Paul Williams v. Sergio Martinez

[Gandalf]

It's a decent fight. I see Williams winning a decision, but Martinez might well make it tougher than expected.

[El Kabong]

It's a decent fight. I see Williams winning a decision, but Martinez might well make it tougher than expected.

This is a tougher fight than Pavlik IMO. Martinez is quick, he's got very underrated power(he clocked Cintron and Kermit thought he got headbutted), and he's got very good defense...meanwhile Pavlik is just 1 sided.

I really hope Williams comes through this fight with ease, but I think he's in for a LONG night and he's going to have to bring his 'A game'

[Gandalf]

It's a decent fight. I see Williams winning a decision, but Martinez might well make it tougher than expected.

This is a tougher fight than Pavlik IMO. Martinez is quick, he's got very underrated power(he clocked Cintron and Kermit thought he got headbutted), and he's got very good defense...meanwhile Pavlik is just 1 sided.

I really hope Williams comes through this fight with ease, but I think he's in for a LONG night and he's going to have to bring his 'A game'

Yes, he's very tricky with a lot more to his game than Pavlik who pretty much comes plodding forward with the same 1-2 every time. I just see Williams throwing too much and being too awkward himself. Either way, it should be fun. Looking forward to this one.

[HattonTheHammer]

It's a decent fight. I see Williams winning a decision, but Martinez might well make it tougher than expected.

This is a tougher fight than Pavlik IMO. Martinez is quick, he's got very underrated power(he clocked Cintron and Kermit thought he got headbutted), and he's got very good defense...meanwhile Pavlik is just 1 sided.

I really hope Williams comes through this fight with ease, but I think he's in for a LONG night and he's going to have to bring his 'A game'

Yes, he's very tricky with a lot more to his game than Pavlik who pretty much comes plodding forward with the same 1-2 every time. I just see Williams throwing too much and being too awkward himself. Either way, it should be fun. Looking forward to this one.

martinez`s best attribute is his output but williams outnumbers on that.

PW will have the reach the power and will throw the far more precise punches.

Martinez has slightly more than a punchers chance but his only real option is to do exactly what quintana did and completely mess up williams game plan and give him no room all fight long!

[killersheep]

This is a tougher fight than Pavlik IMO. Martinez is quick, he's got very underrated power(he clocked Cintron and Kermit thought he got headbutted), and he's got very good defense...meanwhile Pavlik is just 1 sided.

I really hope Williams comes through this fight with ease, but I think he's in for a LONG night and he's going to have to bring his 'A game'

Yes, he's very tricky with a lot more to his game than Pavlik who pretty much comes plodding forward with the same 1-2 every time. I just see Williams throwing too much and being too awkward himself. Either way, it should be fun. Looking forward to this one.

martinez`s best attribute is his output but williams outnumbers on that.

PW will have the reach the power and will throw the far more precise punches.

Martinez has slightly more than a punchers chance but his only real option is to do exactly what quintana did and completely mess up williams game plan and give him no room all fight long!

Um, have you seen Martinez fight before?

[JazMerkin]

Am I the only one who will now not buy Williams' crap about having to come out of his weight-class?

I don't think he's been able to make 147 for well over a year & for me this proves it. They made out they were having to feed him multiple meals a day to fight at Middleweight, well that's clearly not the case if he says he can't come down to fight Martinez at 154, where for me it would really matter that bit more as I consider them the best 2 LMWs around.

As for the fight, I think PW is more used to the weight, so will beat Martinez up to a competitive but clear decision (117-111, 116-112) something like that.

[Rantcatrat]

Am I the only one who will now not buy Williams' crap about having to come out of his weight-class?

I don't think he's been able to make 147 for well over a year & for me this proves it. They made out they were having to feed him multiple meals a day to fight at Middleweight, well that's clearly not the case if he says he can't come down to fight Martinez at 154, where for me it would really matter that bit more as I consider them the best 2 LMWs around.

As for the fight, I think PW is more used to the weight, so will beat Martinez up to a competitive but clear decision (117-111, 116-112) something like that.

