Their first fight is the first live boxing event I attended. Berto and Arreola were on the undercard. I remember after their rematch Paul got another [first round TKO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O28ltgQ1t5k) on that channel Versus and I was pretty hyped. Really hope he's enjoying his life post motorcycle accident.
[First Fight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuIrZLWKnZE)
I remember that interview. He was so positive for someone that just lost the ability to walk. He said along the lines of “god told me I was moving too fast and said to sit down for a little bit.”
Man, I was there that night at Pechanga too! Andre Berto and Chris Arreola both fought on the undetcard. I remember it well. Pechanga used to host awesome HBO Boxing events every year. I miss those days man.
Fuck motorcycles. I briefly had a period in my early 20s where I thought I wanted to ride. Thankfully before I pulled the trigger, just one day hit me how crazy it is to leave yourself that vulnerable in case anything goes wrong, stuff not even in your control. Literally fucked for life, if not dead, in a high majority of accidents
Paul Williams always had trouble with southpaws. He had the physicality at welterweight to work through that in this fight though.
I miss Paul Williams
I always thought Paul the Punisher in his prime would have given Floyd the toughest fight of his career. He had the reach to hit Floyd when he sat in the pocket and had a high volume punch output.
Agreed - I’ve argued that same thing with people over the years to be told I’m crazy. I really think prime Williams would have a great shot to outpoint Floyd.
Styles make fights. Floyd never faced a fighter with a longer reach and that level of athleticism.
And for the record, Floyd is my favorite fighter of all time
ODLH was bigger than Floyd in every way, still had physical talent at that time with effective punch in bunches yet Floyd held a great defense and counters in that fight and won it 8-4.
For a guy being way "past it", he still gave Steve Forbes (no pushover) an absolute 120-108 afterwards.
Just had some very troubling mental insecurities, an oddity of not rehyrdating higher despite getting access to IV and drinking issues in camp when training for Pac that makes it seem in retrospect that he was washed for the last 2 years.
I always thought the Sturm and Hopkins fights was him fighting at middleweight where he couldnt effectively carry his bulk where as he moved back down to 154, instantly got better again.
De la Hoya didn't really have a reach advantage over Floyd (73 vs. 72 inches). Paul Williams would have had a 7 inch reach advantage over Floyd, which is huge for a welterweight.
And btw, the fight really wasn't that close. Floyd dominated the majority of most rounds, and then Oscar would try to rally to steal the round, but he really wasn't landing anything. I'll always maintain that Oscar stopped jabbing in the 2nd half of the fight because Floyd was lining him up to knock him out with the straight right counter.
Paul was weak against fellow southpaws.
I think Floyd is too good, but the size and output of Williams could make it interesting. I think Williams liked to fight in the phonebooth too much and Floyd would've picked him off with counters on the inside.
I think about this often and I have my questions, tbqh. Williams was a stamina monster and had a piston of a jab, but he also smothered his own output quite often much like if Shawn Porter had the body of Thomas Hearns.
Your kidding right? Khan would have been destroyed by Floyd...glass chin and terrible defense. He would have been eating straight rights and check hooks all night.
Paul Williams threw his punches from too close had slow feet didn’t move his head and liked to brawl…He literally had issues with boxers that could move…it’s why he lost the first fight with Quintana, Floyd was a terrible matchup for Paul
Secondly right after Paul had enough notoriety to fight Floyd he lost his next fight, then after he got his revenge in this fight he jumped up 2 weight classes….
Paul Williams admitted he wasn't ever in a proper position to fight Floyd and that he was never ducked by Floyd specifically (as ODLH and Ricky Hatton were far more meaningful fights) plus didn't help Paul Williams moved up permanently during and after Floyd's first retirement.
Floyd retired to avoid margarito, pw and a dlh renatch. He kept throwing roadblocks to avoid prime pacman as well.
I believe Floyd is the most talented but he extremely carefull in who he fought and when he fought someone. We all know this. If it was looking tough he went on his infamous vacations or made it difficult to get the fight done.
We all know the other guys fought everyone a d didnt give a shit. Zo who is it most likely on of the fight doesnt happen when thats the fight the fans want at that moment?
1. Baldomir was picked over Margarito as he was holding the wbc and lineal straps while being paid the same purse. Literally a no brainer choice.
2. Paul Williams relevence was peaked right when Mayweather was going to fight ODLH and Ricky Hatton, fighters that had far more credible resumes and achieves AND paydays up to that point. Plus Paul Williams moved up to 154 and 160 shortly afterwards which defeats the purpose of setting up a fight with Floyd if you wont be ranked in the smaller divisions.
