By Rick Reeno
Luis DeCubas Jr., the manager of junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara, is livid with his client's majority decision loss to Paul Williams. On Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Williams (40-2, 27 KOs) was awarded a very unpopular decision over Lara (15-1-1, 10 KOs).
Nearly every ringside observer scored the fight for Lara, with 116-112 and 117-111 being the most popular tallies. However, the official judges saw a completely different fight. Hilton Whitaker and Don Givens had it 115-114, and, 116-114, respectively, for Paul Williams, with Al Bennett scoring it a 114-114 draw.
HBO commentators Max Kellerman and Roy Jones had it nine rounds to three for Lara. HBO ringside scorer Harold Lederman had it 117-111 for Lara, as did BoxingScene.com. Lara had the advantage in power shots, 178-to-161, and in overall landed punches, 224-to-200 against Williams.
"If Paul Williams, [trainer] George Peterson or any member of his team have any type of respect and dignity for the sport of boxing, they will fight a rematch. It's safe to say that Paul Williams got wet, dirty and burnt. We will see if Paul Williams has any manhood, heart, class or respect, by granting Lara a much deserved rematch. Judges like that ruin the sport that I love so very much. HBO has to do the right thing for the sport by demanding that Williams has to fight Lara again or he can retire," DeCubas told BoxingScene.com.
