by Cliff Rold
Following their epic first fight last December, the post-fight report card headline read “Williams, Martinez Both Better Than Imagined.” Can the rematch possibly meet what the imagination can now conceive?
The status of both men has grown since, and because of, their encounter. It was the sort of war that makes stars of both combatants. Williams was already recognized as one of the best in the world. For Martinez, it was but a penultimate moment. Both men came off the floor in round one and then, for eleven more frames, they took turns laying the leather on each other.
There were plenty who felt Martinez did enough to beat Williams last year. He left no room for doubt in April of this year, coming off the floor for a late rounds surge to thrash Kelly Pavlik, earning the decision and the 160 lb. crown. Now, he stays in the lion’s den, attempting to avenge his most recent defeat and going right back at Williams.
That’s about as tough a three-fight run as one could ask for. Martinez gets bonus points for agreeing to the weak kneed request of Team Williams to agree to a catch weight of 158 lbs…a stipulation which was not there for the first fight.
No matter. The catchweight request might be weak, but Williams sure as hell is not in the ring. Can Martinez hold his crown?
Let’s go the report card.
The Ledger
Sergio Martinez
Age: 35
Title: Lineal/Ring/WBC Middleweight (2010-Present, 1st Attempted Defense)
Previous Titles: WBC Jr. Middleweight (2009-10)
Height: 5’11
Weight: 157.25 lbs.
Average Weight – Last Five Fights: 156.15 lbs.
Hails from: Oxnard, California (born in Argentina)
Record: 45-2-2, 24 KO
BoxingScene Rank: World Champion
Record in Major Title Fights: 1-0 (2-0-1, 1 KO
including interim title fights)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 1 (Kelly Pavlik)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat or Draw: 3 (Antonio Margarito, Kermit Cintron, Paul Williams)
Vs.
Paul Williams
Age: 29
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBO Welterweight (2007-08; 08)
Height: 6’1
Weight: 156 lbs.
Average Weight – Last Five Fights: 155.4 lbs.
Hails from: Augusta, Georgia
Record: 39-1, 27 KO
BoxingScene Rank: #1 at Middleweight
Record in Major Title Fights: 2-1, 1 KO (3-1, 2 KO including interim title fights)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 7 (Sharmba Mitchell, Antonio Margarito, Carlos Quintana, Verno Phillips, Winky Wright, Sergio Martinez, Kermit Cintron)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat: 1 (Carlos Quintana)
Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed – Martinez A; Williams A
Pre-Fight: Power – Martinez B; Williams B
Pre-Fight: Defense – Martinez B+; Williams B
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Martinez A; Williams A
While both men posses world-class speed, Williams was likely as surprised as the viewers last year to find how fast Martinez was in the ring. The knockdowns each suffered were indicative. Williams caught Martinez off balance with a winging shot. Martinez snuck one in, flush, that Williams never saw coming.
Throughout the night, that was the story of things. Williams was, as he always is, a volume machine. Martinez threw a little less but with more authority and had Williams stunned more often than the reverse. In his win over Pavlik, Martinez was tentative in committing to come forward in spots…until he broke through and did just that for the last four rounds. A consistently aggressive Martinez this Saturday, when weighed against the always throwing Williams, could make for an even better fight than hoped for.
There is reason to be less hopeful than all that.
Where Martinez had a real fight earlier this year, Williams has been all but inactive. The four rounds he fought against Kermit Cintron were barely live fire and he looked flat early on. It could be that, after the Martinez war, he was warming to the action.
It could also be that getting hit wears on a fighter. Williams defense is largely his offense. When he gets the engine purring, opponents are overwhelmed and, even when there is return fire, it is mitigated, forced to the back foot. When Williams’s offense does not overwhelm though, whether it be in the later rounds versus Antonio Margarito or the whole fight with Martinez, he is wide open.
Will the layoff of most of a year mean rest or rust? If it’s just rest, and Williams can establish his rhythm before Martinez, he is a threat to run away with the fight. Martinez has to catch Williams first and then catch him between shots. The former feeds the latter and, if Williams is landing first, Martinez may not have many chances to step into his blows.
In terms of intangibles, both men have dependable chins complimented by tremendous courage and stamina. Even if they fall short of another great fight, there is no way this one can be less than good for as long as it lasts.
The Pick
And just how long will that be?
This is a nail biter of a choice, a valid pick able to be made either way. Williams won the first time and history leans towards repeat over revenge. History is written one fight at a time though and, in this fight, means nothing. Martinez is going to be flush with confidence after a career best win and the feeling that he earned the duke the first time around. Williams should enter feeling like the uncrowned champion based on last year’s win but he (or at least his team) seems more interested in talking about the Welterweights that won’t fight him.
Being Middleweight champion of the World isn’t in the bag yet.
Martinez and his team seems to recognize what that honor is worth, and Martinez will be bent on keeping it. The Argentine is a fighter who has slowly improved into the world class warrior he is and, while 35, is getting better with age. That won’t last forever, but the improvement will show Saturday.
Look for Williams offense to stall as Martinez busts him with quick shots and moves, forcing Williams to chase and open himself up for counters. Martinez will eat his share of punches but, as was the case the first time, he’ll land the harder stuff and have the confidence to press the issue more when Williams is rocked. It will be enough for a close, possibly split, decision win for the champion on Saturday night.
Report Card Picks 2010: 29-12
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com