VERNON FORREST vs. MORA QUINTANA vs. WILLIAMS II
June 7, 2008 ● LIVE ON SHOWTIME ● Mohegan Sun
HOW THEY PICK’ EM: EXPERTS CHOOSE WILLIAMS TO DEFEAT QUINTANA, WIN BACK TITLE
NEW YORK (June 5, 2008) – Carlos Quintana defends his WBO welterweight belt against the man he just captured it from in convincing fashion, then undefeated Paul Williams this Saturday, June 7 on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
So who will triumph in the highly anticipated rematch? The experts predict it to be very close.
Of the 40 boxing media writers who participated in a SHOWTIME Prediction Poll, 24 picked Williams to earn his title back while 16 chose Quintana to successfully defend.
Here’s how they see the first of two world title fights as part of a World Championship Doubleheader on SHOWTIME from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.:
Robert Morales, Los Angeles Newspaper Group:
Quintana Wins
“Quintana will defend his title because Williams doesn’t seem to understand that Quintana was part of the reason he lost his title in February. Quintana had the perfect game plan but Williams keeps harping on the idea that he simply could not get into his rhythm. He couldn’t, but because of Quintana, not because Williams was simply having an off night.”
Kevin Iole, Yahoo!
Williams By Decision
“Williams will learn from the first fight to make the changes he needs to win. He’ll use his reach and his jab to pile up points and win a decision.”
Steve Kim, Max Boxing:
Quintana by Decision
“I don’t think Quintana is given enough credit for what he accomplished in the first fight. And as much as Williams’ weight may have played a factor in his loss, so did Quintana’s movement and ability to beat Williams to the punch. I think he surprises folks by doing it again to win a decision”
Darius Ortiz , ESPN.com
Williams By Decision
“Paul Williams knows what Carlos Quintana brings to the table; he’ll adjust accordingly and box his way to a unanimous decision.”
Tom Gerbasi, Max Boxing:
Williams By Decision
“I still think Williams is developing into one of the game’s next stars and that he’ll show that this Saturday. Quintana fought the perfect fight to beat him the last time and I don’t know if he can pull it off again.
Carlos Arias, O.C. Register
Williams Wins Decision
“I think Paul Williams won’t overlook Quintana this time. Williams will be much more aggressive, apply the pressure and win on points.”
Lyle Fitzsimmons, The Sports Network
Quintana Wins Decision
“I think Quintana’s an underappreciated talent at 147 pounds. Not quite the best in the division, but definitely part of the second tier behind Mayweather and Cotto. I think he’ll be slick enough and tricky enough to work when he wants to and rest when he needs to en route to winning seven or eight rounds.”
Jake Donovan, Boxingscene.com
Quintana by Split Decision
“Williams adjusts enough to make it closer than the first, but Carlos still prevails in a decision disputed by some, but still the right call in the end.”
Andreas Hale, Fightnews.com
Williams def Quintana Via Unanimous Decision
“Paul Williams made the mistake of looking past Quintana the first time and it showed. A better prepared Williams makes him one of the most dangerous fighters in the Welterweight division. He will finally use his height and reach to keep Quintana at bay while avoiding the right hand that constantly found its home on Williams head.”
Jim Everett, saddoboxing.com
Quintana by Decision
“Although I believe Williams overlooked Quintana the first time he still should have been able to land more punches, Quintana’s southpaw style will continue to give Williams problems which will give him a unanimous decision.”
Rob Scott, Doghouseboxing.com
Williams by Split Decision
“Quintana can do it again, but he will need a full tank of gas. Movement will be his key to winning this rematch. Williams, being long and lanky, hasn’t shown that devastating punch like a Thomas Hearns, but it wouldn’t set well for Quintana to slow down and put Williams’ power to the test. Williams will try and time that stick and move tactic used by Quintana in the first fight, because frankly, it is the only strategy that Quintana can use. But it being his only tactic doesn’t mean it can’t be again, a successful tactic. In the first fight, he actually was two steps ahead. In the rematch, unfortunately, he will lose that added step; and in what will be a closer fight, the judges will see that step loss as three, giving Williams a split decision win.
Ivan Goldman, Ring Magazine
Quintana Wins by Close Decision
“A tough fight for both of them, but I think Quintana will fight his fight, counterpunching enough to cut down the volume of Williams’ shots and win a close decision.”
