FightFranchise | Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez Preview

Paul 'The Punisher' Williams (37-1-0, 27KO's) returns tomorrow night to headline a card at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, in an intriguing bout against Argentinian Sergio Martinez (44-1-2, 24KO's), televised live in the US on HBO.

In what should have been Kelly Pavlik in the other corner, Williams' team could have done a lot worse than bring Martinez in as a replacement, who is a good fighter in his own right. Having drawn with streaking Kermit Cintron last time out, it was the first blemish on Martinez's record for over 9 years since a loss to Antonio Margarito. During that time Martinez has picked up some impressive wins and bundles of experience.

Williams, as previously mentioned, was originally set to face Kelly Pavlik before Pavlik withdrew with a hand infection. The fact that Pavlik fights just twelve days later tells you everything you need to know. Quite why Pavlik pulled out only to schedule another fight so close to the original date is unclear, but it isn't a good look for the Youngstown 'Ghost'.

Pavlik's loss is Martinez's gain and is rewarded with what is probably the biggest chance of his life, although he faces a daunting task in trying to derail Williams. Tall, long-armed and very powerful with either fist, Williams is a hard night's work for anyone. Beginning as a welterweight, Williams has now become a fully fledged middleweight but even so he still towers over his opponents and looks more than natural at the weight. Not really good for Martinez who, by definition, is a career junior-middle, and the 6lb step may be particularly difficult against someone like Williams.

Although in good form, recently defeating fighters such as Kid Diamond and Alex Bunema, plus the draw with Cintron, it's difficult to see a way for Martinez to win this fight. Perhaps if Williams is looking past Martinez, or isn't as motivated as he should be, then Martinez can frustrate Williams the way Carlos Quintana did, but in reality it's a tall order for Martinez, who will also know in the back of his mind that should he lose can always go back down to 154 and resume his career regardless of the result.

"The difference is going to be how rapid I fight. I am very fast," Martinez said. "I am much faster than Paul Williams and I am going to throw a lot more punches and that's going to be the big difference. I am going to win by knockout and I am sure of it. I am in the best shape of my life at the best time of my career. I am a lot faster than Paul and I don't take as many hits as he does."

Williams needs to win, and he will realise that no slip-up can be afforded at this stage in his career, with possible superfights just around the corner. Williams seemed very confident of a victory at a press conference recently.

"I was a little upset I wasn't fighting Pavlik, but I was like at least I'm gonna get to fight," a relaxed Williams said in the media center at Caesars Atlantic City on Thursday. "That was my biggest concern. I didn't know if I was going to be able to fight [again] this year. I've been in training camp so long, I didn't want to go home. I wanted to fight. It could have been anybody. They came up with Martinez. In my mind, he never fought a guy like me so he'll have to show me what he can do."

When all's said and done expect Paul Williams to come out victorious but we should be in for a great fight between two very good fighters... even if one of them isn't Kelly Pavlik.

On the undercard, Cris Arreola (27-1-0, 24KO's) returns from his annihilation at the hands of Vitali Klitschko with a ten round bout against Brian Minto (34-2-0, 21KO's). Whilst not a dreadful match, it's obviously part of Arreola's rehab program and Minto will do well to last the distance with the 'Nightmare' who may have a point to prove!

Also appearing is Chazz Witherspoon (26-1-0, 18KO's), a former victim of Arreola. He'll be facing veteran Tony 'The Tiger' Thompson (32-2-0, 20KO') over ten and former Paul Williams conqueror Carlos Quintana (26-2-0, 20KO's) also has an outing, facing journeyman Jesse Feliciano (15-7-3, 9KO's) over eight rounds at light-middleweight.