Paul Williams vs Sergio Martinez II
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PROPS to HBO for pushing this fight so hard it looked like Paul Williams was going to back out for a while but the deal got done. Can't wait!
Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams Deal Reached, Presser Set
By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was advised that a deal has been reached for Sergio Martinez (45-2, 24KOs) to defend his WBC middleweight title against Paul Williams (39-1, 27KOs) on November 20 in Atlantic City. Last December they exchanged first round knockdowns in a twelve round "fight of the year" thriller. Williams got the win by way of majority decision. HBO will televise the rematch.
I've been told the two sides have a deal in principle. The contracts have yet to be signed, but there are no outstanding issues and practically everything has been agreed upon. The two sides have agreed to schedule a New York City press conference on September 23 to officially announce the rematch.
Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams Deal Reached, Presser Set
By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was advised that a deal has been reached for Sergio Martinez (45-2, 24KOs) to defend his WBC middleweight title against Paul Williams (39-1, 27KOs) on November 20 in Atlantic City. Last December they exchanged first round knockdowns in a twelve round "fight of the year" thriller. Williams got the win by way of majority decision. HBO will televise the rematch.
I've been told the two sides have a deal in principle. The contracts have yet to be signed, but there are no outstanding issues and practically everything has been agreed upon. The two sides have agreed to schedule a New York City press conference on September 23 to officially announce the rematch.
NY Presser
Below are quotes from the two combatants as they spoke before the assembled media.
WBC Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez:
“One more time there will be two great professionals fighting each other.”
“No one wants to fight Paul Williams, and no one wants to fight ‘Maravilla’ Martinez, so we will fight each other. And everyone that doesn’t want to fight us has a good reason to not want to. There is a good reason for us to fight again; it is a fight that everyone wants to see. We will try to do again what we did before. “
“I want to reflect on what is wrong in our society. Don’t forget that we have violence outside of the ring. We can never stop trying to stop the violence outside the ring. I love my mother, and I want to respect women and I want everyone to respect women. I will fight outside the ring to stop the violence against the women outside the ring. Every time I have a camera or a microphone in front of me, I will tell the people to stop the violence.”
Three Time World Champion Paul Williams:
“I know that Sergio will come to fight and not make me wait and pull out at the last minute. He is coming to fight and it’s going to be a great fight for all the fans out there.”
“He’s got something I want. He’s got those belts on the table. I want those belts on the table. It’s my job to go out there and get them. You are going to see a whole lot of explosives this time. “
I know he is going to bring it and I am going to bring it. For the whole 12-rounds, or 4, or 5 or 1, however long it goes. There is going to be a lot of action and I can’t wait to get in the ring to do it again.”
“This is the biggest fight out there except for Mayweather and Pacquiao, and they’re not fighting. So the next biggest one is me and Martinez. I am going to be in the best shape of my life like I always am, and I am going to win. I know there is a lot of stuff out there that he may have won [their first fight in December ‘09], and it was a close fight. I know it’s my job to make sure everything is all right.”
“Come November 20 I know he is definitely going to be ready, so let’s get it on.”
“You are going to get your money’s worth…you can take that to the bank…and it won’t bounce.”
[On the upcoming Pacquiao-Margarito clash] “I have to go with Pacquiao. Margarito is not the same guy that I fought in ’07. He’s been taking some beatings and he starts late, and against Mosley he never had a chance to start late.”
“This time I have better time to prepare myself. Now I will be in the ring with guys that are left-handed and slick so I can focus on what I need to focus on. Last time I only had three weeks to prepare for him after Pavlik pulled out.”
“I never go in with a lack of respect for any guy. I am always thinking they are the top guy and they are coming to get me. The only thing I knew about Martinez was that he had 49 fights and only lost once to Margarito. My plan was to keep pressing the gas and keep throwing. I will keep going to the end, bleeding and all.”
“Banging with him will be bad for me, but it will be good for the fans.”
Below are quotes from the two combatants as they spoke before the assembled media.