Korosh Torkzadeh, Touchgloves.com
Williams over Quintana
“Williams’ raw talent and size will prevail. He won’t be over-looking Quintana this time.”
James Hoover, MyBoxingFans.com
Quintana SD over Williams
“I see a similar fight to the first except I do see a busier and more effective Williams. It will be close, but Quintana sticks and moves his way to the win.”
Bernard Aguinaldo, PA SportsTicker
Williams By Decision
“I think if Williams prepares better for this fight then he did the first one he should win on points. It will be close though.”
Rusty Rubin, RingSports.com
Williams By Decision
“It should be a great fight. I’m a bit surprised that Williams is the favorite, but that said, he’s hard to hit and should with a hard-fought decision.”
Edgar Gonzalez, MyBoxingFans.com
Quintana Split Decision
“Quintana was an underdog last time and remains one now but I have to think most of that is due to the Williams hype machine. Quintana will be able to control the action with his elusive boxing skills, his excellent head movement allows him to set up powerful combinations and his pin point accuracy allows him to land devastating left hooks don’t underestimate the underdog he did it once he will do it again.Now Paul Williams is training for the fight of his life to avenge the only loss of his pro-career. Paul Williams will defiantly come out with sharper skills but at the end it will be Quintana coming out Victorious on Saturday June 7.
Ramon Aranda, 411mania.com
Paul Williams By Decision
“Everyone underestimated Quintana in the first fight and that included Williams. Only two fights removed from a knockout loss to Miguel Cotto, I think Williams and his camp took Quintana lightly but it won’t happen again. Quintana for his part will enter this fight with plenty of confidence and look to get right back into William’s chest. I look for a closely contested fight in which Williams manages to utilize his jab and uppercut better than he did in the first fight. Having lost to Quintana, Williams will be hungry again to prove that he’s among the best at 147-pounds and will be more relaxed in the ring. It should be close on the cards going into the final few rounds but Williams will likely have more in the tank this time around and eek out a split or majority decision win.”
Henry Bedoy, boxingstars.net
Williams Unanimous Decison
“I believe we are going to see the best out of Paul Williams this time around.
He will be more physical, and will come out throwing more punches then before.”
Carlos Guzman, FIGHTBEAT.COM
Carlos Quintana UD over Paul Williams
“It’s hard to hit a moving target. Quintana moves well and can slip most of Williams long punches while getting his shots in on the inside. Expect 12 fast-paced rounds with Quintana getting the nod and even dropping Williams along the way.”
Jason Abelson, The Fight Network
Quintana By Decision
“It seems that the cagey lefty Quintana may have the towering Williams’ number. We’re hearing that Williams never felt comfortable when they met in Ferbruary, that his timing was never right. There’s a reason why; it was Quintana’s gameplan.”
Chris Robinson, www.BoxingHerald.com / www.FightBeat.com
Williams by Decision
“I think Williams will be more focused this time around and find a way to get his belt back.”
Bud Barth, Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette
Quintana W TKO-9
“The first fight convinced everyone else; this one convinces the oddsmakers.”
Benny Henderson Jr., www.DoghouseBoxing.com
Williams via hard fought decision
“The first throw down between Quintana and Williams was an entertaining one, I mean how much better can it get when the underdog comes into the bout beating the champ from pillar to post? Quintana was a hungry warrior whose unorthodox style threw off an unexpecting Williams in the first fight. Quintana’s movement and punching from angles disrupted Williams and his offense. Williams should have made the proper adjustments for the rematch, if Paul can cut off the ring and keep Carlos from working side to side making the Puerto Rican fight backwards Paul should earn himself a solid decision regaining his title. Again, the rematch should have some serious sparks.”
Peter Palmiere, Boxing Inside TV/KOTV/Ring Sports Magazine
Williams split decision 12 rounds.
“Williams took Quintana too lightly and paid the price. This time, we will see both fighters in over drive in a dramatic fashion. This decision will be very close and controversial.”
Ace Freeman, FightFan.com
Williams by decision
“Paul Williams and company have said all the right things regarding the loss in the first fight. Whether or not that translates to him making the necessary adjustments come Saturday remains to be seen. While it’s possible Quintana and his style translates to simply having Williams’ number, I think Paul will up his activity level and win a close and competitive decision.”
