Paul Williams has worn the crown of “Most Ducked Boxer” for several years now. It’s a title that Winky Wright wore for years until he eventually forced his way into a big-money world championship shot by refusing to lose and making himself a thorn in everyone else’s side. However, Wright was a much different beast than Williams; Wright was the classic example of someone who had trouble getting fights because his defensive style created bouts that were frequently technical, boring and downright ugly.
By contrast, Williams is not a defensive wizard, although he is a good defensive fighter. With a record of 39-1 with 27 knockouts, he’s shown that he isn’t afraid to mix it up with opponents and put on a show. He’s been involved in several memorable fights in the past, including a Fight of the Year candidate last December in his majority decision victory over Sergio Martinez after both fighters were knocked down in the first round. But yet Williams has so much trouble getting a big-money fight that he is introduced in the ring before fights as “The Most Avoided Man in Boxing.”
Why is this the case? Much of it has to do with Williams’ body type. At 6’1” he’s one of the tallest fighters in either the middleweight or junior middleweight divisions. This extends to his reach, which is almost freakishly long for his size at 82 inches. By comparison, his last opponent Kermit Cintron stood two inches shorter yet was at an eight inch reach disadvantage against Williams. Other opponents have had similar major – almost absurd - discrepancies in the differences in height and reach.
Because Williams’ unique physical attributes, few fighters are interested in getting into the ring with him. Fighters who are used to being able to work their jab often feel as though they won’t be able to execute their game plan against Williams because he’s simply too long and tall. Williams has a very good jab, and he’s capable of keeping opponents from ever getting inside and making them look very silly in the process. To put it in stark terms – Williams’ reach is one inch longer than that of heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. What middleweight wants to deal with that kind of a disadvantage?
Also, Williams is an incredibly active fighter with power. In most cases, taller boxers are happy just using their jab to keep opponents out of reach, perhaps occasionally mixing in a straight punch from the power hand for good measure. However, Williams is the exception to the rule. He will throw “punches in bunches” while maintain an excellent level of stamina during the fight – something that’s impressive considering how much work most fighters at his size and body type would have to do to make the weight limit.
And then there is the fact that Williams is a southpaw, which is always a headache. Many orthodox fighters have a huge problem dealing with left-handed fighters – they circle the ring the wrong way and are incredibly difficult to find because their body positions take them away from the powerful right hands of orthodox fighters. Since Williams fights opponents who are “opposite handed” from him almost all the time, the concept isn’t foreign to him and it’s much easier for him to deal with being a lefty and taking on a right-handed opponent.
Ironically, the person now vying for Williams’ unofficial title for the “most ducked fighter” in boxing is Martinez – the person he beat in the classic bout late last year. Martinez recently turned heads by moving up to middleweight and beating Kelly Pavlik, but Martinez is having trouble getting another fight. Could a rematch with Williams be in the works? Circumstances might dictate that if they can’t find other opponents, a second go-around might be in order.
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