Ht: 5-10 Wt: 158

DOB: February 21, 1975 In: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Inspiration: “I want to be the best pound-for-pound fighter. That is my inspiration.”

First Boxing Memory: “I started boxing when I was 20 with my uncle Ruben. I had my first amateur fight five weeks later and I won it. I had 41 amateur fights.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I’m very into tranquility in life. I like reading books. The country. I look like much older out of the ring that I am in the ring. I don’t go out, no parties, nothing that can effect my career. I also like paintball.”

Last Book Read: “Marina, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.”

Favorite Movies: “Midnight Express. And Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro in The Suspects.”

First Job: “In construction with my father. And metallurgy.”

First Car: “The first car that I have ever is the car that I just bought – a yellow Corvette.”

Favorite Meal: “Regular steak. Argentinean steak.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Dulce de leche. The typical of Argentina.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “Always just thinking it’s work. I need to do well from the beginning to the end. I’m thinking every moment of strategy, how I will plan the fight.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Kelly Pavlik was the greatest moment of my life.”

Most Painful Moment: “When I broke my hand and the doctor tell me that I cannot fight any longer. Middle knuckle on left hand. I fought four years with the broken hand, then the doctor told me I cannot continue my career at age 25. But I prove him wrong, after a year I came back. I was very poor and wanted to continue making a living fighting. So, for four years I fought with a broken hand.”

Funny Boxing Memory: “In boxing there’s nothing funny. Maybe emotional or sad, but not funny.”

Embarrassing Boxing Memory: “[Smiles] no, never in boxing was I embarrassed.”

Strangest Fight: “On 16 of February 2008. David Toribio of Santo Domingo (W4 in Las Vegas). That was the most strange, unwanted opponent that I ever had. (Why?) Because I didn’t know what that fighter want. If he want to fight. If he want to go home. If he want to get paid. And it was a horrible fight that I never forget. If you want to call it embarrassing, that was the most embarrassing fight that I ever had. Even though it was a very dangerous fight because every time he punch, he punch with the power. But it was a horrible fight. And it was a horrible moment.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Always it was Sugar Ray Leonard and Pernell Whitaker.”

Last Vacation: “In Argentina with my family and my mother.”

Childhood Dream: “Always I thought I’d be in a sport, but I didn’t know what sport. I was dreaming to be a sportsman. I saw the Olympics in 1984. And it was unbelievable the first time I saw the Olympic Games. Then I was dreaming to be a soccer player. After that I was dreaming to be a cyclist. And one time I was thinking to be an astronaut. Always have many dreams.”

Which Fight Were You At Your Very Best: “Looking at the circumstances of my life of fighting, when I fought the first time for a title in Manchester (IBO 154). 21 of June 2003 against Richard Williams (W 12). From that moment it start to open the doors worldwide.”

Toughest Opponent: “Paul Williams. (Why?) His physical is very tall. His technical is very good. He’s an athlete. His preparation is unbelievable – 100%. And now I can’t talk too much of Williams because I need to confront him. I don’t want to get so upset that he can beat me up now [laughs].”

People Qualities Most Admired: “The guy from the tennis – Rafa Nadal. (Why him?) Because he’s great. You need to meet him to know how great he is. He’s a great person. I had the pleasure to shake hands with him, I did not meet him personally, I know him from that side, like a fan, not like a person or a friend. He was one of many that I shake hands and it was a great moment for me.”

Let’s get right to it:

Kery Davis: “This fight does not only stand on it’s own but it’s one of the best matchups that can be made in the sport. Paul Williams is a unique athlete. He stands 6-3, has the wingspan of a heavyweight and he can effectively compete in four weight divisions. Sergio Martinez is a slick defensive fighter – like Carlos Quintana on Red Bull. Quintana is the only fighter that gave Paul Williams problems. I love this fight.

Brian “The Beast’ Minto showed class, comfort and ease in handling being in the big spotlight for the first time in his career with his impressive speech at the podium: “This is the stiffest test to date for me. Kid’s a warrior. It’s a great opportunity for me. I was in the gym, the phone rang, the opprtunity arose, I said, Yeah. It’s a great opprtunity to prove to the boxing world I belong where I’m at. I’ll leave it at that.”

Chris Arreola was as likeable in person as he is on TV. The only New York daily newspaper reporter in attendance told me after we both interviewed him, “I love that guy. I think he’s great for the sport.” Arreola was humble and honest when I suggested he still might be the #3 heavyweight in the world, instead saying he had to prove himself all over again after the loss to Vitali and gave credit to Eddie Chambers and David Haye, “eventhough he’s a prick.”: “I’m fighting Brian Minto who’s called The Beast. There’s one reason they call him a beast. Cuz he a beast. I hate losing. I don’t ever want to lose again. It’s the worst feeling in the world.”