WBC Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez:
“One more time there will be two great professionals fighting each other.”
“No one wants to fight Paul Williams, and no one wants to fight ‘Maravilla’ Martinez, so we will fight each other. And everyone that doesn’t want to fight us has a good reason to not want to. There is a good reason for us to fight again; it is a fight that everyone wants to see. We will try to do again what we did before. “
“I want to reflect on what is wrong in our society. Don’t forget that we have violence outside of the ring. We can never stop trying to stop the violence outside the ring. I love my mother, and I want to respect women and I want everyone to respect women. I will fight outside the ring to stop the violence against the women outside the ring. Every time I have a camera or a microphone in front of me, I will tell the people to stop the violence.”
Three Time World Champion Paul Williams:
“I know that Sergio will come to fight and not make me wait and pull out at the last minute. He is coming to fight and it’s going to be a great fight for all the fans out there.”
“He’s got something I want. He’s got those belts on the table. I want those belts on the table. It’s my job to go out there and get them. You are going to see a whole lot of explosives this time. “
I know he is going to bring it and I am going to bring it. For the whole 12-rounds, or 4, or 5 or 1, however long it goes. There is going to be a lot of action and I can’t wait to get in the ring to do it again.”
“This is the biggest fight out there except for Mayweather and Pacquiao, and they’re not fighting. So the next biggest one is me and Martinez. I am going to be in the best shape of my life like I always am, and I am going to win. I know there is a lot of stuff out there that he may have won [their first fight in December ‘09], and it was a close fight. I know it’s my job to make sure everything is all right.”
“Come November 20 I know he is definitely going to be ready, so let’s get it on.”
“You are going to get your money’s worth…you can take that to the bank…and it won’t bounce.”
[On the upcoming Pacquiao-Margarito clash] “I have to go with Pacquiao. Margarito is not the same guy that I fought in ’07. He’s been taking some beatings and he starts late, and against Mosley he never had a chance to start late.”
“This time I have better time to prepare myself. Now I will be in the ring with guys that are left-handed and slick so I can focus on what I need to focus on. Last time I only had three weeks to prepare for him after Pavlik pulled out.”
“I never go in with a lack of respect for any guy. I am always thinking they are the top guy and they are coming to get me. The only thing I knew about Martinez was that he had 49 fights and only lost once to Margarito. My plan was to keep pressing the gas and keep throwing. I will keep going to the end, bleeding and all.”
“Banging with him will be bad for me, but it will be good for the fans.”
Fight of the year is happening Saturday and everyones talking bout Manny/Mayweather bs instead. Nice Sergio Martinez interview today
Q&A: Sergio Martinez
"I know I will knock him out!"
Story and photos by Ricardo Conde
With only a few days until the highly anticipated rematch, WBC middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KOs) of Argentina, now residing in Oxnard, CA finished his preparations at the World Crown Sports Training Center in Oxnard, CA last week. Martinez faces former two-time welterweight champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams (39-1, 27 KOs) this Saturday November 20th at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ which will be show live on HBO’s ‘World Championship Boxing’. These two fighters first met in December of last year, in a “Fight of the Year” candidate, in which Williams won via majority decision after twelve exciting back-and-forth rounds.
We caught up Sergio Martinez and had a moment to sit down and talk to him as he finished preparations for his upcoming bout, here’s what he had to say:
What was your initial reaction when you first heard that the rematch with Paul Williams was finally made?
Well, I was very happy because it’s the fight that everyone’s been waiting for and to tell you the truth it gave me a lot of motivation because its not only a fight that I’ve been waiting for but I know many people have also been waiting for this fight.
We’re here in Oxnard, CA at the World Crown Sports Training Center where you have just finished preparations for your fight against Paul Williams, can you tell us how was training camp?
This training camp has been the best training camp I’ve had throughout my entire career. The results that I have physically from this training camp have been the best.
With less than a week until what is considered widely by many to be the most anticipated rematch this year, how do you feel at this point?
