Preview: Sergio Martinez v. Paul Williams II

What a night for boxing fans. Arguably bigger even than Pacman’s merciful flattening of the disgraced (and now dented) Antonio Margarito last week.

Tim Starks said it best when he called Saturday night’s rematch between middlweight champ and Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams one of the reasons we follow boxing.

Since I’m trying to update this site regularly it should have been clear to me far more quickly that there is no way to avoid the obligatory prediction post before the big fights.

Nor should there be. As loathe as I am to make predictions, one must accept it as a natural part of the boxing writing game. But this bout in particular has had me tied up in knots, incapable of predicting who will come out on top.

I have a soft spot for Sergio Martinez because his victory over Kelly Pavlik was the first fight I covered professionally. Few have experienced such a rapid rise to the top of the professional ranks as the Argentine, who is already among the giants of the sport.

Williams too is worthy of regard, especially considering his status as the most-avoided fighter this side of the Klitschkos. “The Punisher” is absurdly large and talented for a middleweight and a victory Saturday night could finally turn him into the box-office star he deserves to be.

Picking a winner from two of the most closely-matched fighters I’ve ever seen go at it is an unenviable task. Last year’s barnburner proved both men are capable of victory, though the short build-up to the fight means game planning played a very small role.

Martinez’ dismantling of Pavlik was obviously more impressive than Williams’ bizarre win over Kermit Cintron, but I wonder if being a superstar may detract from Sergio’s focus. Williams has shown before that he is much less patient in return bouts and he could be looking for the early knockout if Martinez comes in at less than peak condition.

But at the end of the day I must go with my gut, and it’s been telling me Martinez is the best pound-for-pound fighter not named Mayweather or Pacquiao. He wins in a split decision, or maybe he doesn’t - either way I know where I’ll be tonight.