little over a year ago Paul Williams struggled against a wily Terrence Cauthen, and stumbled to an ugly decision win. Last May, he put on a boxing clinic and dominated the undefeated Walter Matthysse. In doing so, he has gone from green prospect to becoming arguably the best young fighter in the welterweight division.

Williams' upcoming fight with Sharmba Mitchell is viewed by many to be a mismatch. That this is the case is a testament to how far Williams has progressed in such a short time. It is easy to forget that up until recently he was fighting the likes of Luis Hernandez and Sammy Sparkman (and these two were the guys with name recognition, relatively speaking.) Now he is such a threat that he is having finding opponents; more on that later.

Williams' manager and trainer, George Peterson, believes his young charge is just starting to get a the hang of life as a pro boxer, and that is why he is looking so good right now. "He's just realized what professional fighting is all about," he says. "He never took professional boxing really seriously until just about his last three fights. Now he's beginning to come into his own. He's been an athlete for so long, before it almost like he was just competing. But now he understands that he's also competing for his welfare. This is his occupation."

Williams has always had the tools to make it far in the sport. Standing over six feet tall, he often has a reach advantage over his opponents of several inches or more. His punches come out smooth and crisp. He is always calm and composed in the ring, no matter what the circumstances. Though he does not have one-punch knockout power, he has a knack for methodically wearing down a fighter over the course of a fight. And to say he throws a lot of shots would be an understatement; in terms of punches per round, he regularly blows past the century mark.

"Paul is a rangy fighter," Pererson says. "He's tall, he's quick, he's got a lot of pop, plus he's hungry. This kid can stand across the street and hit you. And in addition to that, he can box."

It is these skills that have many fans and pundits believing that Williams is already within reach of a world title belt. But it wasn't that long ago that he was just another unheralded and untested young fighter with a lot of hype around him. To be sure, he was knocking his opponents out with noticeable ease. And Peterson was finding it increasingly difficult to find anyone willing to fight him. But he still hadn't faced the sort of opposition that would convince most observers that he was the real deal.

The matter would remain up for debate after Williams took on fellow southpaw Cauthen in a fight broadcast on Showtime's ShoBox show on April 22nd, 2005. Cauthen had always had a reputation for being a highly unorthodox fighter. After struggling to find an opponent for what would be a valuable bit of television exposure for his fighter, Peterson had to agree to face the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist. The fight was an ugly one, though it did not go quite as most observers had expected. Cauthen is regarded more as a counterpuncher that likes to dance around the ring, but against Williams he pulled a page out of the John Ruiz school of prizefighting.

As soon as the opening bell sounded Cauthen charged right at Williams, throwing a few shots and then wrapping his arms around his opponent. This became the template that Cauthen employed for much of the rest of the night. This drew the ire of referee Lou Moret right from the get-go, so much so that, rather remarkably, he penalized Cauthen one point early in the first round. Even so, Cauthen succeeded in his aim of frustrating Williams, who could not avoid getting tangled up by his tenacious opponent.

The strategy Williams attempted to employ, naturally, was to box from the outside, using his reach to hold Cauthen at bay. The problem was that he was not really able to do this for more than a few seconds at a time. Every time he stepped back to get some distance, Cauthen would chase him, throwing wild, looping punches before moving in for the clinch. This pattern was repeated over and over.

That's not to say that Williams was completely disarmed by these tactics. The fact of the matter is that Cauthen did not really stand a chance against him. Skill-wise, he didn't compare. And as the fight progressed, Williams was able to get enough work done to win most of the rounds. His shots to Cauthen's body were particularly punishing. But he could never fully find his rhythm. Moreover, Cauthen was able to get in some decent punches of his own from time to time. In particular, his right hook landed flush on his opponent several times.

In the end, Williams won the fight. One judge even gave him all ten rounds, though that was probably being rather generous. Statistically he had Cauthen beat. He did not, however, put together a strong case for being the next great welterweight champion. However, he was about to go on a run that would more than make up for this stilted performance.

A UD win over Marteze Logan in September of 2005 was rather inconsequential. In December of that same year, however, he returned to the ShoBox show, and faced veteran Alfonso Sanchez. Sanchez, a former Mexican national champion, was clearly on the downside of his career, but could still pose a threat to a inexperienced young fighter. Williams, however, was more than up to the challenge.

Continued below...

Williams got his jab working in the early going, and threw in some stinging lefts for good measure. This was the volume puncher that we did not see against Cauthen. He did have his problems in the first couple of rounds, however. He has a tendency to drop his gloves and leave himself open for counters when he is through throwing, and Sanchez took advantage of that. Nothing that Sanchez connected with seem to do much damage, though, and Williams rarely missed a beat.