Chris Cozzone, Fightnews.com
Williams by Unanimous Decision
Phil Santos, Overhandright.com
Williams by Unanimous Decision
“A Williams-Quintana outcome is more difficult to foresee. My feeling, despite their last meeting, is that Williams comes in with something to prove, like he did against Margarito, and out boxes Quintana in a close fight to regain his title.”
Bill Scherer, Suite101.com
Williams by Unanimous Decision
“Quintana gave the performance of his life in their first fight. Unless Williams is truly dead at the weight, he wins a unanimous decision over Quintana.”
Ed Ludwig, www.braggingrightscorner.com
Williams wins via eight round stoppage
“I expect a lot more action for the Carlos Quintana vs. Paul Williams rematch. I felt that Williams took Quintana lightly coming off his huge win over Antonio Margarito and I don’t see him making the same mistake twice. Quintana deserves his props but in the end a refocused Williams will reclaim the title and his redemption with a convincing eighth round stoppage.”
Ben Thompson, FightHype.com
Quintana by Unanimous Decision
“Unless Williams has found someone to teach him some defense in the four months since their last fight, I don’t see the outcome of the rematch being any different. Throwing punches in bunches is great when you have a stationary target, but Quintana has just enough movement to confuse the volume punching Williams and land the exact same combination he landed over and over and over again back in February. Quintana by unanimous decision as he outslicks Williams down the stretch.”
Percy Crawford, Fighthype.com
Quintana by Unanimous Decision
“I think Paul Williams has one fighting style and one gameplan. He believes he had an off night, but instead of breaking down Quintana’s strengths and weaknesses I believe he thinks he could just throw more punches. Once again Quintana will be too elusive for the defenseless Williams.”
Rich Mancuso, Boxing Digest Magazine
Williams by Split Decision
“Willaims will win a tough split decision. He has proved in the past how to take a punch and can take one.”
Coyote Duran, Doghouse Boxing.com
Paul Williams SD 12 Carlos Quintana.
“Paul Williams’ sole career loss was the only learning experience he needed to prepare accordingly for his rematch against Carlos Quintana. This time, if Williams fires that long jab, taking away Quintana’s movement and doesn’t hesitate when he sees fatigue in Quintana, there’s no reason he can’t regain the WBO title he lost in February.”
Huel Washington, San Francisco Sun-Reporter
Williams Wins
“The last decision was bad. Williams should have been declared the winner in their first outing. He showed a lot of class when he didn’t complain about the judges.”
Jerry Glick, Secondsout.com/Boxing Digest Magazine
Quintana Wins By Unanimous Decision
“I am a firm believer that lightning can strike twice. In their first fight Quintana found the formula to beat Williams by being the aggressor. While boxing history is rife with turn arounds in rematches (see Patterson-Johansson, Lewis-Rahman, Louis-Schmeling) there is no reason to believe that Williams style will be altered enough to compensate for the reason that he lost last time. Quintana will pressure him and win by a close but unanimous decision.”
Andres Antonio Carriedo, TalkingBoxing.com
Quintana UD 12 Williams
“Williams will make a concerted effort to stick behind his jab in order make use of his height and reach advantages. However, his technique has been shoddy in the past and figures to be again in his rematch with Quintana. Look for Quintana to counter punch his way to another unanimous decision victory.”
Buster Paris, TalkingBoxing.com
Williams wins
“This is a tough one to call – it’s Redemption (Williams) vs. Respect (Quintana) – and who wants “it” more. Purely going with the gut on this one – Paul Williams is the winner!”
William Trillo, Pound4Pound.com
Quintana by Late KO
“Throw out the loss to Cotto, it was an aberration. Instead look to “Indio’s” victory over Joel Julio, that was a fight everyone expected him to get bombed out, yet he overcame an early knockdown and beat Julio. Quintana is a slick fighter and he will give Williams the same problems and more this time. Williams is a fighter struggling to find an identity and a weight class. 147 pounds is too much, or should I say too little to ask of Tall Paul and in his weakened state, Quintana will dispatch “The Punisher” before the final bell rings.”
James Stillerman, TalkingBoxing
Williams by Decision
“I believe Paul Williams will get revenge in this fight against Carlos Quintana. The first time around he took Quintana extremely lightly and he won’t make the same mistake again. Williams will use his height advantage and fight more aggressively in the early rounds, something he didn’t do in the first fight, to win a narrow decision over Quintana, who will put up another respectable fight.”
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
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