Castro’s pick for the Featured Fight of the Week
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
The Middleweight Championship of the World is on the line as Champion and Ring Magazine #6 pound for pound boxer in the World Sergio Martinez defends against Ring Magazine’s #5 ranked Pound for Pound boxer Paul Williams.
Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez Paul “The Punisher” Williams
45-2-2, 24 KO’s VS. 39-1, 27 KO’s
5’10, 157 ½ pounds, 35 yrs. old 6’1, 156 pounds, 29 yrs. old
Buenos Aires, Argentina Aiken, South Carolina
Strengths: Strengths:
Boxing Skills Height
Defense One punch power
Southpaw Style Southpaw style
Weaknesses: Weaknesses:
Takes rounds off Inactivity
Lack of one punch KO power Can be outboxed
- Martinez is coming off a 12 round unanimous decision over Kelly Pavlik in April in which he won the Middleweight Championship of the World. That was his only fight since his loss to Williams last December.
- Williams is coming off a four round technical decision over Kermit Cintron in May. He’s won six straight and avenged his only loss, therefore beaten every man he’s been in the ring with.
This is a rematch from last December in which Paul Williams was awarded with a majority decision after twelve rounds. It was a close fight, one that could have gone either way, and a rematch is well justified. Both fighters came off the canvas in that fight.
These two are about as evenly matched as you will find in the sport. Each has a style that gives opposing fighters fits, and is why it is hard to find opponents at the top level to go up against. Both fight from the southpaw stance as well, although Martinez is right handed.
There have been reports that Martinez had to drop a lot of weight in a short amount of time in order to make the catch weight limit of 158 pounds. That will benefit Williams, if indeed, that is true.
I see this fight going much like the first, tactical, but still exciting. This is a fight that hardcore fans have wanted to see since they fought each other last December. I see this fight going the distance. No way do I see either guy getting stopped early. Martinez is too tough, and Williams can withstand anything that Martinez has for him. This fight will go back and forth, with many close rounds, but I think Williams is the hungrier and more determined fighter at this point and I see Williams winning by close, but clear unanimous decision.