Williams really started to make his mark in the third stanza. With about twenty seconds to go he threw three quick jabs in a row, which seemed to confuse Sanchez, then followed that up with a sharp left that drove his opponent into the corner. At the start of the fourth he repeated the feat, pinning Sanchez against the corner post once more. Sanchez, getting desperate by this point, launched an attack of his own. After the two men exchanged in the centre of the ring for few seconds, Williams caught Sanchez with a left to the jaw. Sanchez, knocked off-balance, touched the canvas with a glove, resulting in a technical knockdown.

Rather than pounce on his opponent once the fight resumed, Williams continued to take his time, wearing Sanchez down slowly but surely. The end came with about a minute gone in the fifth, when Williams hit Sanchez with a jab, then a left to the body. Sanchez was still kneeling on the canvas when the referee finished the count, and the fight was over.

"We prepare for each fighter, each level of competition," Peterson says. "We don't fight the same way every time. We train for each particular individual. He's had some other fights that I thought were outstanding. When he fought Alfonso Sanchez, that was a good fight. I kind of felt that fight was one of his better fights. Every time he comes out, he improves. So every time he comes out you're going to see a different Paul Williams."

At this point, Williams began to rapidly grow and improve as a fighter. In April of 2006 he dispatched Sergio Rios in two rounds on a fight that was featured on ESPN. Williams simply overwhelmed Rios from the opening bell, and didn't let up until two solid uppercuts sent his opponent down to the canvas for good. The performance was enough to convince observers that Williams really was a fighter to keep an eye on.

An even bigger test came in May, when Williams took on the undefeated Argentine slugger Walter Matthysse. This was the first time that Williams took on a prospect that was nearly as high-regarded as himself, and one, moreover, that could turn a fight around with a few solid shots. The bout was featured on HBO After Dark (right before the Jhonny Gonzalez - Fernando Montiel snoozer, for the record), making this Williams' most high-profile television appearance to date.

Williams did not disappoint, putting on what many felt was the best performance on his career. Matthysse, though seemingly lacking the ability to jab, was a game opponent, and rattled Williams on occasion. You could make a good case that he won rounds two and four, as his power shots seemed to throw Williams off his game. Williams, however, showed that he had a solid chin, and he really never did stop working, throwing over a hundred punches in nearly every round.

It was Williams consistent and persistent body work that made the difference. By the sixth round Matthysse was simply exhausted. His mouth was wide open, and his work rate had diminished considerably. Williams had executed his plan as well as could be expected, as his non-stop offence took its toll on his opponent. He punished Mattysse for another few rounds until the fight was stopped in the tenth.

His statement made, Williams had vaulted into the ranks of the top welterweight contenders. While this is obviously the way any fighter would like their career to progress, there is one problem that has become even more pressing for Williams and his team: finding opponents that want to face him. Sharmba Mitchell was selected for the bout on Saturday only after they were turned down by several other prominent fighters. "He was the only one available," Peterson says. "We tried everybody. They wouldn't even talk; all they would do is turn us down. So he was the only one out there."

That being said, while Peterson is confidently predicting that Williams will end the fight early, there are not taking Mitchell entirely lightly. "He's a really sharp fighter," Peterson says. "He's got [over] 60 fights. He's a former two-time world champion. He knows his way around. His approach to boxing is that he is quite crafty, he uses a lot of speed. He's left-handed, and he has a lot of knowledge about his whereabouts in the ring. So he's someone that we're definitely going to have to contend with. You can't sleep. He's almost like a Bernard Hopkins: plenty of experience and knowledge, and he's also a gym rat. So we can't doze here. We have to bring our 'A' game to the arena that night."

Still, Peterson is obviously frustrated that nobody seems to want to give Williams the chances he feels he deserves. "We asked for Baldomir a year and a half ago," he says. "Cintron, we asked for him. David Estrada, we asked for him. Everybody in the top ten, we asked for. Every one."

It is Margarito's apparent reluctance to fight Williams that particularly galls Peterson, as the win over Matthysse put his fighter in the mandatory position for Margarito's WBO title. "We've earned the right to fight Margarito, and they won't even mention our names anymore," Peterson says. "We fought for the number one mandatory when we fought Walter Matthysse. And we won. But we have we heard anything else about that? No. Whenever we hear Margarito make a statement, he's calling out somebody else's name. The Margarito people keep saying that they can't find anybody to fight. And we have the mandatory. What can I say?"

