By Mark Vester
There appears to be one fighter who is willing to face Paul Williams, currently the WBO interim-junior middleweight champion but making a home in three multiple weight divisions by taking fights from welterweight to middleweight. IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey wants a crack at Williams.
Last year the two fighters traded some verbal jabs in the media but no meaningful conversations took place between their promoters to make the fight. During last year's negotiations for a fight with Williams and Kelly Pavlik, there was a big dispute between Top Rank's Bob Arum [who also has Clottey] and Al Haymon [co-manager of Williams]. Arum, in anger, told Williams' promoter Dan Goossen that he was not interested in making any deals for fights that involve Williams [due to Haymon].
That was then and this is now. Williams is a bigger name and stands among the best fighters in the sport. Clottey, should he defeat WBO champ Miguel Cotto on June 13 in Madison Square Garden, is one guy who might answer the call of Williams.
Speaking with Francisco Guzman of BoxingScene.com, Clottey said that he's been calling for a fight with Williams for years.
"People should stop saying [someone is] avoided like Paul Williams. Every time they say he is being avoided. I've been looking for him for many years and been calling for a fight with him. He don't want to fight me. Why do people call him avoided? You know, his promoters get time for him and market him, say alot of things for people to like him. I'll fight with anyone," Clottey told BoxingScene.
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