Paul Williams is among the top ten pound-for-pound fighters in the world but comparatively little known Sergio Martinez gave the Punisher all he could handle last night in Atlantic City. In fact, were it not for one incompetent judge, Martinez could have earned a well-deserved draw.
Both fighters were knocked down in round one and that set the stage for an action-packed fight-of-the-year candidate. Williams was generally the aggressor but Martinez landed the cleaner, harder shots. Williams threw more punches but Martinez was more accurate. Both fighters demonstrated great skill and heart throughout. When the scores were totaled after 12 rounds, the decision could have gone either way and it would have been tough to argue with a draw. Two judges got it about right at 114-114 (by Julie Lederman) and 115-113 (by Lynne Carter) for Williams. The third judge, Pierre Benoist, turned in a ridiculous 119-110 for Williams - calling the first round even, giving the second to Martinez and then scoring all of the remaining ten rounds 10-9 for Williams. Some judges tend to prefer the more aggressive fighter but they're supposed to reward effective aggressiveness. While Benoist's scorecard was a disgrace, it does not take away from an incredible performance by two great fighters. No one else between 147 and 160 pounds is going to be in a hurry to get in the ring with either Williams or Martinez so a rematch - hopefully with three competent judges - is entirely possible.
On the undercard, heavyweight contender Chris Arreola scored a fourth round TKO over a game but undersized Brian Minto, who was giving up five inches in height and reach (plus 45 pounds in weight) to Arreola. Arreola talks a good game about how hard he works in the gym ... yet his weight continues to rise. He weighed a jiggly 251 in his September TKO loss to Vitali Klitschko. This time? A career high 263. If Minto was Arreola's size, this fight could have gone either way.
Elsewhere, WBA super lightweight champ Amir Khan needed just 76 seconds to destroy previously undefeated Dmitiry Salita. Khan, defending his title for the first time in front of a supportive crowd in Newcastle, England, dropped Salita with the first punch he threw and knocked him down two more times before the fight was stopped.
Comments
ruin the sport with this kind of uncompetent judges than canot either see martinez punches, williams broken face and blood.hate to see good fights with this kind of results, shame on this judges who will eventually destroy and end this sport. We the hbo customers and other will not longer tolerate this results, we will turn to tenis.
Williams lost the fight, because most of is punches hit air.
Martinez, the smaller, but much quicker man landed the effective and clean punches. Both fighters were tired. If Martinez can build more stamina, he will knock Williams out.
its shameful judgement..for what happened’s just the biz…for fair judge..theres no chance for Willliams to get even a single round as draw…but all in all is just an American crook !!?..in order to keep the records of Williams clean..for future earns of the ring battle. Matinez’s on bad night..it’s the darkest nigth for the bad luck Agentine figther and all figth fans around the world..unfair ..man..unfair…dame it???????
shameful judgement………for what happened’s just an American croo..its just for biz in future ring battle…all in all’s just to keep the records of Williams clean ..remains undefeated in records..what a bs result? Bad luck for those Argentine figther and darkest night for the fight fans around the world…unfair man.its really unfair!!!!!!!!??????
What a -shock- that Amir Khan wins in 1st r. against a fighter as well conditioned and respected as: Dmitiry Salita. I think it was partially “luck”, though, I respect Amir Khan – of course – and it is a BIG BOOST to his -star- on the WORLD SCENE.
Great fight. Poor decision – Martines won it. The so-called “judge” who had it 119-110 should be permanently banned from judging.
The Williams-Martinez fight was an interesting match with absolutely absurd judging by one judge. A strong case can be made for a Martinez victory or a possible draw, although I don’t know why–Martinez was aggressive, fast, smart and if he could only hit harder, Williams would have been knocked out. The fight showed the weaknesses of Williams, despite his larger size. The Williams chin has problems, he cuts fast, and he depends on using his head, low blows and back lots of rubbing and bad punches in clinches. Certain a rematch is in order. Luckily for Williams, he did not have to meet Pavlik. Pavlik would have destroyed Williams. All the credit to the gutsy and aggressive Martinex.
Robbed should not be a term used for the Williams – Martinez fight!!! I cant complain if people think Sergio won the fight even though I’m a Williams fan, but Williams won the fight by a point of two. Paul showed what a true champion is made of by getting up off the canvas (1st career knock down) and adjusting to his opponent and winning MORE rounds! Martinez definitely hit him with some solid COUNTER shots because Paul was pushing the fight (wasn’t moving his head well!). There were a few very close rounds that were hard to score because Paul hit him with MORE shots, but Martinez hit him with HARD accurate shots. I could have lived with a draw, but Williams won this fight! Martinez has gained me as a
Williams won this fight. The term ‘robbed’ does not belong in the Williams-Martinez fight!!! The horrible final score card should have been more like 113-115 for either fighter and people wouldn’t complain. Williams showed us what a true champion is made of! Kelly Pavlik (who has been ducking him for a year now!) escaped a SURE loss to Williams by pulling out of the fight to challenge some ‘scrub’ instead of a REAL champion! Williams on the other hand said.. hey.. if this so called “champ” won fight me I’ll fight the next best champ in the junior welterweight division..Martinez! Martinez has gained me as a fan for sure and I agree that he hit Williams with the cleaner harder COUNTER shots, but Williams pushed the fight and adapted to his opponent and won MORE rounds! There were rounds that could have went either way, how ever you look at this fight, you could make a case that Martinez could not finish Williams off!! Williams showed all of us what a true champ is made of by getting off the canvas (1st career knockdown) and winning more ‘COMPLETE’ rounds. Hats off to both these warriors!!
It’s not the punches you throw ,it’s the punches you land that count.That said ,Sergio gets the nod…
William won the fight and Martinez admitted and he also said he will not fight Williams again nobody really want to fight Williams his stamina is incredible Martinez is good and resulted in trying to hurt williams with unfair tactics by falling on him pushing him out of the ring, no doubt William won the fight by being the aggressor, and getting up off the kanvas he don’t care about pain and showed what a true champion is made of man William is the best pound for pound fighter alive right now never seen anybody mix up so many punches at one time at his height this cat is a freak of nature he don’t clown he fights but hats off to Martinez he’s good but he’s scared to fight William again
Martinez won that fight, Williams best punches came in clinches, Martinez exposed williams, expect williams to have an easier time finding fights after Martinez Knocks him out Nov.20th, AGAIN, MARTINEZ WON THAT FIGHT, and with a complete camp uner his belt, look for a mid round KO!