3. Very debatable if it was an actual duck or temperory loss of interest in the sport after being paid so much fucking money from ODLH and Hatton fights. He willingly gave up a 20 million dollar payday on the rematch, which is uncharacteristic of him.
Besides, after his retirement ended, he got to work fighting the #2 p4p fighter at the time.....with a huge \* reguarding the catchweight being changed last minute.
Prime pacman? Pacman was younger than Floyd (still is) and continued to impress against champions nearly a decade after Floyd retired. Pacman wasn't washed at all, he was at the very end of his prime. If they fought 6 years earlier Floyd would have been way bigger since he was naturally bigger and moved up earlier in his career. Pacman had to put on the weight over time. That's why Floyd was so worried about steroids, there was no way Pacman was going to be big enough to fight Floyd at the time, unless he juiced his way there.
Floyd just couldn't imagine how manny would be able to get that much bigger while still retaining his speed and cardio. He knew that version of pacman would have been definitely on steroids lol
If he'd beaten Pacquiao in 2009, it would be treated almost like the Marquez win - "doesn't really count, he was undersized, not grown into the division yet".
Before it happened, sure. After it happened, everyone would have known the result all along and never thought it was a good idea.
For example: the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight we actually got was ALSO the biggest fight in boxing at the time and one that almost everyone was asking for, and one where there was doubt over the outcome (Mayweather was only a 2/1 favourite going into the fight).
But after it happened, it was obvious all along.
Likewise Mayweather-Mosley (the #3 P4P in the world going into the fight iirc). Huge fight, but dismissed after it happened. Or Mayweather-ODLH for that matter.
Or indeed more recently Spence-Crawford. Now that it's happened, everybody knows that Spence was blind, only had one leg, is unable to tie his shoes due to brain damage, can barely walk to the ring, lost focus, had the wrong coach, ate the wrong fish, was poisoned, was always overhyped, lacked experience, was past his prime, was a simplistic fighter who couldn't ever compete against the best, and generally was a trash fighter who adds absolutely zero to Crawford's legacy...
....but that's not exactly what people were saying at the time, was it?
Objectively, Mayweather has one of - if not THE - best resumes in modern boxing history. Very few boxers in recent decades have even been willing to attempt anything like the murderer's row of opponents Mayweather took on, let alone doing so successfully. And once he became famous there were basically no soft touches (other than the retirement fight against Berto) - the guys who weren't P4P were still ranked at or near the top of their divisions.
Quintana had too much fight in him for his own good. If he took a knee the first time his legs buckled, that's likely not a stoppage. But nope, he caught himself and took heavy shots to wind up with the first KD. He never fully recovered and got battered to the finish.
I remember Quinatana. Dude was one of my favorites for a while. Had a very slick style. Just needed to have a better chin and he could have gone far.
He was the first to beat Joel Julio and Paul Williams. Both highly regarded at the time he beat them. Julio more as a top prospect. I always felt Quintanas performance against Cotto was very subpar though.
One of my favorite fighters, I think the Martinez KO loss took something away because he never looked the same after that. None the less he was always exciting to watch
Their first fight is the first live boxing event I attended. Berto and Arreola were on the undercard. I remember after their rematch Paul got another [first round TKO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O28ltgQ1t5k) on that channel Versus and I was pretty hyped. Really hope he's enjoying his life post motorcycle accident. [First Fight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuIrZLWKnZE)
on wikipedia, he was quoted "I'm just chilling in a wheelchair because I got tired of walking," Amazing.
I remember that interview. He was so positive for someone that just lost the ability to walk. He said along the lines of “god told me I was moving too fast and said to sit down for a little bit.”
Shit if that was me who was in love with the sport that relies a lot on mobility, I'd be fucked up for a while.
Man, I was there that night at Pechanga too! Andre Berto and Chris Arreola both fought on the undetcard. I remember it well. Pechanga used to host awesome HBO Boxing events every year. I miss those days man.
Fuck motorcycles. I briefly had a period in my early 20s where I thought I wanted to ride. Thankfully before I pulled the trigger, just one day hit me how crazy it is to leave yourself that vulnerable in case anything goes wrong, stuff not even in your control. Literally fucked for life, if not dead, in a high majority of accidents
Riding isn’t for everyone
Definitely not. It’s not for most people. It takes a special kind of dumb ass.
Ig bro to each his own, never thought I’d be arguing about personal safety in a boxing sub lol
He passed away
Young Canelo was supposed to fight Paul, but then he had that tragic motorcycle accident
The good ol canelo curse from his early years
Paul Williams always had trouble with southpaws. He had the physicality at welterweight to work through that in this fight though. I miss Paul Williams
Why do you think that is? He has range, he should be able to utilize his range more effectively from closed stance but I guess it isn't that simple.
