As much as it pains me to say it, Williams got the decision over Martinez who then got the decision over Pavlik. Just because Martinez didn't hold the belt in his previous fight is no reason to ignore the fight results from a few months before. Had there been a few other fights mixed in, then I can see where you could just ignore the results. But as it stands? I have to rank Pdub as #1 based on the results in the ring. Now if he goes down in weight and/or doesn't come to a reasonable agreement to face Martinez, then I can see dropping him down. But as it stands now? No. And no, I don't give a crap about titles, lineal or not. It isn't Paul's fault the fight with Pavlik fell through and upset the order of things.
I wouldnt say he beat Martinez CLEARLY but i thought he pulled it out. But if he doesnt fight soon, he has to be knocked down
I felt Serg beat Willy, but wasn't mad at the decision... Those two guys are 1 and 2 no matter how you flip it.. But at this point Serg's win over Pav is greater than anything Wills done at the weight..
I doubt that. Martinez did beat Williams, but bull**** scoring for the HBO fighter ruined it (yeah, if you a appear in a commerical for HBO with a bunch of other fighters that HBO regularly hypes up like Chris Arreola, you are). Martinez was awkward and beating him to the punch. Williams fan base is small and sure as **** doesn't deserve even half of the purse. HE KNOWS he lost, or how else do you explain these tactics on Goosen's end? DiBella is proud to have MW champ again in his stable and he NEEDS to convince his man to stay at MW. That division needs him more than Light Middle (to think, three years ago LMW was Vernon Forrest and a bunch of losers, now it's pretty tight). Pavlik would KO Williams because reality is Pavlik is power and that shot that floored and left Paul wondering what day it was from Sergio would have put him out cold had it been Kelly. People forget that Kelly scored the fight's only knockdown against Sergio and and took four of those rounds. It was no damn blowout if you score 115-112. I will bet money if Paul takes a rematch, it will fighting that swan diver over Martinez.
My point is that if you want to honor the results of what happened in the ring....... The fighters deserve this courtesy..... The belts have become such a joke as it is....
I agree that a belt ain't much, it really just shows that you're a contender... But still based on records of wins Sergs win over Pav is better than Wills win over Serg. Against Williams Serg was brought in on short notice and forced to move up a weight class. Against Pav he was up against the consensus best middleweight, who was a bigger man and a big favorite... So for me Serg is the man.... Plus he beat Williams..
PDub keeps talking about moving back down in weight. Pav will probably be forced to move up. That's disappointing considering the series of Martinez/Williams/Pavlik fights we might see if they could all three be at their best at 160.
One thing I dont think any of us would disagree on. Williams and Martinez are two of the best fighters around today.
