Sergio P Martinez California

Insider Notebook: P. Williams; Victor Ortiz; Collazo; More

By Robert Morales

Paul Williams did more than lose a big fight to Sergio Martinez last November at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City - he was knocked out in the second round of a middleweight title bout that was supposed to be hotly contested. But whereas some fighters who have suffered the same fate have had difficulty recovering from the psychological trauma of such a devastating setback, Williams claims that is not the case with him.

"To be honest, that was out of my mind as soon as it happened," said Williams, who July 9 will get back in the ring for the first time since that loss when he takes on Erislandy Lara of Cuba in the junior middleweight main event at the scene of the crime - Boardwalk Hall.

"I got up, they checked me out. After that, somebody had a party as if I would have won. We still had the same party. Then I was down there at the casino tables as if nothing had happened."

This way of thinking is something that has been prevalent in the Williams camp for some time, said George Peterson, his manager/trainer.

"If you are going to accept winning, you have to accept losing," Peterson said. "Some people, they think it's a funeral. There is no need for that. You can always come back. The best have, and that is what we are looking at."

Williams (39-2, 27 KOs) has come back before to more than prove his worth. As a heavy favorite, he was stunningly defeated by Carlos Quintana via unanimous decision in February 2008. Williams, who lost his welterweight title in that one, regained it when he stopped Quintana in the first round four months later.

"Just like when I lost to Quintana, some had wrote me off and this and that," Williams said. "But I came back and showed them how good I can be. Like I've told everyone, I've only lost two fights and both were championship fights."

Still, there must be some pressure for Williams knowing that another loss could be almost a death sentence for his career. Especially if he were to lose to someone like Lara (15-0-1, 10 KOs), who is 28 but has only 16 pro bouts. Williams, speaking Wednesday via telephone, said that indeed there is pressure with every fight. But for him, it doesn't carry all that heavy a burden.

"I've got all my finances straight," said Williams, 29. "If I choose to give it all up, I would be happy with it because I have all my ducks in order."

This is fun, not worrisome, to Williams.

Darren Barker gets HBO approval for Sergio ... - World Boxing News

Barnet’s Darren Barker has been given the green light to challenge Ring Magazine middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in October after HBO picked up the fight for broadcast on the first of the month. The 29 year-old is unbeaten in 23 fights since turning pro in 2004 and now gets the chance to pit his wits against a major world talent in Martinez.