Lou DiBella: “Paul Williams is a beast. He’s a beast. Capable of beating anybody from 147 to 168. But he has a guy in front of him who is not afraid. Most people are afraid – for good reason. I respect that George Peterson and Paul Williams took this fight because it’s more difficult than Kelly Pavlik. And they know it. Carlos Quintana laid out a blueprint. Sergio is bigger, stronger, faster version than Quintana.”

Sergio Martinez dressed in suit with Chris Arreola acting as translator: “I believe I’ll be able to knock out Paul Williams. I’m the real deal and the whole world is going to see it. I’m the real deal. For this fight I want to pay homage to Vernon The Viper Forrest who was a great champion. It’s going to be a great night of fighting. I will win by knockout.”

Dan Goossen: “I think Paul Williams will go down as one of the greatest fighters. He’s willing to take up every challenge.”

George Peterson is so confident and sure of his charge it’s rather funny. Peterson is a very sharp and humorous man, so much that he had much of the room laughing, even the low-key and serious advisor Al Haymon was observed chuckling pretty darn hard. But make no mistake, George Peterson is one of the best trainers in boxing and the performances of his fighter Paul Williams reflect that: “I want to thank Sergio Martinez for taking the fight. But he’s in a HELLUVA predicament on Saturday [laughter]. Paul Williams is coming off five months of layoff and frustration and I hate that his young man has to be on the receiving end [laughter]. It’s going to be an exciting fight as long as it lasts – and we don’t expect it to last very long. It’s my understanding that he said he’s gonna stop Paul Williams. I also understand that he’s a tad bit faster than Quintana. And Quintana had the plan to beat Paul and upset Paul. But of course he omitted that plan in the second fight [laughter]. So if he’s patterned himself on that, then it’s going to be a shorter fight than I expect it to be.”

Paul Williams was impressive with his statement. The best welterweight on earth looks the part of the stylish superstar too, he’s wearing jeans, blue t-shirt, flamboyant brown fur coat and black and red Orioles cap: “They say he’s faster and quicker. That don’t mean nothing to me. Once you get in there and the punches start flying, you takin’ the heat and I’m takin’ the heat, I live for that. It’s another opportunity for me to put on another show. He’s doing good, that’s good. That motivates me even more… It’s gonna be a pig roast and I’m gonna put an apple in his mouth. He never been in the ring with Paul Williams with all those 44 wins. I’m going to take him to school. So he better bring his books for school.”

At the conclusion of the conference, both fighters stayed at the dais, Martinez did not eat while Williams enjoyed a plate of salmon. When Martinez got up to exit and was passing by Williams, Williams stood up and acknowledged his opponent, then gestured to shake hands and the two warriors did just that. It was a very classy moment by both Williams and Martinez.

Some tickets for this loaded card are still available at $300, $200, $100 and $50 and can be purchased Saturday at the Boardwalk Hall box office and by calling Ticketmaster 800-736-1420 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com

Also scheduled to be on the card are the following matchups:
Chazz Witherspoon 26-1 (18) vs. Tony Thompson 32-2 (20) at heavyweight,
Carlos Quintana 26-2 (20) vs. Jesse Feliciano 15-7-3 (9) at welterweight.

Serious but relaxed: Paul Williams discusses Martinez with the boxing media.

 Everybody’s favorite judge and HBO’s unofficial scorekeeper Harold Lederman took time out to talk some sweet science. Read on to learn Harold’s thoughts on this weekend, why he believes Floyd will do the right thing and fight the winner, why he likes Paul Williams and Tavoris Cloud and much more…

BoxingInsider: We have the big one we all been waiting for this weekend, you have to be excited.

Harold Lederman: “Very much so, I think it’s going to be a sensational fight. Miguel Cotto is a very hard puncher, he’s the bigger guy. Durable, he keeps coming, he always makes exciting fights. He digs to the body. He’s certainly capable of giving Manny Pacquiao trouble.”

BoxingInsider: You’re picking Cotto to win?

