By James Slater: Paul Williams needs a new opponent for his July 9th, HBO-televised comeback. As fans know, Japanese fighter Nobuhiro Ishida, fresh off his stunning upset of the unbeaten James Kirkland, was to have taken the July date with “The Punisher.” However, according to Dan Rafael, who has been given info by “multiple sources involved in the event,” HBO withdrew the initial approval they gave for the match-up; pulling the plug on Tuesday.
According to ESPN.com, HBO offered no explanation for changing their mind about the match-up that would have topped the bill on July 9th, but the search is now on for a new opponent for the returning Williams.
Fans who read this website were in disagreement over whether or not the 35-year-old from Japan was a worthy opponent for the former 147 and 154-pound ruler; with some fans saying Williams, after his devastating KO loss to Sergio Martinez, was entitled to a reasonably “safe” return match. Other fans screamed mismatch as soon as they read about the proposed fight.
Williams has reportedly been in training camp for three weeks getting ready for his awaited return, and now he has to wait and see just who it is he will be fighting in his first fight for eight months. Team-Williams apparently turned down fighters Deandre Latimore and Sergiy Dzinziruk before settling on Ishida. Now it’s back to the drawing board.
Just who would be a decent, creditable, not TOO dangerous comeback foe for Williams?
Alfredo Angulo would be a great opponent for the lanky southpaw, and the fans would be the real winners if this fight were made. The Mexican warrior known as “Perro” has not had as fight since last July, and this has partly been down to some visa issues. I have no doubt Angulo would take the fight if it were offered to him, but is he too dangerous?
Perhaps Puerto Rico’s Carlos Quintana will get his rubber-match with Williams? The man who decisioned Williams in February of 2008, and was then iced inside a round four months later (both fights taking place down at welterweight), is reportedly in the hunt for a meaningful fight, and a number of fans have declared interest in seeing a third go between he and Williams.
Either Angulo (unless he is deemed too risky a proposition) or Quintana taking on Williams sounds like a perfect solution to a problem to me. How about you guys?