Pros and Cons of the Williams-Martinez fight

[Fox McCloud]

Pros
- Martinez is a really good fighter who has shown that he has world class skills, even though his resume isn't all that good.
- Martinez is much better than almost any other short notice opponent in recent memory.
- Williams keeps his December 5 date to avoid being inactive for a long period of time, and gets to actually have a fight, rather than a showcase, which really doesn't keep a fighter busy.
- Martinez's style is a lot like Quintana, who really tested Williams in their first fight. He moves around a lot, and throws counters.
- Martinez showed that he can deal with size when he fought a giant named Russell Jordan (even though he is not even close to the level of Paul Williams).
- Martinez seems to have a solid chin, so if he fights like Quintana and looks to have the style that can trouble Williams, we don't have to worry about the Quintana rematch making a comeback.

Cons
- Martinez hasn't really been training rigorously for another fight like Dzinziruk and Clottey had been (the other two main options I've heard about for Williams's replacement opponent).
- Martinez has a pretty weak resume... with a loss to Margarito (the best fighter on there), a draw against Cintron (even though it should have been a win X2), and really, his best win is against Alex Bunema... the resume is really lacking, and his reputation is built on skills alone.
- Martinez is not a middleweight. I looked him up on boxrec to see if he had ever had any middleweight fights. The answer is yes, he did. He's had one middleweight fight against a guy with a losing record.

[Doctor_Tenma]

I saw that as an excuse to not risk his Jr MW title. Paul doesn't seem to care but he should, Jr MW is either Paul's or Martinez's for the taking (Atleast IMO), I wasn't too happy about 160 man.

[Bhopreign]

His biggest pro is that he gets a payday and can lose and still keep his belt. I think people are quick to rate Martinez too highly although I like him myself. The fights Ive seen he hardly ever throws any hooks, all straight punches. I really want to see what he brings to the table for this fight.

[Fox McCloud]

I saw that as an excuse to not risk his Jr MW title. Paul doesn't seem to care but he should, Jr MW is either Paul's or Martinez's for the taking (Atleast IMO), I wasn't too happy about 160 man.

Me neither... when Pavlik pulled out, my dream fight was Williams vs. Dzinziruk at 154, followed closely by Williams vs. Martinez at 154.

I just don't think either of those two have proven themselves to be a viable middleweight at all.

If Paul wanted a middleweight fight, the only two people he could have possible fought and gotten credit for were the two champions who don't have hand cancer: Felix Sturm and Sebastian Sylvester.

[MANGLER]

Only con to me is it ain't at JMW for Martinez' belt. Other than that, it's gravy. I been wantin this fight for a longass time. It'll be good ****.

[Fox McCloud]

His biggest pro is that he gets a payday and can lose and still keep his belt. I think people are quick to rate Martinez too highly although I like him myself. The fights Ive seen he hardly ever throws any hooks, all straight punches. I really want to see what he brings to the table for this fight.

Oops... I totally forgot to put in the pros that he has a style a lot like Quintana... where he moves around and uses his speed to beat size.

His fight against Russell Jordan, who is a giant (albeit a bad giant at boxing), showed that his quickness and timing can more than make up for a size disadvantage... that may be true with Williams, we'll see.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Me neither... when Pavlik pulled out, my dream fight was Williams vs. Dzinziruk at 154, followed closely by Williams vs. Martinez at 154.

I just don't think either of those two have proven themselves to be a viable middleweight at all.

If Paul wanted a middleweight fight, the only two people he could have possible fought and gotten credit for were the two champions who don't have hand cancer: Felix Sturm and Sebastian Sylvester.

I haven't seen much of Strum lately. I saw Lorenzo vs. Sylvester and Sylvester doesn't throw enough, stylistically...Paul is a nightmare for Sylvester. On the real, I've wanted to see Sergio Martinez vs. Paul more then Paul vs. Pavlik, I view Paul vs. Martinez as the more competitive match up but it has lost some appeal due to it taking place at 160, I'm still down though.

[Bhopreign]

Oops... I totally forgot to put in the pros that he has a style a lot like Quintana... where he moves around and uses his speed to beat size.

His fight against Russell Jordan, who is a giant (albeit a bad giant at boxing), showed that his quickness and timing can more than make up for a size disadvantage... that may be true with Williams, we'll see.

Where did you see that fight? Is it in the trading forum?

[Fox McCloud]

I haven't seen much of Strum lately. I saw Lorenzo vs. Sylvester and Sylvester doesn't throw enough, stylistically...Paul is a nightmare for Sylvester. On the real, I've wanted to see Sergio Martinez vs. Paul more then Paul vs. Pavlik, I view Paul vs. Martinez as the more competitive match up but it has lost some appeal due to it taking place at 160, I'm still down though.

Williams would destroy both Sturm and Sylvester, no question. I'm just saying, those guys have won titles at 160... they are proven. Outside of Pavlik (injured) and Abraham (can't make the weight), there is no one else who has proven themselves to be anything at the weight. Maybe Khoren Gevor? I don't know... I just think he should have traded dates with Mosley or something and gotten down to 154 for this fight.

Where did you see that fight? Is it in the trading forum?

I saw it when it was on TV... it was on Versus. I know WBVA has it.

[cyutetrick]

IMO paul is probably best at 154 but im cool with 160 considering that i dont think there is really any advantage for either foe at that weight(just what i think i could be wrong) but i dont really like martinez defense, he seems to let his hands down to often and depend too much on moving his head which pwill is gonna land repetively because of his work rate. Either way its a good fight for HBO glad Pwill and martinez are fighting i like both fighters but im going with pwill