Paul Williams Gets Nobuhiro Ishida After All: January 21 on Showtime
by Scott Christ on Dec 8, 2011 10:28 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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Dan Rafael of ESPN.com reports tonight via Twitter that Paul Williams has found his opponent for January 21, and it's the same guy he almost fought on July 9.
Nobuhiro Ishida (24-6-2, 9 KO) will be across the ring from Williams (40-2, 27 KO) that night, live on Showtime. You will probably recall that Williams vs Ishida was agreed to in May, and signed off on by HBO, before the network pulled the plug on the fight just a couple of days later.
That led to Williams facing Erislandy Lara instead, and getting largely dominated before being on the right end of a robbery in Atlantic City, a decision that ultimately led to the suspension of three ringside judges by the New Jersey commission.
Ishida, 36, is best-known (perhaps only known) for his TKO-1 upset of James Kirkland on April 9, but don't put a ton of stock into that. He's not a puncher and isn't being booked here as a threat.
Erislandy Lara is also being considered for the card, perhaps to set up a Williams vs Lara rematch down the line. Lara did an interview at BoxingScene.com, blasting everyone he could think of, complaining about not getting any fights, and then thanking his manager for being "the best in the business." That was a head-scratcher.
No venue has been announced for the January 21 card.
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Does this make it official that Al Haymon is taking much of his business to Showtime now like many have thought?
No more official than it was before. He’s got a Paul Williams fight and an Andre Berto fight, and the Berto fight also has Victor Ortiz, which may mean that Golden Boy is planning their own evil takeover of Showtime since Espinoza worked as their lawyer for a long time.
It could simply mean that Showtime snapped up a relatively inexpensive name fighter (Williams) and a really good rematch of a Fight of the Year candidate, though.
It could just be that.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Dec 8, 2011 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
I’m okay with this fight. I’m not convinced Ishida is good enough to hang with even a faded Paul Williams. But you know what? If you score a big win, you deserve another good fight. Just as we shouldn’t assume greatness, we shouldn’t assume mediocrity either. The proof, as always, should come in the ring.
I’ve seen him in other fights. He’s, like, OK.
At least this blocks Canelo vs Ishida. That’s about the best thing I have to say about it.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Dec 8, 2011 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
There was going to be some sadness and general butthurt if Ishida never got another crack at a name and so here we are and he’s getting one. And it probably works out well, because Paul Williams is a guy needing a bounce back fight that people will care about. Since its an undercard attraction and not the headline bout for an HBO that has Rock Allen fighting in a 6 round undercard attraction, I don’t think anyone is going to flip out too much.
It’s the main event.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Dec 8, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, see, I thought it was the undercard for Ortiz/Berto. Well. That sucks.
OTOH, Boxrec sez Chambers/Liakhovich for Versus debut along with Gabriel Rosado/Jesus Soto Karass. I think I know which I’ll watch live.
by VirtualBalboa on Dec 8, 2011 11:37 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I’m working on the NBC Sports thing for the FP. It’s a nice card. Sort of gives the indication that this isn’t gonna be any big deal, but those are good fights.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Dec 8, 2011 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
I’m with you. Look, heavyweight boxing sucks and we all know it and it hasn’t even been fun to watch at all for a long time. But hey – how often is Liakhovich in stinkers? Don’t mention the Briggs fight. I flew to Phoenix and was there watching. I prefer to just remember round 12 and all the people throwing chairs around me at ring side and going ham. But Chambers is never in bad fights unless he’s getting jabbed to death, and I don’t think Sergei can do that to him. So dudes will hit each other and probably for the distance. I’m cool with that.
Rosado and Soto Karass will be rock em sock em robots for 30 minutes or less and really, I’m fine with that with those guys.
by VirtualBalboa on Dec 8, 2011 11:43 PM EST up reply actions
Lyakhovich tried to make that fight decent
Stinky part was mostly Briggs’s fault. God, what a frustrating fight to watch.
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by Brickhaus on Dec 9, 2011 1:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ishida's really not bad
Chin is sketchy, but he was winning most of his fights before getting knocked out in the KO losses, and the Alvarez fight was a robbery. He’s like a 154 Campillo, but with less chin.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Dec 9, 2011 1:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Anyone else feel that Williams has been handled poorly?
They served him up against a certain bad style (quick left handed counter punchers) many times, including right after a KO loss.
A lot of things about Williams’ career have been handled badly, for years. Promotion, matchmaking, training…
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
The fact that he's getting exactly the kind of fighter that has always given him trouble
Ain’t a great sign. On the other hand, it’s a testament to the fact that he’ll fight anyone. He’s ended up facing a lot of guys that nobody else really wants to face.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I just dont care for the ‘throw him in with any dog’ strategy for Paul.
His career has spiraled down far too quickly for my taste.
He’s such a hard working kid, I would have liked to seen him managed better.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
It’s strange how we complain when fighters are too choosey with their opponents and in the same breath get upset when they fight anyone put in front of them.
I agree pakin — they should’ve put him in with straight line boxers. Pavlik would’ve been fine potentially although that may have not been their fault. I even wouldn’t mind Kirkland - basically anyone who ISN’T crafty. They act like they don’t realize he has a problem with a certain style-which is stupid.
They honestly seem to believe he has no problems at all.
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"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
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