Brawls, Knockouts and Controversy - Boxing returns to form

It’s been a week of introspection in the boxing universe.

Seven days previously the two most powerful pugilists on the planet had met in the Hamburg Arena. It was a fight two years in the making. A fight that had captured the imagination of the entire world. A fight that had commanded more global headlines and column inches than any other in recent times.

If you believed the hype, and it was inescapable, this was the fight that was going to re-ignite the public’s passion for boxing’s flagship division.

Ultimately this titanic battle would indeed go down in history. Not for the bravery and mastery of the combatants, but for the fragility of a little toe.

It left many fans asking the question: should we ever believe the hype?

Thank goodness then for Brandon Rios.

This past Saturday the WBA lightweight champion and arch-rival Urbano Antillon gave us a toe-to-toe war that will live long in the memory. More importantly, it restored our faith in the pre-fight posturing that is so crucial to the sport.

In this case, the trash talk had been particularly aggressive. In several spicy press exchanges Rios alleged that Antillon had insulted his wife, and duly vowed revenge. For his part, Antillon promised to meet his foe in the centre of the ring and settle their differences the old-fashioned way.

It was a promise that boxing fans had heard seven days previously. Only this time it most definitely delivered.

The only disappointment was that the fight didn’t last longer. For eight minutes and forty-nine seconds we were treated to a battle of such frenetic, ferocious intensity that it provoked memories of the famous Gatti –Ward trilogy of the previous decade.

After a stunned Antillon was felled for a second time, the referee wisely called the contest to a close.

But unlike Haye or Klitschko, when these two men lace up their gloves again, we’ll all be watching.

Williams return impresses judges, but not the fans

Returning from a devastating knockout is perhaps the ultimate test of any fighter.

Many pundits had questioned whether Paul “The Punisher” Williams would have the mental strength to pick up the pieces of a career that had been so violently shattered by Sergio Martinez in November 2010.

On Saturday night, Williams (40-2) returned the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the scene of that Halloween nightmare and sought to exorcise the ghosts that have haunted him since.

He faced a difficult challenger in unbeaten Cuban Erislandy Lara, but one that he was expected to beat comfortably.

In truth, over twelve rounds it was hard to make any kind of case for a Williams victory. Lara landed more punches and power shots, leaving Williams bruised and battered. At the final bell, “the Punisher” was left hoping for a huge slice of fortune in a venue which had been so brutally unforgiving in the past.

Except that on this night the gods of fortune favoured him. The officials gifted him a highly questionable decision met with disbelief in the arena, and widespread cries of highway robbery amongst boxing commentators.

The vitriol directed towards Williams from some quarters has been relentless. He’s gone from being a former champion with a point to prove to a has-been fighter who stole a decision. Even by boxing standards, it’s a remarkable fall from grace.

Given the context in which Paul Williams fought, I suggest that it’s unfair. After all, he didn’t judge the fight. He entered the ring trying desperately to resurrect his career. As his dreams of a glorious comeback seemed to slip away with each attack, he didn’t give up. He gritted his teeth and hung in there, hoping that the unlikeliest of decisions would go his way.

Whatever the result, whatever our opinion of the judges, on Saturday night in Atlantic City Paul Williams epitomised the bravery and courage that makes boxers such a special breed.

For that at least, he deserves nothing but praise.