The fact that Williams has become such an untouchable is a testament to the great strides he had made as a pro fighter. For Peterson, who has guided Williams for his entire professional career, this comes as no surprise. Though he is perhaps a tad hyperbolic when discussing his fighter, there is no doubting that his enthusiasm is justified.

"There's nobody else out there at 147 pounds that can stand in the ring with this guy," Peterson says. "Nobody out there at 147. Let me back up a bit. My favourite fighter is De La Hoya. And I would give De La Hoya a chance. But nobody else out there."

Discuss?

The reason Margarito does not want to beat this kid up is because he is even greener than Cintron (and I'd back Cintron to beat this guy. ) so beating Willims would get no props either.Secondly,his is beginning to contradict himself,in 1 interview he said he cut Margarito over the eye and beat his body and in an interview on another site,he said he was beating Margarito so bad that Margaritos corner stopped it. Whatever you all think about TONY,he is the most rugged tough customer at 147 and I DO NOT see him as the type to just give up!! Williams also called out Oscar in an interview I just read.... ::**

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Originally Posted by El Phenomena

The reason Margarito does not want to beat this kid up is because he is even greener than Cintron (and I'd back Cintron to beat this guy. ) so beating Willims would get no props either.Secondly,his is beginning to contradict himself,in 1 interview he said he cut Margarito over the eye and beat his body and in an interview on another site,he said he was beating Margarito so bad that Margaritos corner stopped it. Whatever you all think about TONY,he is the most rugged tough customer at 147 and I DO NOT see him as the type to just give up!! Williams also called out Oscar in an interview I just read.... ::**

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So let me get this straight...Margarito doesn't face his mandatory because he's too green & that's okay...but Floyd doesn't face Margarito because he goes for Baldo & it's not okay?

No I believe Tony is contemplating getting rid of the belt as it is of no use to him so yeah,there would be no worth in fighting Williams then and second,I didn't say anything about Floyd facing Baldo being bad! And Margarito is STILL a bigger threat than anyone Floyd has faced in the last 4 years and you can add Baldo to that list.

Margarito needs to move to 154 if he just wants to put all his eggs in one basket and fight Floyd, all the other challenges at 147 and he chases none of those, forget that guy.

Williams may be a little green but he's still levels above just about everyone on Margarito's record (except possibly Cintron, but I think Williams is better than Cintron--even now). Clottey's a good step up too though. If he can win that fight--which he should (I don't think Clottey's that good)--he needs to fight Quintana, Collazo, Williams or Judah.

I really can't make up my mind about Williams. He gives up his height too easily and he's very open to being hit. His offense is his defense, and he's kind of sloppy.

Of course you could say the exact same things about Margarito ;D

I actually would like to see Williams-Cintron, I'd make that about a 55/45 fight in Williams' favor just cause I think Kermit's just kind of fragile mentally, but I wouldn't be shocked at all if Cintron stopped him.

Out of all the prospects-Williams, Cintron, and Quintana- I think Quintana's the best.

I want Margarito to KO Clottey first and then fight one of the other names then call out some more!!

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

I really can't make up my mind about Williams. He gives up his height too easily and he's very open to being hit. His offense is his defense, and he's kind of sloppy.

Of course you could say the exact same things about Margarito ;D

I actually would like to see Williams-Cintron, I'd make that about a 55/45 fight in Williams' favor just cause I think Kermit's just kind of fragile mentally, but I wouldn't be shocked at all if Cintron stopped him.

Out of all the prospects-Williams, Cintron, and Quintana- I think Quintana's the best.

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I think the fight would be more in Cintron's favour,I know Tony can be open at times but Williams has his hands low for nearly the whole fight and Cintron would catch him.

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Originally Posted by shza

Williams may be a little green but he's still levels above just about everyone on Margarito's record (except possibly Cintron, but I think Williams is better than Cintron--even now). Clottey's a good step up too though. If he can win that fight--which he should (I don't think Clottey's that good)--he needs to fight Quintana, Collazo, Williams or Judah.

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Naa,I think Diaz,6 heads and maybe a few others are better have on the resume than Williams for now. I too believe Clottey will be a tough fight but I think Margarito will win,he needs to for my sake!

I only saw Paul Williams against Walter Matthysse and he was damn impressive IMO, anyone got any more footage?

I find this all amusing...Margarito is the guy all the other champions are ducking...Or just waiting for the right moment to fight ;)....Margarito is in line for a MAJOR fight he has earned it...Why fight this guy? Tony has paid his dues

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

I find this all amusing...Margarito is the guy all the other champions are ducking...Or just waiting for the right moment to fight ;)....Margarito is in line for a MAJOR fight he has earned it...Why fight this guy? Tony has paid his dues

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Beautifully put,CC. Tony has been ducked by other and is unbeaten at the weight for 8 years I think. He just needs to stay focused,beat 2 more fighters,Clottey and someone else and then he will be in a position to call PBF etc out and then we will really see who is ducking who.

