Williams edges out Martinez, Arreola makes short work of Minto

(AP Photo/George Ruhe)

Paul Williams edged out Sergio Martinez by majority decision last night after initially struggling with the Argentine WBC super welterweight champion.

The judges had the scores as 115-113, 119-110 and 114-114, although the fight was clearly a lot closer than the 119-110 judge saw things. Martinez was successful early on, but later had trouble with Williams' range and punching volume, as he struggled to get in close enough to put in much work of his own. As Williams threw the greater volume, Martinez relied instead on pot shots, and landed the cleaner shots albeit at the expense of the greater volume of Williams. Martinez's main problem seemed to be maintaining his stamina throughout the fight and might otherwise have won.

Arreola bounced back (AP Photo)

On the undercard of the Williams-Martinez fight, one time heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola demolished Pa native Brian Minto in four rounds to keep himself at the top of the heavyweight pile.

From the offset Arreola used his size and strength to bully Minto around the ring, and walked through most of Minto's punches. By the start of the fourth, Minto was looking worn, and Arreola knocked him down twice in quick succession, prompting the referee to stop the fight.

Arreola now find himself in the unenviable position of being better than most of the other heavyweights but a little ways behind the champions, although he did take on the most difficult in Vitali Klitshko. Perhaps moving toward a title shot against one of the easier champions should now be Arreola's focus.

On the other card on offer last night, Amir Khan smashed Dmitriy Salita in just over one minute, answering the critics who said he was overrated and would struggle against the well rounded New Yorker. A rematch with another man on the card, Breidis Prescott might be next for Khan, who is no doubt eager to erase his own drubbing from last year. Showing great improvement under Freddie Roach, Amir Khan is being tipped by many to be the next big thing after Manny Pacquiao retires next year.

Kevin Mitchell also outclassed the only man to beat Khan, Breidis Prescott after moving up in weight to face the Columbian puncher. Initially Mitchell found the bigger man troubling, but quickly adapted to his punches and moved well throughout to give Breidis a boxing lesson. He even took some of the feared punchers best shots and kept coming, often leaving Prescott looking confused and frustrated in the middle of the ring as he moved on the outside picking his shots.