Did anyone else notice this?? On last Saturday night's broadcast, I heard talk of... Cotto vs. Mayweather Margarito vs. Mayweather Cotto vs. Margarito Cotto vs. DeLaHoya Margarito vs. DeLaHoya Cotto vs. Mosley, a rematch Margarito vs. Cintron, a rematch Yet with all the hypothetical matchups HBO was tossing around, there was hardly a word of having anyone fight Paul Williams. Kellerman didn't even ask Margarito if he wanted a rematch with Williams. Sure, HBO made some kind of stink about how Margarito has "improved" since the Williams fight... and Kellerman asked him who he wanted to fight, and Margarito gave the standard reply, "I'll fight anyone"... but he never directly asked him if he wanted a rematch, which normally is a standard question to ask about a guy who's just beaten you. And Kellerman defenders have always defended him as a guy who "asks the tough questions" in interviews... given all the times he's been a dick in interviews, how do they explain him not asking that question? On top of that, Manny Steward insisted that if Mayweather didn't fight the winner of the Cotto-Mosley fight, that he should be "stripped" of his lineal status. But what if Mayweather was to fight Williams next? How is it that Cotto is suddenly the "undisputed" top welterweight contender for beating Mosley? IMO, Williams beating Margarito is every bit as big a win (if not bigger) as Cotto beating Mosley... but Manny made no mention of that. IMO, and I don't know why, but it almost seemed like HBO was trying to pretend that Williams doesn't exist, or that he isn't a factor in the division... and the fighters interviewed seemed to be acting basically the same way. Personally, I think that Williams may be one of the most dangerous and difficult guys in the division to beat right now. There isn't a single fighter (not even Mayweather or Cotto) that I would make a clear favorite over him, if even a favorite at all. Given the way he fights, he doesn't look like he can be outboxed or outworked, and if that's true, how many of the the top welterweights can beat him? The only way I can see someone beating him is by knockout (which is why I think Kermit Cintron, of all people, may have the best style to beat him)... but I can't see anyone who isn't a big puncher beating him. And if it turns out that he can handle a big puncher too, who right now can beat him at all?
Paul Williams has his hands full with his ownfight coming up. Post that fght, Williams can be talked about. Until then, him and Cintron are of no importance to anyone else.
^^^ yet Margarito remains in the mix, in the minds of HBO? It's obviously political, just figuring out the angle is the tough part. Whatever it is, I'm sure it has everything to do with whatever pre-production meetings took place between HBO and Arum. They couldn't possibly NOT talk about Mayweather, but Williams? If Bob wants him rendered irrelevant - if only for a night, HBO will oblige.
Margarito just fought and won on HBO that very night and possible opponents were active on that same night. What the problem here? I understand we all want to look for this generations Too Sharp or even Hagler (poor unfortunate black southpaw, who beats up everybody) but how many of Williams last five fights have been on some version of HBO? On what network is his next fight to take place? Should one loss throw you off the network and out of their minds, like you're suggesting with Margarito? Why? He sells tickets and people pay to come watch him fight. Where is the conspiracy here?
Margarito???...Since When???:dunno: :dunno: ... If Anything, he's 1 of the FEW "Elite" Level Mexican Fighters that DOESN'T Have a Following... Juan Manuel Marquez DOESN'T Really have a Following Either, but he's Got MUCH More of 1 than Margarito Does... REED
:: Yeah it almost seems unfair. But he's getting KTFO anyway by Cintron. BTW how the fuck does Williams make weight?:doh:
Paul Williams is the one guy I'd give a shot at beating Floyd.. I'd still pick floyd but Williams has a shot!
Williams' last two fights were on HBO/HBO PPV, including his last fight, just four months ago. Lampley and Merchant couldn't stop gushing over his performance - against Margarito. HBO - against Kermit Cintron. That would make 3 in a row. You tell me the last fighter HBO agreed to pay for three straight fights that DIDN'T fit into their future plans. I'm not suggesting that Margarito be removed from the mix. I'm saying it's ridiculous to say he still figures in, while his most recent conqueror - who is still undefeated and a stylistic nightmare for just about any other welterweight - can't have his name mentioned once. Should one WIN throw you off of the network and out of their minds? And it's not like it was Raheem stinking out the joint against Morales. Lampley and Merchant were going on and on all night about how Williams-Margarito was a FOTY candidate. You ask for the conspiracy, I already offered it. You want a further explantaion, then follow the bouncing ball... HBO was in business with Arum for the evening. Arum despises Al Haymon. Al Haymon represents Paul Williams. Paul Williams fights Kermit Cintron in February. Arum wants to proceed with old plans for Cotto-Margarito some time next year, probably in June, with both taking a tune-up in March, and all of it taking place on HBO PPV. Take away all of the red lettering, and tell me what you're left with.
BTW, Cuban Hawk....I noticed it as well....and wondered. But to be fair, I got the impression (and thought it right when I heard the interview) that Kellerman was actually digging for Williams' name while stopping just short of mentioning it, since at one point after Margarito had said Cotto or Mosley, Kellerman said "besides Cotto or Mosley, anyone ELSE you would like to fight....?" Or something to that effect. Peace.
HBO likes to wall off their B.A.D. fighters from their W.C.B. fighters. IMO, two best 147 pounders are Margarito and Williams. but if that's exposed or acknowledged, or somehow demonstrated, then PBF's and Cotto's W.C.B. equity plummits, and we'll have already seen "the" fight at 147 (which is what I personally believe to be the case and could be an explanation as to why Cotto is fighting the likes of Judah and PBF is fighting a guy who barely beat Collazo).
you sure about that? Margarito drew over 7000 people his last fight and before that the last time he headlined a card (his fight against Gomez) he drew another 5000. JMM? drew about 2500 people in Tucson for his last fight. say what you want about Margarito on here I never really cared but if anything Tony's recognition is still on the rise while JMM's has been on a wane for some time. this is no means to say he is a draw but he is pulling in more fans than this version of JMM
And who is saying that he doesn't fit into their future plans? You guys are. My point was that he has a big fight coming up ON HBO. When thats run and done, we'll see what's said by HBO then. If he's ignored? You guys will have a point. But as of right now, there's nothing in the waters to suggest it.
what was said is that it's puzzling that his name doesn't come up at all. I believe we're only going to keep repeating ourselves, so no sense in carrying on. But I will ask if you think it's above a promoter to influence what gets said and what doesn't during a broadcast for one of their cards.
It depends on who the promoter is. When its the former head of the network and a guy who's signed the announcers cheques for years? Yes, I do. When it's De La Hoya? Yes I do. When it's Bob Arum? Often. When its Don King? Always, but never in his favour.
