By James Slater: As fans are aware, former 147 and 154-pound titlist Paul “The Punisher” Williams is set to return to the ring on July 9th. Originally, Japanese fighter and former interim WBA light-middleweight champ Nobuhiro Ishida was announced as the opponent, but then cable giant HBO had a change of heart and decided the 35-year-old wasn’t up to scratch..
The search was then on for a new foe for the returning southpaw; with fighters such as former two-time rival Carlos Quintana putting his name forward for a rubber-match. Well, according to Lance Pugmire of the L.A Times, the search is over: Williams 39-2(27) will now face Cuban defector and all-round amateur standout Erislandy Lara, 15-0-1(10). The fight is scheduled for 12-rounds at 154-pounds.
It is hoped the fans will give Williams a break over this latest choice of opponent. 28-year-old Lara is a talented, ambitious contender and like Williams he is a southpaw. Okay, this chance marks a huge step up in class for him and Lara was perhaps “exposed” a little in his draw with Mexico’s Carlos Molina last time out. But being as how the Miami-based Cuban will be hugely motivated for this fight, combined with how 29-year-old Williams is sure to be ring-rusty and very possibly confidence-weakened, the match-up is in no way a bad one.
Personally, and especially in light of how, say, Miguel Cotto was permitted to return against the little-known Michael Jennings in his first fight back after being stopped (by Antonio Margarito in 2008), I had no issue with the Williams-Ishida fight. But the HbO brass spoke up and we now have Williams-Lara.
An intriguing fight – and one that will give the 2005 world amateur champion at welterweight a real chance of breaking into the world’s elite – making a prediction is somewhat tough. Can Lara outbox Williams, or will he struggle with the taller man’s incredible wingspan? Not short at 5’9,” Lara will nonetheless be out-reached by “The Punisher.”
Prior to the March draw with Molina, Lara was looked at by many as a “sure thing,” a definite champion of the future. Perhaps the Molina fight was merely a bad night for him. If he’s to have a real chance against even a faded Williams, he had better hope so. I have a feeling Williams will struggle with Lara for a few rounds at least, before coming through to win on the cards.