I’ve heard some complaints from the boxing world when the Paul Williams versus Nobuhiro Ishda fight was first announced. The main issue with the matchup was that it would take up a slot for a main event on Showtime. A slot that some boxing fans felt that Paul Williams or Nobuhiro Ishada didn?t deserve. I was a little surprised when I saw comments on twitter and in boxing forums about how this fight is not worthy? I understand that Paul Williams received about as much as a gift decision in his last fight with Erislandy Lara as humanly possible. But is that the ?Punishers? fault? A few people compared this matchup to a run of the mill type HBO fight featuring an HBO fighter, something that boxing fans have grown accustomed to, but this time it was happening on Showtime, a network that usually puts out a product that gives you a good bang for your buck. To me this fight is the definition of a crossroads fight.
We all know that Erislandy Lara put on his best performance as a pro in his last fight versus Paul Williams, robbery or not. As for Paul Williams, he threw his normal 80 to 100 punches a round and got hit by every left hand that Lara countered with. At times Williams looked slower than normal and not only did he get hit cleanly often, but at times was getting frozen in position from some of Lara?s accurate punches. Several times it looked like Paul was hurt, and it seemed like just a matter of time until he would be taken out, but to his credit, he did fight like warrior, and the fight was entertaining to watch. Many people called for him to retire and just be happy with the fact the he went out with a win. I see it both ways. I can understand and agree that Williams should just ride off into the sunset with his health still intact and plenty of money to live a good life, but this is boxing folks, and boxing is more complex. It?s not always as easy as black and white. There are many grey areas, whether it?s greed or pride to name a few, that keeps fighters in the ring to long and a promoter and commission ready to give damn near anyone a license to fight.
If I was a close friend or in his camp I probably would try to give him a fight that he has a good chance of winning. That way he could go out in style with a win and his dignity, and that type of fight is similar to the fight that he has coming up this Saturday with the man who pulled the biggest upset of 2011 by knocking out James Kirkland, a man that had been feared by many in the 154 pound division. Many people are now down playing his big win due to the fact of how good Kirkland looked in his fight with Alfredo Angulo. Even Kirkland himself admitted, he was not physically ready to be in a real fight last April, and with him reuniting with his old trainer Ann Wolfe, he did seem like that same Kirkland that was ready to take the boxing world by storm. I agree that Ishda didn?t fight the best that Kirkland has to offer but is that Nobuhiro?s fault? He still had to deal with a pressure fighter and it?s not like Kirkland wasn?t always an aggressive fighter, using his face as a jab to get on the inside and inflict damage. Ishda still had to time his shots and deliver them at the perfect moment to stop
We all know that Paul Williams doesn?t use his height to his advantage like he should, but that didn?t stop him from collecting titles and earning great wins on his way to becoming an HBO fighter. How much, if any does Paul Williams have left in his tank is the question that everyone is asking. The odds are very low that he will change his style out of nowhere, and I expect him to come out with his same style. A style that is still not that easy to deal with and takes a lot of patience, skill, power, endurance and a good chin to overcome. Can Ishda box and counter on the outside for the whole fight? Can Ishda win a close fight on the card being the more unknown commodity? Ishda?s height if used correctly will help him as will his jab. A jab that sometimes he tends to flick and measure rather then throw with authority. Speaking of jab?s, I think he will have pick his spots early in the fight, but at some point he has a chance to shoot his right hand or left hook right over William?s jab. A jab that he tends to push at times rather than throwing it with some technique allowing it set up his big left hand and flurries from his great work rate. While we?re on the topic of work rate, I think that will be another key for Ishda. Does he need to match ?The Punisher?s? work rate? No, but he does have to make sure he is throwing a little more often than he has in recent fights.
I think he proved that he has the power or at least pop to keep Williams off him. He will have to box, move, counter, and flurry at times to make sure he is showing the judges that he is in control of the fight, even with the 100 punch round output that Paul is known for. Williams being a southpaw will have some advantages. I?m sure Mr. Peterson his trainer and adviser has shown him Ishda?s weakness to the jab and left hand from the south paw stance, a weakness that was exposed in his fight with Rigoberto Alvarez. Add in the fact that Nobuhiro has a bad habit of dropping his hands on the outside or after landing a punch on the way out. All in all I have to say I really like this fight. The storyline of the Cinderella story trying to prove he is not just a one hit wonder but a very skillful fighter with underestimated power and potential, versus the man that many once feared and now are getting in line trying to get a payday and a name on their record. I see people?s point that Paul should just quit while he is ahead with his money and health, but it?s never that easy in the brutal sport of boxing that we love and hate at times. To me this is a pick?em type fight that I am still going back and fourth on, finding it hard to pick a winner. It?s really anyone?s fight to win. The pick question here is: Who will make it past the crossroads and turn the corner and move ahead in their boxing career? It?s really a coin toss at this point.
