Former two-time WBO welterweight titlist Paul “The Punisher” Williams earned a majority decision victory over WBC Super Welterweight champion Sergio Martinez in a nontitle middleweight bout at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Saturday night.
Williams (38-1, 27 KOs), considered by many analysts to be the most “avoided fighter in the world,” initially brawled with Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs) and both southpaws surprisingly experienced knockdowns before the opening round concluded.
As the contest progressed, Williams, 28, suffered a cut over his left eye during the fourth round as the result of an unintentional head butt from Martinez, 34.
Despite the wound, Williams was ultimately credited with throwing a staggering 631 power punches and he was declared the winner on two of the three judge’s scorecards.
Williams, a very tall and lanky welterweight, was initially scheduled to face WBC, WBO and The Ring middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) on December 5.
However, a stubborn staph infection forced Pavlik, 27, to indefinitely postpone his matchup with Williams only six weeks before they were slated to box.
Williams’ promoter, Dan Goosen, and manager, Al Haymon, hurriedly searched for a replacement fighter and they settled on the established Martinez.
Martinez is a very muscular specimen and his vast quickness is often difficult for his opponents to combat.
If Martinez had fought virtually any other welterweight pugilist this past weekend, he likely would have emerged victorious.
Unfortunately for Martinez, Williams is not simply any ordinary fighter.
Williams is an extremely active boxer and his unique frame has proved troublesome for every pugilist that he’s ever encountered in the ring.
It no longer seems quite so coincidental that Pavlik canceled two arranged matchups with Williams.
Pavlik’s hesitations to scrap Williams look even more curious when one considers that “The Ghost” recently agreed to meet Miguel Espino (16-2-1, 8 KOs) on December 19 in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.
Pavlik is a stronger overall boxer than Williams is and he will defeat the native of Aiken, South Carolina if they ever finally collide in a prizefight.
However, it is distinctly possible that Pavlik is attempting to sidestep Williams because, after all, he is referred to as the most “avoided fighter in the world.”
Sadly for boxing fans, Pavlik may have conveniently morphed into a “Ghost” to bypass being punished by Williams.
Paul 'The Punisher' Williams & Chris 'Nightmare' Arreola will both win this weekend
Roy Jones, Jr. gets 'killed' in Australia
Attention Mayweathers: Manny Pacquiao has tested negative for steroids ten times
Keywords: boxing, kelly pavlik, paul williams, sergio martinez
