Paul Williams: the Throwback and the State of Boxing in America
 By Alec Kohut, MaxBoxing (July 9, 2011) Special to Doghouse Boxing (Photo © German Villasenor, DHB)
Tonight at Boardwalk Hall in
Atlantic City, Paul Williams returns to the ring to face Erislandy Lara on HBO,
eight months after suffering the devastating second round knockout at the hands
(or left hand) of World Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez. For many
world-class fighters, an eight-month layoff is hardly unusual in this day and
age of semi-annual title defenses and “champions” delaying any possible fight
until their slots on a premium network are open.
It is in this new boxing
world that Williams and manager George Peterson have enjoyed their longest
break in 11 years. Now you can argue (and you’d be correct) that Williams
himself has only fought on his premium network dates and made only semi-annual
title defenses but the reason for that is because he had to, not because
he wanted to.
What, you ask, does that
have to do with tonight’s fight in Atlantic City? Actually very little but this
fight will likely be little more than an over-touted Cuban amateur star, who
still punches like an amateur, receiving a beatdown from a true world-class
professional. Just look at the body of work each has complied; do you really
envision a competitive fight?
So the questions to ask this
week have little to do with the actual fight but more about the state of boxing
and the business of boxing in America. Why is this obviously lopsided mismatch
being carried as a main event on a premium network? Why is an exciting fighter
like Paul Williams virtually unknown to the average American sports fan?
Because love him or hate him, Paul Williams is an action fighter, win or lose.
Wouldn’t it have been great if either Wladimir Klitschko or David Haye were
willing to take the risk Paul Williams does when he fights?
I asked Peterson this week
if he would have had Williams fight “stay busy” or “tune-up” mandatory defense
fights on network TV for a purse of $200,000 or so in between his big fights,
like they used to. Without hesitation he answered, “Definitely,” but added that
today that’s just not possible; HBO would not allow it. That’s what we’re now
stuck with in America.
So today, fighters like
Williams, Brandon Rios, Alfredo Angulo, Tim Bradley or even Sergio Martinez
among many more are not anywhere close to the consciousness of the average
American sports fan. Rather they are stars in a shrinking universe of a niche
sport that once dominated the American sports scene. The boxing establishment
itself seems to have no interest in actually expanding the fan base of the
sport. Promoters seem blissfully content doing what Danny DeVito as “Larry the
Liquidator” in “Other People’s Money” said was the surest way to go broke, “Keep getting an increasing share of a
declining market.” They just keep sucking more money from fewer fans.
How bad is it? HBO brags
about getting a million-plus viewers for a “big” fight, often distorting actual
viewer numbers, while routine Sunday afternoon NASCAR races on TNT- yes, TNT-
have averaged over five million viewers during the month of June. NASCAR
beating boxing five-to-one? Please tell me how HBO is good for boxing.
We are deprived seeing these
“throwback” fighters more often who, if given the opportunity, would fight more
and would fight on platforms that would expand boxing’s popularity and bring
much needed exposure to the sport, drawing more young gifted athletes toward
boxing. Just minutes after suffering the knockout to Martinez, in the
post-fight press conference, Peterson said of Williams, “This kid’s a fighter;
it’s what he does.”
And Williams wants to fight.
When asked last week who was on his radar, he quickly responded, “Most
definitely, I have Martinez back on my radar. I’d love to get another fight
with him to prove to myself and my fans that he didn’t deter me from fighting
him because he knocked me out. I respect him for that. I feel I’ll knock him
out next time.” Like before, Williams remains willing to go to the weight where
the fights are, “If I get a top-of-the-line opponent, like a [Manny] Pacquiao
or [Floyd] Mayweather and I have the time, I’ll be there. I’ll eat a few bread
cakes or rice cakes. I walk around at ’56 or ’57 and have to put on weight for
these fights.”
But as he remains ready,
willing, and able to face anyone from 147-160, or even 168 as he said for the
right money, Williams has worked to differentiate from many previous champions
by not going broke. Williams talked of his numerous real estate holdings and
security he has achieved through Peterson’s guidance and hard work. He said
their discussions now focus on whether Williams should fight three or just two
more big fights before calling it a career.
Other than a third match up
with Martinez, it’s hard to figure what big fights might be in store for
Williams. The likelihood of Pacquiao or Mayweather taking that big a risk
against the relatively low-drawing Williams seems highly unlikely. Unless Alfredo
Angulo reappears at 154 or James Kirkland somehow recaptures his luster, don’t
expect a big fight at 154. Does anyone think Saul Alvarez or Julio Cesar Chavez
Jr. will be matched against Williams? Does a Margarito rematch seem even
remotely possible?
Given the options of both
Williams and Martinez, the idea of the trilogy makes a lot of sense. Keep in
mind we are not talking about the days of the Four Kings: Leonard, Hearns,
Hagler and Duran, all willing to step through the ropes for the money and the
glory.
(Rest in peace, George
Kimball.)
No, today we live in the
HBO, PPV, and Al Haymon era, where the idea of fighters actually fighting the
best almost seems laughable. Most seem happy to claim their one-quarter slices
of the world title, then brag of winning six, seven or even eight “world”
titles. Despite the fact he is both an HBO and Al Haymon property, it’s nice to
see that even that knockout hasn’t deterred Paul Williams from wanting to fight
the best.
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