Jennings to fight The Punisher?

From Setanta.com,

http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/09/26/Boxing-Jennings-exclusive/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/boxing/

British boxing's November to remember could get even more packed with the increasing possibility that Preston's Michael Jennings could challenge Paul Williams for his WBO welterweight title at the end of the month.

Williams fought at middleweight on Thursday night, stopping respectable opponent Andy Kolle (now 17-2, 12 KOs) in the first round of their bout in San Jacinto, California.

After the bout, Williams (35-1, 26 KOs) said he plans to return to the welterweight division to defend his title on November 29 and mandatory challenger Jennings could well be the opponent.

Jennings (33-1, 16 KOs) knows he would go into the bout as a massive underdog but at the age of 31 would relish the opportunity to finally fight for a major title.

"Everyone's been saying it's about time," Jennings told setantasports.com. "If this one comes up I'll be buzzing.
"I'm just waiting for confirmation of it. I'd heard he was fighting on November 29th. I haven't had anything confirmed yet.

"I expect I'll hear within the week. I'm in the gym in Manchester ticking over, four days a week at the moment. "

Although he would be facing one of the most feared fighters pound-for-pound on the planet, a man who beat Antonio Margarito in 2007, Jennings insists he would not be overawed by the challenge.
"I'm not bothered by that," Jennings said. "I'll train hard and just give it a go.

"[Carlos] Quintana beat him. I think if someone sticks close to him and throws a lot of punches you upset his rhythm. That's what happened that time."

Williams has set his sights on taking any bouts on offer between the welterweight and middleweight divisions and with his freakish specimen (6'1, 81" reach) he is fully confident he can do this.

“We’re going back to 147 on November 29, against whoever is willing to fight me,” Williams said.

“The only difference between 147 and 160 is that I get to eat more steaks and burgers and stuff."

The Georgia southpaw finds himself in the uneviable position of being too big a threat and not a big enough name to land these high profile bouts.

Neither Miguel Angel Cotto nor Antonio Margarito will entertain the prospect of fighting The Punisher before their rematch next summer and with Kelly Pavlik fighting Bernard Hopkins and then possibly Joe Calzaghe before a likely middleweight unification bout with Arthur Abraham there are not many options.

And though he would love to face the winner of Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao on December 6 there is very little chance of either fighter entertaining this prospect.

This situation incresaes current WBU champion Jennings' chances of landing the bout as though HBO are unlikely to be enamoured with the choice of opponent, Williams would want to get his mandatory opponent out of the way as he looks to compile belts at 147lbs, 154lbs and 160lbs.

In this way, Williams could be seen as the nearest thing modern boxing has to the legendary Henry Armstrong who famously held the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight belts at the same time in 1938.

Also on the bill, unbeaten heavyweight Chris Arreola beat Israel "King Kong" Garcia in the third round of his bout to increase his record to 25-0 (22 KOs).

Arreola, fast becoming America's number one heavyweight hope, will also fight on the November 29 bill.

 

i can't see past an overwhelming victory for The Punisher but it'll be good for Jennings to get his chance.

 

won by 1st round ko