HBO Finally Gives Sergio Martinez A Date; Williams Doubleheader?

[Heru]

• Promoter Lou DiBella, whose frustration with HBO boiled over last week because middleweight champ Sergio Martinez hadn't been assured of a fall date, said the network has come around. DiBella said HBO's "clear preference" is for a rematch between Martinez and Paul Williams, who edged him in December, one fight before Martinez beat Kelly Pavlik for the middleweight title. However, DiBella said if it can't be made (Williams' side says he's going down to welterweight) it's possible the fighters will appear together on a doubleheader. DiBella has given HBO a lengthy list of fighters Martinez is willing to face, including Williams. "HBO is trying to create economic incentives to make the rematch, but they're not leaving Sergio with nothing if it can't be made," DiBella said. "I had conversations with [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenburg and [HBO Sports senior vice president] Kery [Davis] and they indicated their preference for Williams, but they also indicated that if the fight wasn't happening they would entertain a doubleheader with Sergio against a reasonable opponent. They absolutely stepped up for Sergio and said he'd either be fighting Williams or an opponent we can agree on. Sergio is very happy to continue his career on HBO and appreciates everything they've done for him." http://espn.go.com/sports/boxing/not...ng-allan-green

[Heru]

Bradley (5 foot 5) stated he wanted to fight Williams, other than that, top fighters don't really want to see him.

I'd like to see a Williams-Berto or Williams-Mosley fight though. Don't know if they are willing to get in the ring with him at this point.

Martinez against either 1 of the 9 names would be good fights.

[-GDS-]

Williams needs to stop b#ll****ting. No welter is going to fight him. One of the two needs to fight Sergiy.

[SkillspayBills]

The only way Williams fights a good Welter is if he is a mandatory. Other than that it isn't happening.

[Iceta Lives]

If Bradley really is serious about fighting Paul Williams, then I've got to give him props for that even though I still think he's ducking Devon Alexander. But the thing I don't understand is I think Williams has even less fans than Alexander and he's bigger and brings no title to the table now.

[ИATAS]

The only way Williams fights a good Welter is if he is a mandatory. Other than that it isn't happening.

for the most part that's true. Williams is going to have to work his way back up to the top of 147. That's the problem with weight classing hopping - you can lose your relevance in one.

Now imagine if Williams never left 147. He would have owned a belt or two and forced his way to fight guys like berto, mosley and very possibly even floyd or pacquiao.

[-GDS-]

If Bradley really is serious about fighting Paul Williams, then I've got to give him props for that even though I still think he's ducking Devon Alexander. But the thing I don't understand is I think Williams has even less fans than Alexander and he's bigger and brings no title to the table now.

As a Bradley fan, I have to admit that Bradley vs Alexander would do about 20,000 in KC, so that would make money, even if it may not get the national coverage he's looking for. It's weird that he's delaying making that fight, though it looks like it might happen next because everyone else is afraid of each other. But what's really weird is that Williams is moving to welter, where it will be almost impossible for him to get fights, instead of staying at 154, 160, where it would be a whole lot easier for him, due to the bigger fighters being more willing to fight him.

[Iceta Lives]

As a Bradley fan, I have to admit that Bradley vs Alexander would do about 20,000 in KC, so that would make money, even if it may not get the national coverage he's looking for. It's weird that he's delaying making that fight, though it looks like it might happen next because everyone else is afraid of each other. But what's really weird is that Williams is moving to welter, where it will be almost impossible for him to get fights, instead of staying at 154, 160, where it would be a whole lot easier for him, due to the bigger fighters being more willing to fight him.

Maybe Williams really does want to fight Bradley. Berto and Paul are with Haymon and if both guys want to do it I don't see why not. But how could any fan of Williams defend that? I sure wouldn't. But Burner would.

[-GDS-]

Maybe Williams really does want to fight Bradley. Berto and Paul are with Haymon and if both guys want to do it I don't see why not. But how could any fan of Williams defend that? I sure wouldn't. But Burner would.

DeBella wouldn't put Williams and Berto in the same ring. Bradley may be more likely to fight him, but Bradley vs Williams at 147 would be some circus clown $#it. They may as well have face paint on. And if a 28 year old Williams is weight drained and losses, well I really don't know what to say.

[Devils Advocate]

for the most part that's true. Williams is going to have to work his way back up to the top of 147. That's the problem with weight classing hopping - you can lose your relevance in one.

Now imagine if Williams never left 147. He would have owned a belt or two and forced his way to fight guys like berto, mosley and very possibly even floyd or pacquiao.

yeah I've said this before, forcus on domintating one class instead of jumping around makin it harder on yourself physicially and allowing fighters in 3 weight classes the abiltiy to ignore you. Question where is this Bradley/Williams stuff coming from.