Jaz, I don't disagree with your prediction or your opinion on Williams and his weight. What reason is there to fight Martinez at 160 if he can make 154 other than for a size advantage? Clearly 154 is where Martinez is most effective. Martinez started his career at 147, but has fought the remainder of it almost entirely at 154. His first real fight at 160 against Paul Williams? That to me doesn't sound like a recipe for a win. His belts aren't on the line and this fight is just a chance to get into the spotlight, but it is still a dangerous fight. I like Martinez and Williams. I guess a loss hurts Williams more because he has this aura of invincibility and a loss for Martinez can be chopped to fighting at the wrong weight.

[El Kabong]

Um, have you seen Martinez fight before?

...he must have spaced and started talking about Ricky Hatton.

Martinez's best trait is his defense/movement, he's slick and awkward at the same time. And I think I speak for everyone when I say this but it is NEVER good for 2 southpaws to fight each other, at least for the fans

[killersheep]

Um, have you seen Martinez fight before?

...he must have spaced and started talking about Ricky Hatton.

Martinez's best trait is his defense/movement, he's slick and awkward at the same time. And I think I speak for everyone when I say this but it is NEVER good for 2 southpaws to fight each other, at least for the fans

I think with Williams output, Martinez is going to have to move double time, which I think he's capable of, this should turn out to be a much more entertaining fight than you would expect from a typical lefty to lefty showdown.

[CutMeMick]

bump

[Hunter]

This is an intriguing matchup.....I think Martinez is slick enough to do what Quintana did to him. Plus Martinez has more pop than Carlos......

Sergio is a dangerous opponent for sure. i think Paul will win a decision but will be close..

[bobby beck]

williams overated

[TheBranMan]

I only just got the chance to watch it. I have to say it was a very good fight, probably my FOTY. I had Martinez ahead by a few points, but you could make an argument for Williams. Though, 119-110 is a disgrace. I wish the corruption, in the sport I love, would just simply end.

[Myk_Myk]

My computer crashed and I just got it back up and running, so I haven't read all of this thread...

I thought this was a very high caliber and exciting fight! I thought Letterman's card was pretty good except I thought Martinez took the 11th; which made it a draw in my eyes. Overall impression though, is that Williams got his bell wrung worse.

The comment I really want to make though, is about the corners. I thought both corners were of as high a caliber as the fighters themselves! This fight was made much more exciting and competitive, because of the excellent and specific advice both fighters were receiving, and their abilities to listen and implement the advice given.

All through the fight you heard clear specific advice, and then you'd see the fighter implement that tactic successfully. Then you'd hear the other corner give advice; which would swing things back in their fighter's favor.

After this fight, I had to wonder: What if Cotto, had had a corner as good as either one of these fighters?

[TheBranMan]

My computer crashed and I just got it back up and running, so I haven't read all of this thread...

I thought this was a very high caliber and exciting fight! I thought Letterman's card was pretty good except I thought Martinez took the 11th; which made it a draw in my eyes. Overall impression though, is that Williams got his bell wrung worse.

The comment I really want to make though, is about the corners. I thought both corners were of as high a caliber as the fighters themselves! This fight was made much more exciting and competitive, because of the excellent and specific advice both fighters were receiving, and their abilities to listen and implement the advice given.

All through the fight you heard clear specific advice, and then you'd see the fighter implement that tactic successfully. Then you'd hear the other corner give advice; which would swing things back in their fighter's favor.

After this fight, I had to wonder: What if Cotto, had had a corner as good as either one of these fighters?

A very good point. I noticed the caliber of the corners as well. It goes to show that boxing really is high-speed chess. We need to see a rematch!

As far as Cotto goes, he did have terrible corner advice for the Pacquiao fight, but you also have to wonder about his confidence and physical after taking the beating from Marga-cheato a year prior (presumably with cinder-blocks on his hands). Add in the 145 catch-weight and the poor Puerto Rican had everything working against him. We can only wonder...