It sounds funny to say this, that before every fight I feel better than ever but it’s the truth. I feel my body has been getting stronger and I feel myself getting better each day as we get closer to the fight. Physically and mentally I feel I’m at the highest level I can possibly be and have been of my entire career.
How much different was this training camp than any of your previous camps and how would you rate this training camp?
I wouldn’t say it was different than any of my other training camps. The only thing we did was make some minor changes and work on a few details but that was about it. It’ll show the day of the fight how much I’ve improved physically and technically as a fighter. Overall I would say this I’m in the best shape of my career.
Paul Williams has fought some of the best fighters in the world, like Antonio Margarito, Winky Wright, including yourself, what’s your opinion of Paul Williams as a fighter?
I think he’s a great fighter and a great champion but his days are over and I’ll show everyone on November 20th.
Your first fight with Paul Williams was considered by many to be “Fight of the Year”, how do you see the second fight going and what do you think the outcome will be?
I feel that it’s going to be very difficult for him to withstand the amount of punches. I know I’ll be able to knock him out this time. I trained very hard and I’m prepared to knock him out. With the preparation I’ve had and the way I see the fight going I know I will knock him out.
What kind of statement are you looking to make in your second fight with Paul Williams?
I’m going in there to show the world that I’m the better fighter, with all the excuses he made in not wanting to make the fight happen and one of them being that the fight had to happen at 158 pounds or the fight won’t happen at all and things like that. The rules and the weight classes are in place for a reason and for him to want to fight outside of those rules just doesn’t make sense to me. That really surprised me about him, I thought that he was the type of fighter that would fight no matter what but that’s not the case, but it is what it is.
Should you win this fight with Paul Williams, will you still continue to fight or will you consider retiring, and if you continue to fight, is there anyone out there that you would like to fight before you retire?
After the fight with Paul Williams I have already decided to fight at least 2 more times, but I haven’t thought about who I would like to fight. My intentions are to be the best pound for pound fighter in the world and to become that I would need to fight either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.
Reportedly, Floyd Mayweather has said that he would like to fight the winner of this fight, between you and Paul Williams, do think that fight can be made?
I hope it can be made and that there aren’t as many excuses as Paul Williams did. I would love to fight Floyd Mayweather but right now the only one I have on my mind is Paul Williams and no one else.
In closing, is there anything you would like to tell the fans?
Yes, to all the fans, I would love to thank everyone for all the support and this Saturday November 20th I’m going to give it my all for them and give them another great fight like always.
* * *
Also in action that night will be two-division world champion Zsolt Erdei (31-0, 17KOs), former title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (34-2, 22KOs) and undefeated middleweight contender Fernando Guerrero (19-0, 15KOs), in separate bouts.
Contact the author
November 16th, 2010
Q&A: Sergio Martinez
"I know I will knock him out!"
Story and photos by Ricardo Conde
With only a few days until the highly anticipated rematch, WBC middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KOs) of Argentina, now residing in Oxnard, CA finished his preparations at the World Crown Sports Training Center in Oxnard, CA last week. Martinez faces former two-time welterweight champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams (39-1, 27 KOs) this Saturday November 20th at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ which will be show live on HBO’s ‘World Championship Boxing’. These two fighters first met in December of last year, in a “Fight of the Year” candidate, in which Williams won via majority decision after twelve exciting back-and-forth rounds.
We caught up Sergio Martinez and had a moment to sit down and talk to him as he finished preparations for his upcoming bout, here’s what he had to say:
What was your initial reaction when you first heard that the rematch with Paul Williams was finally made?
Well, I was very happy because it’s the fight that everyone’s been waiting for and to tell you the truth it gave me a lot of motivation because its not only a fight that I’ve been waiting for but I know many people have also been waiting for this fight.
We’re here in Oxnard, CA at the World Crown Sports Training Center where you have just finished preparations for your fight against Paul Williams, can you tell us how was training camp?
This training camp has been the best training camp I’ve had throughout my entire career. The results that I have physically from this training camp have been the best.
With less than a week until what is considered widely by many to be the most anticipated rematch this year, how do you feel at this point?
