Dick Schaefer speaks on Margarito's welterweight status (but not Pacquiao's)

[Mitchell Kane]

There's a head scratcher.

Margarito Should Fight Paul Williams, Says Schaefer
Posted by: Mark Vester on 08-06-2008.

By Mark Vester

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, finds it disgusting how WBO welterweight champion Paul Williams is being overlooked as a possible opponent to WBA champion Antonio Margarito. Since Margarito stopped Miguel Cotto on July 26, he's been calling for a fight with Oscar De La Hoya. Margarito's camp find it absurd that De La Hoya is moving forward with a potential bout with lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao, who would have to move up in weight to 147-pounds to make the fight.

Schaefer doesn't deny that a Cotto win against Margarito would have made him a strong contender to fight De La Hoya on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He feels that Margarito should stop calling for De la Hoya and focus on his unfinished business with Williams, who beat him with a close decision in 2007.

"We have made it clear [to Top Rank] that we think Margarito has some unfinished business," Schaefer told Sports Illustrated. "Frankly, I find it disgusting how people are overlooking Paul Williams. Oscar wanted to fight Cotto because he was undefeated. But Williams beat Margarito."

"Just because Margarito beat Cotto, why does that make him the best welterweight? Why isn't it Paul Williams? He had that first round knockout of [Carlos] Quintana [in June] and he already beat Margarito. So I think it is very disrespectful of Williams. Those two [Margarito and Williams] should fight again."

Schaefer does forget that prior to the Cotto-Margarito bout, De La Hoya did tells reporters that a fight against the "winner" of Cotto-Margarito would be a "great way to end his career."

[Hex-One]

He brings up a good point! Williams did beat Margarito and knocked Quintana out.

[Mitchell Kane]

He brings up a good point! Williams did beat Margarito and knocked Quintana out.

What did Pacquiao do?

Most people want to see a Williams-Margarito rematch, but Schaefer ain't the right messenger.

[*Z*]

Why is Oscar overlooking Paul Williams?

[Hex-One]

Why is Oscar overlooking Paul Williams?

Oscar aint trying to get in the ring with this young Lion. I think what Oscar want's in a easy fight. Low risk. Can't really blame him. He is towards the end of his career.

[meetthefeebles]

As I said already in another thread, there is a legitimate argument to be made for Williams to be considered the best 147lb-er out there right now.

A re-match between WIlliams and Margarito would make very good sense.

MTF

[meetthefeebles]

Why is Oscar overlooking Paul Williams?

Who is Paul Williams?

[Mitchell Kane]

Oscar aint trying to get in the ring with this young Lion. I think what Oscar want's in a easy fight. Low risk. Can't really blame him. He is towards the end of his career.

He's been looking for low risk for years.

[Hex-One]

He's been looking for low risk for years.

I agree. But Delahoya remains very popular in boxing regardless who he fights. It's a win, win for him.

[*Z*]

Who is Paul Williams?

The best guy at 147 at the moment.

[Hex-One]

The best guy at 147 at the moment.

I agree. I would love to see Delahoya vs Williams! I wonder if Delahoya would be able to hurt Williams with his patent left hook!

[Mitchell Kane]

The best guy at 147 at the moment.

I think it's undecided.

Margarito has fought the higher quality of opposition, over his career and in recent years, so his status is far more solidified than Williams'.

Williams has beaten every opponent and has a head to head victory, but that was hardly a definitive points decision, IMO. It was 7-5, in my eyes, and Margarito was clearly controlling the fight late and getting to Williams before Williams salvaged his early round performance with his final round jog to avoid a draw.

But he followed it up with two extremely divergent fights against Quintana, who is really a mid-level contender. Clearly outboxed in the first fight (certainly not as close as Williams-Margarito), and blows him out in the rematch.

I don't know that a 2-1 record against Margarito and Quintana (the only real quality opopnents of his career) is better than a 3-1 record against Clottey, Williams, Cintron, and Cotto...especially when you compare the manner of their losses.

[Neil]

I think it's undecided.

Margarito has fought the higher quality of opposition, over his career and in recent years, so his status is far more solidified than Williams'.

Williams has beaten every opponent and has a head to head victory, but that was hardly a definitive points decision, IMO. It was 7-5, in my eyes, and Margarito was clearly controlling the fight late and getting to Williams before Williams salvaged his early round performance with his final round jog to avoid a draw.

But he followed it up with two extremely divergent fights against Quintana, who is really a mid-level contender. Clearly outboxed in the first fight (certainly not as close as Williams-Margarito), and blows him out in the rematch.

I don't know that a 2-1 record against Margarito and Quintana (the only real quality opopnents of his career) is better than a 3-1 record against Clottey, Williams, Cintron, and Cotto...especially when you compare the manner of their losses.

well margarito is actually 4-1 against cintron, clottey, williams and cotto.

[Haymaker]

I agree. I would love to see Delahoya vs Williams! I wonder if Delahoya would be able to hurt Williams with his patent left hook!

yeah, like he did to forbes, he knocked him down thrice and KO'ed him brutally while forbes remained in the floor, chin broken, convulsing and with his right eye out of it's socket, bleeding like a stuck pig.

[Mitchell Kane]

well margarito is actually 4-1 against cintron, clottey, williams and cotto.

I was talking about during a particular period of time...specifically since Williams started to fight at/near contender level, which if you're being nice to Williams, was in 2006 (when he fought Mathysse and Mitchell), but really didn't even begin until he fought Margarito.