Didn't get back home till late last night so haven't had a chance to post anything about my experience at the fight. It was my first fight in person to go to and have to say I had a blast. The undercard was pretty solid, Jhonny looked good and scored a beautiful body stoppage. Sadly the Arreola fight was the worst fight of the night, even the unknown guys put on a better show. I believe it was bad matchmaking because Friday did nothing but try to slip punches and survive. The Ramos KO was devistating in person. I really thought he was losing the fight and almost running scared for the first 6 rounds, and then landed one of the most beautiful hooks I have ever seen. Never seen a place go as nuts as it did when that punch landed. On to the main event now. I am very openly a Paul Williams fan, he is the reason I made the trip from North Carolina, but I realized about a minute into the fight he was in trouble. I'm not sure if Lara missed a single one of those straight lefts. The only positive I can say about what Williams showed is that his chin is still good and he's still willing to take shots and not stop throwing, but Lara skill wise is in a whole other league and it showed. The only rounds I can say that I for sure thought Williams won were 4 and 5 when he just uglied them up and bullied Lara. As much as I wanted Williams to win I was sickened by the decision. I like Lara as a fighter and he deserved to get that victory and it would have been a huge boost for his career. I hope HBO gives him another really good fight because everyone knows he really won the fight. I truly think after watching him in person he might be the best 154 fighter in the world. The display of speed, boxing skill, and ring generalship he put on was just a thing of beauty. As for PW, he has obviously lost a lot, but I still think there are plenty of guys he can beat. The one guy he should never fight though is Martinez. Any talk of the trilogy needs to go away. He has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he can't be successful against any quality southpaw, and they can all land straight lefts at will. If he is going to continue to fight he needs to stick exclusively to right handers who come straight forward. The highlight of the night for me was after the fight going down ringside and chatting a little bit with the HBO crew. Ledderer was by far my favorite and was very funny and seemed appreciative that my friends and I even knew who he was. He joked with us about the fight and took pictures with us. Kellerman was cool and so was Papa. Only one who wasn't was Roy who kinda big timed everyone around. All told it was a fun time and I really hope I can make it to another fight in AC again in the not too distant future.
I agree that Lara deserved the win, he was young and deserved it and the boost would have gave him a big shot to the top though i think hes still going to the top regardless of a ridiculous Loss. Hes very skilled and with a little more hell be a force. And what i meant in the first Martinez fight is the scorecard that read that Martinez only won, what? 1 or 2 rounds? If that had been an REAL judge, it would been 50 50 or a different decision IMO. Thats what i meant.
But all this is Williams fault. Make adjustments, use your frame to his advantage and he does none.And his trainer swears its all right for him to be taking shots like that. Its ridiculous.
Oh I agree about the one Martinez judge that might have been the worst scorecard ever turned in. Lara was so impressive in person. His hands were so fast it was scary, and his skill and movement were a thing of beauty to watch. I agree with you he is going to the top, and I hope it's like Martinez after the Williams fight where even though he lost he got a big fight next and made the most of it. I think Lara is the best fighter at 154 right now. I fear though that the top guys in the division won't want anything to do with him, and they probably shouldn't because he would crush Cotto and Canelo.
People were rightfully booing the decision. I didn't score the fight and will have to go back and do it to know for sure what I would have had it at, but the only rounds I know for sure I'd have given PW were 4 and 5. There were a few other close rounds that I might have given to PW on activity alone, but I couldn't have found more than 4 to give him and I am a big time PW fan. I was more upset by the decision then I was by PW's performance. I can live with my guy just not being good enough but laying it on the line and going out on his shield, but they robbed a really good fighter who earned the biggest win of his life. I disagree with your opinon of the gift in the first Martinez fight, because I think that fight was so close that either winning couldn't be considered a gift. Cintron fight really should have just been a no contest, and had it been by the unified rules instead of California rules it would have been.
I agree that Lara deserved the win, he was young and deserved it and the boost would have gave him a big shot to the top though i think hes still going to the top regardless of a ridiculous Loss. Hes very skilled and with a little more hell be a force. And what i meant in the first Martinez fight is the scorecard that read that Martinez only won, what? 1 or 2 rounds? If that had been an REAL judge, it would been 50 50 or a different decision IMO. Thats what i meant.
But all this is Williams fault. Make adjustments, use your frame to his advantage and he does none.And his trainer swears its all right for him to be taking shots like that. Its ridiculous.
Nice recap.
