By Rick Reeno
Promoter Lou DiBella has advised BoxingScene.com that two of his boxers, Deandre Latimore (22-3, 17KOs) and Carlos Quintana (28-3, 22KOs), are ready to face Paul "The Punisher" Williams (39-2, 27KOs) on July 9. HBO approved, and then rejected, a fight between Williams and Nobuhiro Ishida of Japan - which leaves Williams without a dance partner for the July date.
One source told BoxingScene that HBO is willing to approve a fight between Williams and Latimore. Quintana won a twelve round decision over Williams in 2008, but Williams got revenge by stopping Quintana in the first round of their rematch. DiBella believes a trilogy fight is warranted.
"Latimore will take that fight in a second, and so will Quintana. Quintana is a full 154-pounder. He told me that he struggled to make 147 [for his fight with Andre Berto] and he really wants this fight. People can point to the quick knockout in their rematch, but Williams got knocked out in the second round of his rematch with Sergio Martinez, so these things happen. I think at 154 it would be a different fight," DiBella told BoxingScene.com.