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Paul “The Punisher” Williams – Possible opponents
The self proclaimed most avoided man in boxing Paul Williams has a May 8th date on HBO, but no opponent has been named yet. I was looking through the possible match ups and wanted to get the opinion of the ************ readers. What makes things even more interesting is Williams has the ability to fight in several weight classes. I will throw out 4 names with a little back ground and see who the people would prefer. Keep in mind these names are only fighters who don’t have fights scheduled already.
Kermit Cintron 32-2-1 (28 KOs) Jr. Middleweight (154)
Cintron is the #3 ranked Jr. Middleweight by Ring Magazine. His only 2 defeats have come at the hands (illegally wrapped?) of Antonio Margarito at Welterweight. However that draw should have been a 3rd loss or at the very least have a huge asterisk next to it. Anyone who watched that fight seen Sergio Martinez caught him clean and Cintron didn’t answer the count. It was one of the strangest turn of events I personally every witnessed in boxing. Then Cintron came back with a big win over rising prospect Alfredo Angulo. That victory caused his stock to start rising again. With all that being said Cintron has more power than the other options and the best chance of making an action fight. If I am not mistaken Cintron is also the only boxer on this list to do business with HBO before as well. This could be a huge factor.
Felix Sturm 33-2-1 (14 KOs) Middleweight (160) WBA Champion
This is a fighter that I have little personal knowledge of honestly. He has only fought once in the United States against Oscar De La Hoya back in 2004. What makes this fight interesting to me is that Sturm carries the #1 Ring rank at Middleweight and the WBA belt. Now looking down the road this fight sets the table nicely for a Williams vs. Pavlik fight. If Williams where to defeat Sturm, which I think he would based on my limited incite of Sturm then it makes the Pavlik fight bigger. It would be a 3 belt unification match and possible middle tier pay per view at $35 if the undercard was right. So this fight is more about things to come than the actual event its self.
Vanes Martirosyan 27-0 (17 KOs) Jr. Middleweight (154)
I feel this fight is a stretch, but that speaks about the lack of options open. Martirosyan is the #9 ranked Jr. Middleweight at 23 years old. He doesn’t carry the experience to compete with Williams. In his last fight he defeated journey man Kassim Ouma by unanimous decision. Despite how the score cards read after 10 rounds it was far from easy for Vanes. It was apparent he struggled through out the fight and was dropped in round 9. If he was gassed after 10 rounds with Ouma I don’t know how he could manage to get through 12 with Williams. If Goossen and company reach out to Vanes hopefully Roach will advise his fighter to decline. Yes it would be an excellent opportunity and increased exposure, but at what cost?
Deandre Latimore 20-2 (16 KOs) Jr. Middleweight (154)
Latimore is out long shot as well because he is set to fight Sechew Powell on March 19th. Latimore has the #4 Jr. Middleweight ranking attached to his name and would be considered worthy of the chance against Williams. For any possible chance of him facing Williams he would have to dispose of Powell early and take little punishment. In their first fight Latimore claimed at 7th round TKO victory. It looks like to many things would have to fall into place perfectly in order for him to even consider Williams in May. That fight would be taking place only 7 weeks after the Powell contest. I do think that Latimore has the skills to make things interesting against Williams though. He can box and punch, so his camp could easily set up a plan A and B. I feel the date of May 8th is just too close to make this happen.
Kermit Cintron 32-2-1 (28 KOs) Jr. Middleweight (154)
Cintron is the #3 ranked Jr. Middleweight by Ring Magazine. His only 2 defeats have come at the hands (illegally wrapped?) of Antonio Margarito at Welterweight. However that draw should have been a 3rd loss or at the very least have a huge asterisk next to it. Anyone who watched that fight seen Sergio Martinez caught him clean and Cintron didn’t answer the count. It was one of the strangest turn of events I personally every witnessed in boxing. Then Cintron came back with a big win over rising prospect Alfredo Angulo. That victory caused his stock to start rising again. With all that being said Cintron has more power than the other options and the best chance of making an action fight. If I am not mistaken Cintron is also the only boxer on this list to do business with HBO before as well. This could be a huge factor.
Felix Sturm 33-2-1 (14 KOs) Middleweight (160) WBA Champion
This is a fighter that I have little personal knowledge of honestly. He has only fought once in the United States against Oscar De La Hoya back in 2004. What makes this fight interesting to me is that Sturm carries the #1 Ring rank at Middleweight and the WBA belt. Now looking down the road this fight sets the table nicely for a Williams vs. Pavlik fight. If Williams where to defeat Sturm, which I think he would based on my limited incite of Sturm then it makes the Pavlik fight bigger. It would be a 3 belt unification match and possible middle tier pay per view at $35 if the undercard was right. So this fight is more about things to come than the actual event its self.
Vanes Martirosyan 27-0 (17 KOs) Jr. Middleweight (154)
I feel this fight is a stretch, but that speaks about the lack of options open. Martirosyan is the #9 ranked Jr. Middleweight at 23 years old. He doesn’t carry the experience to compete with Williams. In his last fight he defeated journey man Kassim Ouma by unanimous decision. Despite how the score cards read after 10 rounds it was far from easy for Vanes. It was apparent he struggled through out the fight and was dropped in round 9. If he was gassed after 10 rounds with Ouma I don’t know how he could manage to get through 12 with Williams. If Goossen and company reach out to Vanes hopefully Roach will advise his fighter to decline. Yes it would be an excellent opportunity and increased exposure, but at what cost?
Deandre Latimore 20-2 (16 KOs) Jr. Middleweight (154)
Latimore is out long shot as well because he is set to fight Sechew Powell on March 19th. Latimore has the #4 Jr. Middleweight ranking attached to his name and would be considered worthy of the chance against Williams. For any possible chance of him facing Williams he would have to dispose of Powell early and take little punishment. In their first fight Latimore claimed at 7th round TKO victory. It looks like to many things would have to fall into place perfectly in order for him to even consider Williams in May. That fight would be taking place only 7 weeks after the Powell contest. I do think that Latimore has the skills to make things interesting against Williams though. He can box and punch, so his camp could easily set up a plan A and B. I feel the date of May 8th is just too close to make this happen.
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