HBO TO TRY & SAVE DISMAL YEAR
San Francisco, CA– Having stumbled badly in an attempt to continue its boxing supremacy over rival Showtime, Home Box Office (when’s the last time you heard that & not HBO?) will try and salvage the boxing season 2009 with two curtain closing cards this coming Saturday and next.
IS PAVLIK EVEN SLIGHTLY ASHAMED?
The December 5 card is the one Kelly Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) seems to have punked out of with Paul Williams. Instead of Williams challenging Pavlik, it’s PW vs. rated junior middle Sergio Martinez (44-1-2, 24 KOs) The east coast contingent of the sane, notably Socrates Palmer of BoxingTalk.com, a NYC school teacher by day, Socrates feels Martinez is a pretty live underdog.
WILLIAMS MUST REGAIN STYMIED MOMENTUM
The reasons put forth include a mental letdown, this seeing Kelly pulled out like a guy sans a condom, and not once, but twice. Paul Williams, at least from the point of view of a good many is the real deal. Having been upset in a fight in which he lost a little focus and a 12 round decision to Carlos Quintana brought out the railbirds.
CHAMPION-LIKE RESPONSE
But the fact that he all but beheaded Quintana in the rematch (KO 1), to me this illustrates character. Add that to his physical attributes and one has to conclude that Williams (37-1, 27 KOs) will still be the #1 ranked middleweight contender afterward.
PAVLIK NEED VOODOO DOLL?
Team Pavlik is praying for something like a Trevor Berbick-John Tate ending here.
WIN OR LOSE, MINTO HAS TO GO FOR IT!
The comeback of Cris Arreola is scheduled to begin under Williams-Martinez against twice beaten Brian Minto. Arreola (27-1, 24 KOs), a 4-1 favorite here has issues involving discipline and advancing his learning curve. That being said, Minto (34-2, 21 KOs) has to make an opportunity to win. If not, it’s probably a a 99-91 fight for Arreola.
PAULIE V. DIAZ II LATER
The December 12 HBO offering of Paul Malignaggi-Juan Diaz II will be featured in the coming days here at www.RingTalk.com
Pedro Fernandez