By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was advised by multiple sources who are close to the negotiations that a deal is very close to being finalized for a junior middleweight collision between Paul Williams and WBC champion Sergio Martinez for December 5 on HBO. I’ve heard the two sides have practically agreed on most of the terms. There is nothing concrete on the venue. The event will either stay in Atlantic City, or head to a venue in California. Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola will open up the show. Derric Rossy is one of the names being thrown around as a possible opponent for Arreola.
After Kelly Pavlik withdrew two weeks ago with a hand injury, Williams’ team was scrambling to find a replacement. Without question Martinez is a tough fight and some believe a tougher fight, stylistically, than Pavlik.
Martinez has already been training to fight a southpaw for the last couple of weeks. He was scheduled to take part in a keep-busy fight on the untelevised portion of the undercard to the Paulie Malignaggi-Juan Diaz rematch on December 12.