So when the decision was announced people were actually disguisted by the scorecards i bet? I just find it some people on here actually gave a 7-5 scorecard to Lara, I swear people on here and in the world are ridiculously biased. Lara won that fight VERY convincely. No matter what anyone says. Just cause your a fan of someone doesnt mean there going to beat everyone.
But anyway, I think this is Al Haymons doing. He wasnt going to rob Ortiz that night, Ortiz had GBP behind his side. But Williams got a gift in the first Martinez fight, in the Cintron fight, and now this fight. I understand the first Martinez fight was 50 50, but still. He deserves 3 losses in his past 3 going to decision fights IMO. What a joke him and his team has become to be.
Glad you had fun.
People were rightfully booing the decision. I didn't score the fight and will have to go back and do it to know for sure what I would have had it at, but the only rounds I know for sure I'd have given PW were 4 and 5. There were a few other close rounds that I might have given to PW on activity alone, but I couldn't have found more than 4 to give him and I am a big time PW fan. I was more upset by the decision then I was by PW's performance. I can live with my guy just not being good enough but laying it on the line and going out on his shield, but they robbed a really good fighter who earned the biggest win of his life. I disagree with your opinon of the gift in the first Martinez fight, because I think that fight was so close that either winning couldn't be considered a gift. Cintron fight really should have just been a no contest, and had it been by the unified rules instead of California rules it would have been.
Nice recap.
So when the decision was announced people were actually disguisted by the scorecards i bet? I just find it some people on here actually gave a 7-5 scorecard to Lara, I swear people on here and in the world are ridiculously biased. Lara won that fight VERY convincely. No matter what anyone says. Just cause your a fan of someone doesnt mean there going to beat everyone.
But anyway, I think this is Al Haymons doing. He wasnt going to rob Ortiz that night, Ortiz had GBP behind his side. But Williams got a gift in the first Martinez fight, in the Cintron fight, and now this fight. I understand the first Martinez fight was 50 50, but still. He deserves 3 losses in his past 3 going to decision fights IMO. What a joke him and his team has become to be.
Glad you had fun.
Great post. Glad you enjoyed yourself.
I’m a big Williams fan too and couldn’t agree more.
Yeah it really was fun, and I really liked Boardwalk Hall. It was a cool old building and I don't think there was a bad seat in the house. I really can't wait to see Lara get back in the ring again. He finally lived up to all the potential I always thought he had.
Didn't get back home till late last night so haven't had a chance to post anything about my experience at the fight. It was my first fight in person to go to and have to say I had a blast. The undercard was pretty solid, Jhonny looked good and scored a beautiful body stoppage. Sadly the Arreola fight was the worst fight of the night, even the unknown guys put on a better show. I believe it was bad matchmaking because Friday did nothing but try to slip punches and survive. The Ramos KO was devistating in person. I really thought he was losing the fight and almost running scared for the first 6 rounds, and then landed one of the most beautiful hooks I have ever seen. Never seen a place go as nuts as it did when that punch landed. On to the main event now. I am very openly a Paul Williams fan, he is the reason I made the trip from North Carolina, but I realized about a minute into the fight he was in trouble. I'm not sure if Lara missed a single one of those straight lefts. The only positive I can say about what Williams showed is that his chin is still good and he's still willing to take shots and not stop throwing, but Lara skill wise is in a whole other league and it showed. The only rounds I can say that I for sure thought Williams won were 4 and 5 when he just uglied them up and bullied Lara. As much as I wanted Williams to win I was sickened by the decision. I like Lara as a fighter and he deserved to get that victory and it would have been a huge boost for his career. I hope HBO gives him another really good fight because everyone knows he really won the fight. I truly think after watching him in person he might be the best 154 fighter in the world. The display of speed, boxing skill, and ring generalship he put on was just a thing of beauty. As for PW, he has obviously lost a lot, but I still think there are plenty of guys he can beat. The one guy he should never fight though is Martinez. Any talk of the trilogy needs to go away. He has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he can't be successful against any quality southpaw, and they can all land straight lefts at will. If he is going to continue to fight he needs to stick exclusively to right handers who come straight forward. The highlight of the night for me was after the fight going down ringside and chatting a little bit with the HBO crew. Ledderer was by far my favorite and was very funny and seemed appreciative that my friends and I even knew who he was. He joked with us about the fight and took pictures with us. Kellerman was cool and so was Papa. Only one who wasn't was Roy who kinda big timed everyone around. All told it was a fun time and I really hope I can make it to another fight in AC again in the not too distant future.
Great post. Glad you enjoyed yourself.
I’m a big Williams fan too and couldn’t agree more.
14y ago
My way late in person PW-Lara fight night recap | BoxingScene Community