Quote Originally Posted by blegit View Post
I think a top 5 is tough to narrow down because a lot of guys are not the best or that known but are willing to fight just about anyone. The so called feared or best at 147, 154, and 160 are Margarito, Forrest, and Pavlik. Paul Williams offered to fight all three of these fighters and all three turned it down. It wasn't the direction for Pavlik and Forrest said Williams doesn't bring enough reward. But as far as this Williams/Margarito discussion goes... well the truth is Williams offered Margarito the rematch after he couldn't cash in with a top guy like PBF or Cotto. Then offered Margarito two times after for a guarantee of $4 million, which was more than Williams himself was guaranteed to make. Both times Margarito turned it down. There was no negotiating or fight set for Margarito already. Both fighters had as clear schedule as you could as a fighter and Margarito also turned down an offer from Santos at 154. He had both guys who beat him come after HIM for an opportunity to fight again and he did not even negotiate. I am not saying Margarito is scared but he has no excuse and can now not say other fighters avoid him. Clottey even wanted the rematch and they did negotiate but it fell through. If Williams and Santos were offered by Margarito and then in turn Williams and/or Santos turned it down without even negotiating then everyone would be calling them scared and everything else in the book.
As for Williams, this guy is fighting at 3 weight classes and even went after and negotiated with Pavlik but Pavlik thought it wasn't worth enough for him. Which is fair, he went after bigger money and reward. Its not good for business to have absolutely no healthy fear but Williams tops my list as willingness to fight anyone because he really is willing to fight the best in 3 weight classes.

Margarito was already in negotiations for both bouts when Williams camp wanted to make the fight happen...Williams also wanted the fight to happen asap....Leaving no time for anything but enter the ring......

As for the whole thing with Pavlik and Forrest you are right both had other agendas...Pavlik his thing with Hopkins in the works and Forrest with Mora a fight he figured would be more lucritive and with less risk..

But I still do not understand how people claim because these fights never materialized because Williams wanted them to at his convienience how they...Fear him....