There has been no shortage of discussions over last week?s decision in the Paul Williams/Erislandy Lara clash and with good reason. That is the kind of decision that deserves the moniker of ?robbery?. The term is tossed around too liberally when a fight has a lot of close rounds that go one way. These rounds weren?t close, all there was is one guy throwing, and missing, a lot of punches while his opponent worked over his face like a butcher.
With the style mesh favoring Lara and the name recognition being Williams the recipe for controversy was there from the time the fight announced it. But even I didn?t think it would be that bad. Lara landed the cleaner, harder punches throughout the contest. Only Williams will and balls kept him upright to half heartedly celebrate what he no doubt will take as a hollow victory.
Judge Donald Givens actually changed his score of the second round. When did he do that? I can?t begin to tell you. But when it?s the difference between a draw and a loss for the guy who definitively won it raises a big eyebrow. Bad decisions have been a part of Boxing since its inception and they always will be. But in today?s advanced technology it?s about time to give the honest officials the utmost resources to do their job to the best of their ability.
I saw someone on a message board suggest electronic scoring for the cards. A simple change, but one that would keep something like the Givens card from happening. If the change occurred before the next round, no big deal, if it was after round eleven you?re looking at something major. At least that way it takes away even the thought that it was rigged.
Anyone who has ever sat ringside will tell you that you can see the fight better on television. The only think better about being at a fight live is the Ring Card Girls and the atmosphere. I?d like to see the judges in the back, away from the noise, scoring the fight on televisions. No, that wouldn?t do much to battle alleged corruption. But it would give better tools to the honest judges and some continuity where, unlike today?s method, all of the judges are watching the same thing.
As for the fight, Lara looked fantastic. I?ve been a big supporter since he turned pro and it was a joy to watch him put it all together. Erislandy works behind a tight defense with powerful counters and never wastes a movement. I hope he is able to find another major opponent willing to take him on. When he is focused he is a handful for ANYONE. He also showed the ability to lead more in this fight and I can?t wait to see him in action again.
Paul Williams is my favorite fighter. He is a down to earth guy and just a hard working throwback type of Boxer. That being said, his legs looked terrible in this fight. Some of it could be his comfort level, or lack there of, against fellow southpaws. Or it could be cutting so much weight to make Jr Middle. I would like to see that be the last time he does either. Goosen should be ashamed of himself for picking this opponent. No more southpaws and no more huge weight cuts.
There has been a lot of backlash aimed at Paul?s trainer, George Peterson. I think it?s a bit much. Just because he has freakish height and reach doesn?t make Williams an outside fighter. The truth of the matter is that Paul has very poor accuracy. He needs to throw a ton of punches and initiate a brawl to land. If he stood tall behind a jab he would rarely land and that wouldn?t improve his defense either. He is all heart and I think it?s too late to look for any radical changes. Match him better at a higher weight and see what he still has to offer there.
On the under card, as impressive as Rico Ramos one punch knockout in the seventh round over Akifumi Shimoda was, I was equally unimpressed with everything he did up until that point. Shimoda was in full command and I expect Rico?s reign to be a short one if he faces Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Brandon Rios proved to have too much of everything for Urbano Antillion. While the ending came quicker than I thought it would, the end result was no surprise. Bam Bam is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport and he looks to be improving with every fight. The kid is every bit as tough as advertised, with more skill than he gets credit for. I?d favor him over anyone at 135 right now, including Juan Manuel Marquez or Robert Guerrero who recently left the division.
Carlos Molina is the kind of story I just love. He doesn?t have a gaudy record, he doesn?t have much power and nothing he does is flashy or scary to potential opponents. But he gets in there and does his thing. I?m surprised, and happy, that Arum picked him for Kermit Cintron?s return. Carlos dominated the fight and got the big win that escaped him in a tough draw with Lara. Now he moves onto bigger and better things, possibly a fight with Williams, while Cintron hopefully goes away. I hope to never see ?jump boy? on my television screen again.
