HBO wants Martinez vs Williams III

BoxingScene.com has been advised by numerous sources that HBO is interested in setting up a trilogy fight between Sergio Martinez (47-2, 26KOs) and Paul Williams (39-2, 27KOs). Williams won a close twelve round split decision over Martinez in December of 2009, but Martinez got his revenge with a two round brutal knockout in November of 2010. Williams (15-0-1, 10KOs) returns to action on July 9 against unbeaten junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara.

"It has come to our attention that Paul Williams and his braintrust decided to face a southpaw in his first fight back on HBO for the sole purpose of setting up a rubbermatch with middleweight champion Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez," said Lara's adviser, Greg Leon.

"In my opinion nobody wants to see a third fight between Martinez and Williams, but HBO has forgotten more about boxing than I will ever know. Team Lara is grateful to HBO for allowing us the opportunity to showcase his talents against one of the best fighters in the world."

Lara's manager, Luis DeCubas Jr., wants his boxer to secure the same post-fight opportunity as Williams. If Lara defeats Williams, DeCubas wants an immediate fight with Martinez, who does have an date of October 1 reserved with HBO.

"When Erislandy takes care of business on July 9, he wants the same opportunity that appears to be virtually etched in stone for Mr. Williams, a shot at the great middleweight champion Sergio Martinez," said DeCubas Jr. "Some might not agree with my victorious expectations on July 9, but I believe you'd be hard pressed to find somebody who thinks Lara is capable of doing worse against Martinez than Williams did on November 20, 2010."

BoxingScene spoke with Martinez's promoter, Lou DiBella, who does appear receptive to a fight with Lara - if he beats Williams in July - but DiBella doesn't expect that outcome.

"HBO does have some interest in a third fight between Martinez and Williams, and if Lara beats Paul Williams in July, then he's certainly earned the right to fight Martinez, but I don't expect that to happen [Lara beating Williams]," DiBella said.

Ali wrote:I don't see the point, Martinez won the first fight by two rounds on my card and finished the rematch with an exclamation mark.

dbudge wrote:i think it is all going to be downhill for Williams now anyway. Williams is a vloume puncher with little defence. can he change that this late in his career??? leopards don't change their spots and tigers don't change their stripes. i don't think it will be much longer into Williams career before somebody cracks that chin again. i also am interested to see how tentatively he fights his next fight, i wonder if he tries to become a boxer because that devestating loss is going to be with him in his head in every fight he goes into from now on. i can just see Williams' career ending in a quite similar fashion as Jermain Taylor's did.

hardcorebee24 wrote:I want the fight, I think Martinez is better than he was the night he made Williams famous. Let it go so we can see Williams' career end.

hardcorebee24 wrote:
With an eight of the legacy. That's pathetic considering Jermain Taylor's legacy.

hardcorebee24 wrote:

dbudge wrote:i think it is all going to be downhill for Williams now anyway. Williams is a vloume puncher with little defence. can he change that this late in his career??? leopards don't change their spots and tigers don't change their stripes. i don't think it will be much longer into Williams career before somebody cracks that chin again. i also am interested to see how tentatively he fights his next fight, i wonder if he tries to become a boxer because that devestating loss is going to be with him in his head in every fight he goes into from now on. i can just see Williams' career ending in a quite similar fashion as Jermain Taylor's did.

With an eight of the legacy. That's pathetic considering Jermain Taylor's legacy.

Ali wrote:

hardcorebee24 wrote:

dbudge wrote:i think it is all going to be downhill for Williams now anyway. Williams is a vloume puncher with little defence. can he change that this late in his career??? leopards don't change their spots and tigers don't change their stripes. i don't think it will be much longer into Williams career before somebody cracks that chin again. i also am interested to see how tentatively he fights his next fight, i wonder if he tries to become a boxer because that devestating loss is going to be with him in his head in every fight he goes into from now on. i can just see Williams' career ending in a quite similar fashion as Jermain Taylor's did.

With an eight of the legacy. That's pathetic considering Jermain Taylor's legacy.

Nothing pathetic about JT's legacy, he's held a crown which once belonged to Robinson, Monzon, Halger and Hopkins.

dbudge wrote:williams fought everybody who would fight him at welterweight. he ducked nobody and seeked out everybody in that division to prove himself so for his lack of legacy their i don't see as being his fault. it's a shame he became such a diva after his gift against Sergio first time out though. Jermain Taylor was a decent fighter, his health is what let him down. i just think Williams' handlers, trainer etc are who have let his career down the most. he could have started his rebuilding mission long ago after Martinez raped him in the rematch, instead they all held out for a massive HBO payday. not the mark of a true champion. i think Williams should get a little less hate than he gets though. he was a welterweight with little boxing skill but a ton of heart and a huge size advantage. he always sought out to fight the best when he was there and he deserves credit for that IMO

flapanther2001 wrote:So, if Quintana asks for a trilogy with PW, he should get one?

flapanther2001 wrote:So, if Quintana asks for a trilogy with PW, he should get one?

dbudge wrote:when everybody was claiming Pavlik was ducking Williams it did make me wonder, i always thought that Pavlik would have stopped Williams. Williams had to go north to get fights, nobody wanted a part of a 6'3 welterweight with an 81" reach and he avenged his loss to Quintana emphatically. i think he gets too much hate for what has been primarily his handlers fault. Williams was always an exciting guy to watch in action packed fights and he always fought to win, that should at least be recognised. however, i'm talking like this because i seriously think that Sergio's KO win over him will have ended his campaign to the ring as a perceived elite level fighter

hardcorebee24 wrote:

dbudge wrote:when everybody was claiming Pavlik was ducking Williams it did make me wonder, i always thought that Pavlik would have stopped Williams. Williams had to go north to get fights, nobody wanted a part of a 6'3 welterweight with an 81" reach and he avenged his loss to Quintana emphatically. i think he gets too much hate for what has been primarily his handlers fault. Williams was always an exciting guy to watch in action packed fights and he always fought to win, that should at least be recognised. however, i'm talking like this because i seriously think that Sergio's KO win over him will have ended his campaign to the ring as a perceived elite level fighter

Is it uncomfortable to type with Paul Williams balls in your mouth?

dbudge wrote:

hardcorebee24 wrote:

dbudge wrote:when everybody was claiming Pavlik was ducking Williams it did make me wonder, i always thought that Pavlik would have stopped Williams. Williams had to go north to get fights, nobody wanted a part of a 6'3 welterweight with an 81" reach and he avenged his loss to Quintana emphatically. i think he gets too much hate for what has been primarily his handlers fault. Williams was always an exciting guy to watch in action packed fights and he always fought to win, that should at least be recognised. however, i'm talking like this because i seriously think that Sergio's KO win over him will have ended his campaign to the ring as a perceived elite level fighter

Is it uncomfortable to type with Paul Williams balls in your mouth?

i can touch type so it's not really an issue. i like their saltiness

Ali wrote:You two make Rachael sound like a choir girl.