Matthysse who had not fought anyone of repute and exclusively in Argentina almost knocked Williams out!!!

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Tony has paid his dues

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how do you figure?
he just lost to a bum 4 fights ago.

i guess that big win over cintron earns him a shot at some mega fight. ::**

best fight that could be made in the sport of boxing today (as ive said before)

Margarito vs. Judah

you know that margarito wants NO part of that, judah would slaughter the "tijuana tornado ::**"
it would be brutal, but a victory over zab (never happen ;)) would be the perfect barometer to see where hes at amongst the welterweight elite, and put some credibility into all of fans arguements (maybe a dozen, including some of his family)

Frozen,on the Judah argument,you get zero points because I have personally posted stuff here of Tony calling Judah out,and being ducked by him. Judah said he would fight the winner of Cintron Toni,did he? Secondly,Judah has lost 4 of his last 6 fights,that would be a great barometer wouldnt it? A tornado of power punches against a glass chin,gee,let me see.... ::** ??? Come one man,thought you could do better than that!

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Originally Posted by El Phenomena

Frozen,on the Judah argument,you get zero points because I have personally posted stuff here of Tony calling Judah out,and being ducked by him. Judah said he would fight the winner of Cintron Toni,did he? Secondly,Judah has lost 4 of his last 6 fights,that would be a great barometer wouldnt it? A tornado of power punches against a glass chin,gee,let me see.... ::** ??? Come one man,thought you could do better than that!

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funny, because when arum said "margarito is the most feared boxer, and nobody wants to fight him"
judah was one of the first to step up.
it WOULD be a great barometer, because styles make fights and zab would carve tony up all day long
face it, those 4 lost fights if the first spinks fight went another 30 seconds cory would have been ktfo for sure plus zab picked up right where he left off on the rematch.

and just because he lost to a prime kosta tszyu (kosta said he wouldnt fight him again btw) doesnt mean he would lose to margarito (dont even try to compare margarito with a prime kosta tszyu)

as far as mayweather............... zab looked damn good in the beginning, but floyd figured him out and adjusted to him which obviously frustrated the hell out of zab (margarito is NOT the crafty, slick, blazing fast, technical wizard that floyd is...........thats not margaritos deal and you know it)

and last but not least, carlos baldomir (i still think zab edged it out)
everybody has a bad night, right? (i know margarito has had a few ;))

judah would put on a clinic and expose the millions of weaknesses in tony's game


there you go buddy.................i put some muscle in that one for you 8)

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Tony has paid his dues

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how do you figure?
he just lost to a bum 4 fights ago.

i guess that big win over cintron earns him a shot at some mega fight. ::**

best fight that could be made in the sport of boxing today (as ive said before)

Margarito vs. Judah

you know that margarito wants NO part of that, judah would slaughter the "tijuana tornado ::**"
it would be brutal, but a victory over zab (never happen ;)) would be the perfect barometer to see where hes at amongst the welterweight elite, and put some credibility into all of fans arguements (maybe a dozen, including some of his family)

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Please tell me you are joking????? Judah beat Tony???? No I don't think so

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

Tony has paid his dues

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how do you figure?
he just lost to a bum 4 fights ago.

i guess that big win over cintron earns him a shot at some mega fight. ::**

best fight that could be made in the sport of boxing today (as ive said before)

Margarito vs. Judah

you know that margarito wants NO part of that, judah would slaughter the "tijuana tornado ::**"
it would be brutal, but a victory over zab (never happen ;)) would be the perfect barometer to see where hes at amongst the welterweight elite, and put some credibility into all of fans arguements (maybe a dozen, including some of his family)

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Please tell me you are joking????? Judah beat Tony???? No I don't think so

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tony lost to a fighter of a MUCH lesser calibur recently.
has margarito fought anybody as good as judah?
nope.

As soon as JUdah gets hit once by Tony,he would go back nto his shell and run.Judah may have skill,but has no heart,no belief,he couldn't go to the trenches/ Also,as known to many fans,Zab actually gave the stipulation to Kostya,winner takes all,no rematch.KT threw it back in his face after the fight,go check it it.

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Originally Posted by El Phenomena

No I believe Tony is contemplating getting rid of the belt as it is of no use to him so yeah,there would be no worth in fighting Williams then and second,I didn't say anything about Floyd facing Baldo being bad! And Margarito is STILL a bigger threat than anyone Floyd has faced in the last 4 years and you can add Baldo to that list.

