Remember the last time we saw Paul Williams? He had barely managed to scrape by Sergio Martinez in an incredible firefight. Many believed that Williams looked vunerable enough to finally lock up a fight with Middleweight kingpin Kelly Pavlik, who dropped the ball three times on a possible fight before. We forget, however, that Pavlik is a Top Rank fighter and Williams just isn't allowed to fight one yet. So with Pavlik locking up Martinez this April and nobody really good at 154 to sell an arena with, Williams is very possibly heading back to 147.
The last time Williams was in the ring at 147 was two years ago when he knocked out Carlos Quintana in the first round. Since then, he's been fighting at 160, with a short stop at 154 to demolish Verno Phillips. This isn't a good idea for Williams, who I think is better suited for 154 pounds. He's grown into a good frame at the higher weight class and there really isn't any good reason for him to come down to 147 at all.
First of all, every Welterweight titlist is tied up with each other for the time being. You've got Mosley-Mayweather, Pacquiao-Clottey and Andre Berto will continue his reign as the best "Junior" Welterweight in the world when he fights either Paulie Malignaggi or Kendall Holt. Second, 147 isn't the money rich division it has been for a while. Outside from the fights listed previously, who else does HBO want to show us?
I have to place the blame on Dan Goossen for this one, as well as Team Williams, who have successfully mismanaged Williams' career to the point of ruin. They were right in putting their foot down against a 50-50 split with Pavlik, but they lost whatever opportunity they had for a big fight when they let Martinez slip away from a rematch, the biggest fight Williams could get.
All the fluff about Williams being able to compete across three weight classes is absolutely ridiculous. Not even Tommy Hearns, who had the same build as Williams, could do that! If Goossen-Tutor Promotions or Team Williams is reading this, Williams never had any, and will never get any, business at 147.