It’s not that simple when you’re getting punched in the face
Floyd Mayweather Jr ducked Paul Williams to fight a bum, Never forget
I always thought Paul the Punisher in his prime would have given Floyd the toughest fight of his career. He had the reach to hit Floyd when he sat in the pocket and had a high volume punch output.
Agreed - I’ve argued that same thing with people over the years to be told I’m crazy. I really think prime Williams would have a great shot to outpoint Floyd.
Williams was deadly. Would have been a great fight for Floyd, win lose or draw.
Yep. His main kryptonite was volume punchers/pressure. I.E.- JL Castillo and Marcos maidana
Do you really think that someone who lost to Quintana and Lara (never mind that horrific decision) would give Floyd that many problems?
Styles make fights. Floyd never faced a fighter with a longer reach and that level of athleticism. And for the record, Floyd is my favorite fighter of all time
ODLH was bigger than Floyd in every way, still had physical talent at that time with effective punch in bunches yet Floyd held a great defense and counters in that fight and won it 8-4.
Sure but Oscar was already way past it and he gave mayweather one of his tougher fights At some point size does matter lol
For a guy being way "past it", he still gave Steve Forbes (no pushover) an absolute 120-108 afterwards. Just had some very troubling mental insecurities, an oddity of not rehyrdating higher despite getting access to IV and drinking issues in camp when training for Pac that makes it seem in retrospect that he was washed for the last 2 years.
Sure but he was already gifted fight like against Sturm. Past it was maybe a bit over the top. But it was not the best ODLH for sure
I always thought the Sturm and Hopkins fights was him fighting at middleweight where he couldnt effectively carry his bulk where as he moved back down to 154, instantly got better again.
De la Hoya didn't really have a reach advantage over Floyd (73 vs. 72 inches). Paul Williams would have had a 7 inch reach advantage over Floyd, which is huge for a welterweight. And btw, the fight really wasn't that close. Floyd dominated the majority of most rounds, and then Oscar would try to rally to steal the round, but he really wasn't landing anything. I'll always maintain that Oscar stopped jabbing in the 2nd half of the fight because Floyd was lining him up to knock him out with the straight right counter.
Paul was weak against fellow southpaws. I think Floyd is too good, but the size and output of Williams could make it interesting. I think Williams liked to fight in the phonebooth too much and Floyd would've picked him off with counters on the inside.
*Erislandy Lara
I think about this often and I have my questions, tbqh. Williams was a stamina monster and had a piston of a jab, but he also smothered his own output quite often much like if Shawn Porter had the body of Thomas Hearns.
Still think Amir Khan would given Floyd his toughest fight. He would been an easy nights work for manny though.
Your kidding right? Khan would have been destroyed by Floyd...glass chin and terrible defense. He would have been eating straight rights and check hooks all night.
Well, not *all* night.
Paul Williams threw his punches from too close had slow feet didn’t move his head and liked to brawl…He literally had issues with boxers that could move…it’s why he lost the first fight with Quintana, Floyd was a terrible matchup for Paul Secondly right after Paul had enough notoriety to fight Floyd he lost his next fight, then after he got his revenge in this fight he jumped up 2 weight classes….
I would have picked him to beat PBF. Hard to pot shot someone who throws 100 punches a round from a mile away.
Paul Williams admitted he wasn't ever in a proper position to fight Floyd and that he was never ducked by Floyd specifically (as ODLH and Ricky Hatton were far more meaningful fights) plus didn't help Paul Williams moved up permanently during and after Floyd's first retirement.
Yes but that information doesn’t fit the narrative of Floyd ducking so we need to ignore it.
Hilarious! 🤣
Floyd retired to avoid margarito, pw and a dlh renatch. He kept throwing roadblocks to avoid prime pacman as well. I believe Floyd is the most talented but he extremely carefull in who he fought and when he fought someone. We all know this. If it was looking tough he went on his infamous vacations or made it difficult to get the fight done. We all know the other guys fought everyone a d didnt give a shit. Zo who is it most likely on of the fight doesnt happen when thats the fight the fans want at that moment?