It sounds funny to say this, that before every fight I feel better than ever but it’s the truth. I feel my body has been getting stronger and I feel myself getting better each day as we get closer to the fight. Physically and mentally I feel I’m at the highest level I can possibly be and have been of my entire career.
How much different was this training camp than any of your previous camps and how would you rate this training camp?
I wouldn’t say it was different than any of my other training camps. The only thing we did was make some minor changes and work on a few details but that was about it. It’ll show the day of the fight how much I’ve improved physically and technically as a fighter. Overall I would say this I’m in the best shape of my career.
Paul Williams has fought some of the best fighters in the world, like Antonio Margarito, Winky Wright, including yourself, what’s your opinion of Paul Williams as a fighter?
I think he’s a great fighter and a great champion but his days are over and I’ll show everyone on November 20th.
Your first fight with Paul Williams was considered by many to be “Fight of the Year”, how do you see the second fight going and what do you think the outcome will be?
I feel that it’s going to be very difficult for him to withstand the amount of punches. I know I’ll be able to knock him out this time. I trained very hard and I’m prepared to knock him out. With the preparation I’ve had and the way I see the fight going I know I will knock him out.
What kind of statement are you looking to make in your second fight with Paul Williams?
I’m going in there to show the world that I’m the better fighter, with all the excuses he made in not wanting to make the fight happen and one of them being that the fight had to happen at 158 pounds or the fight won’t happen at all and things like that. The rules and the weight classes are in place for a reason and for him to want to fight outside of those rules just doesn’t make sense to me. That really surprised me about him, I thought that he was the type of fighter that would fight no matter what but that’s not the case, but it is what it is.
Should you win this fight with Paul Williams, will you still continue to fight or will you consider retiring, and if you continue to fight, is there anyone out there that you would like to fight before you retire?
After the fight with Paul Williams I have already decided to fight at least 2 more times, but I haven’t thought about who I would like to fight. My intentions are to be the best pound for pound fighter in the world and to become that I would need to fight either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.
Reportedly, Floyd Mayweather has said that he would like to fight the winner of this fight, between you and Paul Williams, do think that fight can be made?
I hope it can be made and that there aren’t as many excuses as Paul Williams did. I would love to fight Floyd Mayweather but right now the only one I have on my mind is Paul Williams and no one else.
In closing, is there anything you would like to tell the fans?
Yes, to all the fans, I would love to thank everyone for all the support and this Saturday November 20th I’m going to give it my all for them and give them another great fight like always.
* * *
Also in action that night will be two-division world champion Zsolt Erdei (31-0, 17KOs), former title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (34-2, 22KOs) and undefeated middleweight contender Fernando Guerrero (19-0, 15KOs), in separate bouts.
Contact the author
November 16th, 2010
Yes, finally a even fight with two fighters that are still in their primes. I have P-Williams winning a UD, by using his reach and work-rate. I say his reach because Martinez fights with his hands downs at his waist a lot, and I see Paul making him pay for doing that with his long arms like he did last fight.
tough decision to me, I'm really not sure who I pick yet. I'm curious to see how they weigh in first. I think Martinez will make weight but he was rather heavy coming into his camp. Cintron is a very hard puncher so it's not a big deal to me that he was rocked by him, it's not like he got knocked down.
I think Williams learned a lot in the first fight and he can't fight from a distance unless he feints first. He has to confuse Martinez's rhythm to win.
Should be another good one though. I think there's a good chance that it ends by ko
I think Williams learned a lot in the first fight and he can't fight from a distance unless he feints first. He has to confuse Martinez's rhythm to win.
Should be another good one though. I think there's a good chance that it ends by ko
this is a true pick 'em fight. I could see this fight going any which way and wouldn't be suprised. Williams by KO round 2. Martinez by decision. Martinez by late TKO. Williams by late TKO. Williams by decision. Fight stopped due to cuts. Draw. Split decision. Only thing that would shock me is martinez by early stoppage. Other than that, any possibly outcome seems likely.