Paul Williams Opponents Narrowing Down for July 9 HBO Return
by Scott Christ on May 3, 2011 7:29 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
Email
Print
BoxingScene.com's Ryan Burton reports that Paul Williams is focusing right now on two possible opponents for a return to the HBO boxing airwaves on July 9. Nobuhiro Ishida and Deandre Latimore are the names being given strong consideration.
Williams (39-2, 27 KO) will be moving back down to the junior middleweight division for the fight, his first since a brutal second round knockout at the hands of Sergio Martinez last November. Overall Williams fought under six full rounds in 2010, as his fight last May with Kermit Cintron was cut short in the fourth round following a bizarre situation that involved Cintron tumbling out of the ring to the floor and then being taken out on a stretcher.
Ishida (23-6-2, 8 KO) suddenly finds himself in demand thanks to the notoriety he gained by flooring James Kirkland three times in the opening round on April 9, stopping the feared Texas slugger in just one minute, 52 seconds. There have been some discussions about Ishida facing Kirkland in a rematch, but the Williams date is probably worth a little more money, and he'd be in an HBO main event.
As for Latimore (22-3, 17 KO), he has already said he's ready for the fight:
"I will knock out Paul Williams," Latimore stated. "I take nothing away from him. He's still one of the best fighters in the world but I'm near my prime and still getting better every day. It's time for me to break through and beating Williams on HBO is the way to do that.
"I think me and Williams makes for a great TV fight, one that fans want to see, and it should be easy to make, too. I'm looking for a big opportunity on one of the major networks to showcase the new, complete Deadre Latimore. Williams says he is the most avoided fighter in boxing. Well, I'm not avoiding him, and he needs to put up or shut up. Let's do it!"
Which fight would you prefer between the two?
16 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think as an opponent, I’d lean towards Latimore, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Ishida be able to get back on TV either (and Williams-Ishida at 154 is much more palatable than Martinez-Ishida at 160).. Rafael said that HBO was trying to match him up with Bundrage or Dzinziruk, two fights that I’d like a lot more, but Williams’ team wasn’t particularly interested.
Out of the two, I’d also go w/ Latimore…………would rather see Ishida v Kirkland II. HBO can put it on the undercard.
Well if they wind up doing Kirkland-Ishida 2 in July, it will almost surely be on the 7/30 PPV.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
Berto-Williams at 150?
That fight would be all kinds of awesome!
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
After that take on Ortiz. Those would be some good fights. Lots of action and exciting fighters.
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
by Waldo Rastel on May 3, 2011 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Ortiz Williams would be a blast.
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
doesnt matter to me
i just wanna see paul back in the ring doing well
one of my fav fighters.. hope he comes back well from that punch
"After this, I'm gonna kick Bob Arum's ass."
-George Lopez
by Eddie Gonzalez on May 3, 2011 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Im a bit worried to be frank
"Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer"
---- Muhammed Ali
i am too
thats one of those shots that cracks the chin forever…
devastating ko
"After this, I'm gonna kick Bob Arum's ass."
-George Lopez
by Eddie Gonzalez on May 4, 2011 3:21 AM EDT up reply actions
These aren't bad opponents for a come-back fight after that sort of KO
But, they aren’t HBO-level opponents either. He should be back on ESPN working his way up at least for one or two fights. If he was fighting Dzinziruk or Bundrage that would be one thing.
I agree — really good FNF fights, but of course that $50K budget isn’t paying Tall Paul and an opponent. I’m hoping it will wind up being a good BAD triple-header or something.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 4, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bad Left Hook
Related FanShots on Bad Left Hook
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