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If Margarito wanted to get rid of his garbage WBO title he would of done it a long time ago. That belt means nothing. For Margarito too call himself a champion cuz he holds it, is laughable.

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

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Originally Posted by El Phenomena

Frozen,on the Judah argument,you get zero points because I have personally posted stuff here of Tony calling Judah out,and being ducked by him. Judah said he would fight the winner of Cintron Toni,did he? Secondly,Judah has lost 4 of his last 6 fights,that would be a great barometer wouldnt it? A tornado of power punches against a glass chin,gee,let me see.... ::** ??? Come one man,thought you could do better than that!

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funny, because when arum said "margarito is the most feared boxer, and nobody wants to fight him"
judah was one of the first to step up.
it WOULD be a great barometer, because styles make fights and zab would carve tony up all day long
face it, those 4 lost fights if the first spinks fight went another 30 seconds cory would have been ktfo for sure plus zab picked up right where he left off on the rematch.

and just because he lost to a prime kosta tszyu (kosta said he wouldnt fight him again btw) doesnt mean he would lose to margarito (dont even try to compare margarito with a prime kosta tszyu)

as far as mayweather............... zab looked damn good in the beginning, but floyd figured him out and adjusted to him which obviously frustrated the hell out of zab (margarito is NOT the crafty, slick, blazing fast, technical wizard that floyd is...........thats not margaritos deal and you know it)

and last but not least, carlos baldomir (i still think zab edged it out)
everybody has a bad night, right? (i know margarito has had a few ;))

judah would put on a clinic and expose the millions of weaknesses in tony's game


there you go buddy.................i put some muscle in that one for you 8)

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:coolclick: for some interesting arguments....I think Margarito: Judah could be a riveting matchup..

Could go either way, depending on which fighters show up...

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

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Originally Posted by El Phenomena

Frozen,on the Judah argument,you get zero points because I have personally posted stuff here of Tony calling Judah out,and being ducked by him. Judah said he would fight the winner of Cintron Toni,did he? Secondly,Judah has lost 4 of his last 6 fights,that would be a great barometer wouldnt it? A tornado of power punches against a glass chin,gee,let me see.... ::** ??? Come one man,thought you could do better than that!

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funny, because when arum said "margarito is the most feared boxer, and nobody wants to fight him"
judah was one of the first to step up.
it WOULD be a great barometer, because styles make fights and zab would carve tony up all day long
face it, those 4 lost fights if the first spinks fight went another 30 seconds cory would have been ktfo for sure plus zab picked up right where he left off on the rematch.

and just because he lost to a prime kosta tszyu (kosta said he wouldnt fight him again btw) doesnt mean he would lose to margarito (dont even try to compare margarito with a prime kosta tszyu)

as far as mayweather............... zab looked damn good in the beginning, but floyd figured him out and adjusted to him which obviously frustrated the hell out of zab (margarito is NOT the crafty, slick, blazing fast, technical wizard that floyd is...........thats not margaritos deal and you know it)

and last but not least, carlos baldomir (i still think zab edged it out)
everybody has a bad night, right? (i know margarito has had a few ;))

judah would put on a clinic and expose the millions of weaknesses in tony's game


there you go buddy.................i put some muscle in that one for you 8)

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:coolclick: for some interesting arguments....I think Margarito: Judah could be a riveting matchup..

Could go either way, depending on which fighters show up...

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cc returned, miles

Zab would be wayyy to fast for Tony.. It's funny how all people think about is whether fighters have won or lost their latest fights, and don't take into consideration a) who they were up against, and b) How they look, period. Judah is a far better fighter than Margarito, this question is almost a warshack test on whether anyone knows anything about boxing, imo. I mean sure you could pick Margarito to win, but to date, anyone who knows anything should know Judah is the more schooled fighter with far more talent who has beaten far better fighters... So how can anyone in their right mind say it would be a domination for Margarito??

Firstly,how has Judah beaten far better fighters and secondly,you could say the same about Judah Baldo but it does not work like that and knowledgeable boxing fans know this. Judah is faster,slicker etc than Baldo but did he win? Exactly and I believe Margarito to be better than Baldo in most aspects.Judah was taken life and death by the ancient Pineda too,I don't understand where these fans of Judah are coming from,he has had FAR too many chances and has failed each time.

Anyone who knows anything about boxing would know Tony is a power puncher pressure fighter and Judah is a fast,at times slick but weak minded fighter,total lack of focus and inable to take pressue of any kind let alone the pressure Tony would be bringing.

If wild Matthysse was able to rock Williams on numerous occasions just imagine what Margarito would do to him.