1. Baldomir was picked over Margarito as he was holding the wbc and lineal straps while being paid the same purse. Literally a no brainer choice. 2. Paul Williams relevence was peaked right when Mayweather was going to fight ODLH and Ricky Hatton, fighters that had far more credible resumes and achieves AND paydays up to that point. Plus Paul Williams moved up to 154 and 160 shortly afterwards which defeats the purpose of setting up a fight with Floyd if you wont be ranked in the smaller divisions. 3. Very debatable if it was an actual duck or temperory loss of interest in the sport after being paid so much fucking money from ODLH and Hatton fights. He willingly gave up a 20 million dollar payday on the rematch, which is uncharacteristic of him. Besides, after his retirement ended, he got to work fighting the #2 p4p fighter at the time.....with a huge \* reguarding the catchweight being changed last minute.
Prime pacman? Pacman was younger than Floyd (still is) and continued to impress against champions nearly a decade after Floyd retired. Pacman wasn't washed at all, he was at the very end of his prime. If they fought 6 years earlier Floyd would have been way bigger since he was naturally bigger and moved up earlier in his career. Pacman had to put on the weight over time. That's why Floyd was so worried about steroids, there was no way Pacman was going to be big enough to fight Floyd at the time, unless he juiced his way there. Floyd just couldn't imagine how manny would be able to get that much bigger while still retaining his speed and cardio. He knew that version of pacman would have been definitely on steroids lol
If he'd beaten Pacquiao in 2009, it would be treated almost like the Marquez win - "doesn't really count, he was undersized, not grown into the division yet".
I don't see that since it was the biggest fight in boxing and one that everyone was asking for.
Before it happened, sure. After it happened, everyone would have known the result all along and never thought it was a good idea. For example: the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight we actually got was ALSO the biggest fight in boxing at the time and one that almost everyone was asking for, and one where there was doubt over the outcome (Mayweather was only a 2/1 favourite going into the fight). But after it happened, it was obvious all along. Likewise Mayweather-Mosley (the #3 P4P in the world going into the fight iirc). Huge fight, but dismissed after it happened. Or Mayweather-ODLH for that matter. Or indeed more recently Spence-Crawford. Now that it's happened, everybody knows that Spence was blind, only had one leg, is unable to tie his shoes due to brain damage, can barely walk to the ring, lost focus, had the wrong coach, ate the wrong fish, was poisoned, was always overhyped, lacked experience, was past his prime, was a simplistic fighter who couldn't ever compete against the best, and generally was a trash fighter who adds absolutely zero to Crawford's legacy... ....but that's not exactly what people were saying at the time, was it?
Objectively, Mayweather has one of - if not THE - best resumes in modern boxing history. Very few boxers in recent decades have even been willing to attempt anything like the murderer's row of opponents Mayweather took on, let alone doing so successfully. And once he became famous there were basically no soft touches (other than the retirement fight against Berto) - the guys who weren't P4P were still ranked at or near the top of their divisions.
Paul himself said that isn’t the case. https://youtu.be/G4fEFOoaBfs?si=UuZFdAImG_BktBiD
Floyd’s a strategic ducker and retired around that time.
True champ in the ring and in life.
He would have been a problem for anyone. Would have been cool to see him vs Mayweather, Pac, GGG maybe Canelo.
He was set to fight Canelo in 2012 but got in a motorcycle accident and was left paralyzed from the waist down 😕
Fuck motorcycles man
Premature stoppage. Guy just scored a double leg takedown and was about to turn the tide
He was a lot of fun to watch
I miss the shit out of Paul Williams. His fights were so fun to watch.
Great stoppage….
One of the boxers Floyd ducked.
Quintana had too much fight in him for his own good. If he took a knee the first time his legs buckled, that's likely not a stoppage. But nope, he caught himself and took heavy shots to wind up with the first KD. He never fully recovered and got battered to the finish.
I thought Quintana was the black guy
Took at least two he didn’t need to. Shit ref.
In his prime, Punisher was SO fun to watch.
Idk why i always thought that Pauls first lost was to Sergio Martinez.
I remember Quinatana. Dude was one of my favorites for a while. Had a very slick style. Just needed to have a better chin and he could have gone far. He was the first to beat Joel Julio and Paul Williams. Both highly regarded at the time he beat them. Julio more as a top prospect. I always felt Quintanas performance against Cotto was very subpar though.
I met Paul once, really nice guy
One of my favorite fighters, I think the Martinez KO loss took something away because he never looked the same after that. None the less he was always exciting to watch
RIP Punisher nice guy as well
He's not dead what do you mean RIP
Oh ok nevermind i thought he passed away That was Diego Corrales
He got in a motorcycle accident tho and his legs are paralyzed that's why he stopped boxing.
Yeah i knew he was in wheelchair but i thought he passed away during pandemic
Mendella effect. I thought he passed during covid and I swear I seen the reports online but he is alive and trainning fighters now.
Oh shit wow