Coming soon to a homepage near you:: Unconventional Talent Shines: <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O></O> by: Aaron Jones<O></O> Fans in attendance got their money’s worth on Saturday night. In action were a wide variety of characters. The first fight featured <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1LACE w:st="on">Riverside</ST1LACE> native and HBO ordained “Future of American Heavyweight Boxing†Cristobal “Nightmare†Arreola versus former Arena League footballer Travis Walker in a clash of HW prospects. For the main event, Paul Williams continued his division hopping to take on the ageless Verno Phillips for the 154lb championship. Both bouts had an out of the ordinary vibe. <O></O> Paul Williams isn’t normal. Normal southpaws aren’t volume punchers. Normal 6’2 fighters don’t campaign at Welterweight. Normal people don’t have an 82 inch wingspan. Put these outrageous attributes together and Williams emerges as the most overlooked man in boxing. He will fight anyone, anytime, any place. Last year he signed to fight Antonio Margarito in a highly anticipated clash of Welterweight giants. Twelve brutal rounds later, Williams came out victorious. Not by boxing, or by using his reach, but by outlanding Margarito and inflicting enough damage to win round after round. After being sidestepped by a number of established names, including Margarito in a possible rematch, Paul decided to take on Phillips for a 154lb title. <O></O> For a guy who began his career in 1988, Verno shows no signs of aging. He is still sharp, grabbing a belt with a recent victory over Corey Spinks prior to this showdown with Williams. He came into Saturday night in good shape, ready to defend his crown. Unfortunately, he ran into a buzz saw. From the opening bell, Williams put it on the 39 year old champion. By coming in jabbing, Williams was able to sneak in countless telling right hooks to the body that took their toll. Despite being badly cut by a head butt in the first round, Williams fought through and forced Phillips to retire following the 8<SUP>th</SUP> round. Both guys had a good showing. Despite losing badly, Verno wasn’t really hurt at any point and showed the skills needed to compete at the championship level. Paul Williams has limitless potential. He has laid down the gauntlet on the world, saying he’ll take on anyone from 147-160. Hopefully some of the many champions from Welterweight and Middleweight will man up and try their luck against “The Punisher.†<O></O> On the under card, American Heavyweight prospect Cristobal Arreola brought his unbeaten record to Travis Walker. In the first round, <ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1LACE w:st="on">Walker</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> brought the kitchen sink to Arreola. Most Heavyweights throw around forty punches a round. <ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1LACE w:st="on">Walker</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> went all out, firing a triple-digit blitz of activity to the undefeated prospect, buzzing Arreola with a number of sharp right hands. “Nightmare†was forced to sit on the ropes to pick off the oncoming shots. Early in the second round, <ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1LACE w:st="on">Walker</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> dropped Arreola with a combination punctuated by a crisp right hand. For such a picture perfect shot, Chris took it surprisingly well. As the round continued, Arreola began to find his mark. After an array of shots, <ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1LACE w:st="on">Walker</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> was floored for the first time. Though he got up, Travis remained on shaky legs, as another barrage dropped him with about 30 seconds left. He rose to his feet, able to continue. <ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1LACE w:st="on">Walker</ST1LACE></ST1:CITY> survived, but only for a few moments. A strong left hook at the start of the third round forced the referee to stop the action for good. <O></O> After a maligned training camp, in which Arreola admittedly did not watch his weight, he put up a respectable showing. In the post-fight interview, the winner was forthcoming and good spirited. When asked what happened in the first round, he replied, “I got caught. He’s a strong guy, so I was sitting on the ropes…measuring his strength.†Arreola went on to draw cheers from the crowd for his many quips. Once the Klitschkos’ names came up, Chris looked confident saying that he was ready for anyone. For such an exciting style, and an entertaining personality, I wish the best for Arreola as he moves forward. <O></O> Saturday night produced great action, and some unexpected results. Most would’ve figured Arreola would overmatch his opponent, but not many anticipated him having to come off the canvas to do so. Questions about his chin won’t be answered until he takes on a legitimate Heavyweight puncher, but he showed an ability to fight through adversity and stay calm after getting caught. For whatever he may lack in terms of defensive skill, there is no substitute for toughness. People who wondered whether a 39 year old workhorse like Verno Phillips would be able to handle Paul Williams got their answer as well. Williams is the epitome of unexpected, with a growing list of things he can do. Should he ever learn to utilize his frame, he’ll become even more frightening than he already is. Fans that flocked to the Citizens Bank Arena in <ST1LACE w:st="on"><ST1:CITY w:st="on">Ontario</ST1:CITY>, <ST1:STATE w:st="on">California</ST1:STATE></ST1LACE>, got to see two of the young guns looking to become established names. Overall it was a great night, one that will hopefully be re-shown and talked about at the water cooler in the days to come.
wanted to post this cause I wanted to get some thoughts on Williams/Arreola now that the fight is over.
How many other fighters at 147-154 in the history of boxing have had the freakish height, reach, stance, and workrate as Paul...the guy seems to be unique in all those respects. And if you are Paul's next opponent, what sparring partners would you have to prepare you for him?
Chad Dawson?:: Whats really weird to me, is that he fuses an inside and outside game. He does jab his way inside, but if you are an opponent of his how do you deal with that?
Indeed, and even at that I doubt Dawson has the reach of Williams, but Dawson is probably as close as it gets. A lot of preparation would have to be done, especially because of the inside/outside factor. I would think best bet on the inside would be to counter and to put together combos. Perhaps I am wrong though.
margarito was using old ass rodney jones. not exactly the same energy and snap to hiis punches as williams.
its next to impossible to simulate Williams' style. Imagine what he could be like if he learned to exploit his length when it suited him. I remember seeing Verno getting hit on the other side of the body with the opposite arm when they were in close it must be like fighting Mr. Fantastic in there.