Harold Lederman: “No I’m not picking anybody. I gotta keep score, I gotta be nuetral [laughs]. But Manny is really in his prime right now. Bigger guys don’t bother him, we saw what he did to Oscar, David Diaz, Ricky Hatton. He looks sensational. He throws a punch, he just doesn’t miss. Always right on the money. The question is can he stop a real full fledged 147 pound fighter like Miguel Cotto? We don’t know. On the other hand, can he stand up to Cotto’s power? It’s gonna be interesting. If Cotto looks great…if either one of them looks great, it’s gonna set up a heckuva fight with Floyd Mayweather. I’m really excited.”

BoxingInsider: Do you think it will happen? Floyd seems not to be too interested.

Harold Lederman: “I think Floyd is looking for the best money he can get. And I think the best money he can get is with the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto. I think it’s a bigger fight than Shane Mosley. I think more people will want to see it. The Mosley fight might be easier to make but I think Floyd will just look at the numbers and say, I’m gonna do the best fight – Cotto or Pacquiao. Personally I think Floyd is praying for Manny Paquiao to win because he loves to fight small guys [laughs]. But it remains to be seen. If the fight turns out to be a dull fight – which I don’t think is gonna happen – then Floyd will probably take Shane Mosley.”

BoxingInsider: But we have heard rumors that Floyd is looking to make a Hatton rematch, or pick Dimitri Salita – if Salita upsets Khan.

Harold Lederman: “I don’t think so. I doubt it. I think he’s looking for the biggest money he can make. I think it’s with the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto.”

BoxingInsider: This will be the biggest night of the year for boxing.

Harold Lederman: “Huge, I think it’s absolutely gonna be huge. Everybody wants to see the fight. It’s exciting, it’s huge in the Latin and Filipino communities. The guy on the street wants to see it.”

BoxingInsider: Yeah people like Shaq, the New York Giants are hyped about it. Like the Larry Holmes era in the 80s, the welterweight division is picking up the slack and taking the sport to a higher level.

Harold Lederman: “There’s more interesting fights at welterweight than there is at heavyweight. The heavyweights are dominated by the Klitschkos, they look terrific. You can’t take it away from them, they just keep on winning. You don’t see any opponents out there who can give them a competitive fight. They both have fights coming up – Vitali with Kevin Johnson and Wladimir with Eddie Chambers.”

BoxingInsider: We know who will win those.

Harold Lederman: “That’s what I’m saying, the Klitschkos are so dominant. Eddie Chambers is really a good fighter, but at his size, can be beat Wladimir Klitschko? He’s not a really big guy.”

BoxingInsider: Solis from Cuba looks like he could be the future of the heavyweight division.

Harold Lederman: “You know what scares me about Odlanier Solis? I saw him beat Monte Barrett and he has power. But when he was an amateur beating Felix Savon, he weighed 201. For Monte Barrett he weighed 271. That’s scary. I don’t know if he can put on all that weight and be efective. I don’t know, I’m a little leery. Wait till we see him in a couple more fights. He may be suffering from that problem Chris Arreola has – in other words, he may be 25-30 pounds overweight. But from what I saw in the Barrett fight, it sure looks like he can punch.”

BoxingInsider: With the “Super Six” on Showtime, Cotto and Pacquiao on Saturday, you’ve been in boxing a long time. Is your enthusiasm for the sport still very high? Or has it declined?

Harold Lederman: “No [laughs]. Not in the least [laughs]. Without question, Mikkel Kessler-Andre Ward is gonna be a great fight, there’s no doubt about that. And our show is going to be fabulous. I’m really excited about several fights coming up. I’m really looking forward to seeing Paul Williams against Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City.I’m looking forward to Paulie Malignaggi-Juan Diaz again December 12 in Chicago. I’m looking forward to Librado Andrade-Bute in Quebec City.”

BoxingInsider: How good is Paul Williams?

Harold Lederman: “Dynamite. When do you see a southpaw knock people out with right hooks? I mean, he doubles and triples the left hook. Which is unheard of for a southpaw. I think he’s a terrific fighter, he really is. Not only does he have a helluva straight left hand, good size, good power, but what he can do with a right hand is amazing for a southpaw.”

BoxingInsider: And where is the boxing talent in America? The amateur system is not producing the future stars like we have come to expect, especially in the heavyweight division. What is going on?

Harold Lederman: “We will. It’s a lull in the action. They’ll be back. I guarantee they’ll be back. There’s Deontay Wilder, Demetrius Andrade from the last Olympics. Guys like that. It’s just a matter of time. Now there isn’t a lot of young Americans coming up but I’m impressed by Tavoris Cloud. He seems to be a great name that we didn’t know about. The new IBF Light Heavyweight champion of the world. He impresses me with his punching power. I’m sure, before long, we’re going to see a whole lot of new faces.”