By Chris Williams: I think it’s really important for Paul Williams (39-2, 27 KO’s) to get back on the horse that threw him and get back in the ring with WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KO’s) to prove to himself, Martinez and boxing fans that Williams’ 2nd round knockout loss to Martinez in the November was just a fluke thing.

It’s crucial that Williams shoot for the rematch, because he can’t let the baggage of this defeat ruin him and by avoiding Martinez for the rest of his career, the loss to him will have a good chance of sticking around in Williams’ mind for a long time. It’s best to face the guy, try something different and box instead of slug.

Williams can beat Martinez in a rematch as long as he doesn’t go in there throwing wild power shots like he did in their fight in November. Williams was practically begging to be knocked out in that fight, because he seemed to be fighting with anger rather than smarts after getting hit hard by some of Martinez’s shots in the 2nd.

Instead of looking to retaliate, Williams should have stepped back and used his incredibly long reach to stick a jab in the shorter Martinez’s face. That’s how you beat Martinez by jabbing and not giving him opportunities to land his shorter punches. Williams relies for too much on his chin in his fights and winds up taking shots he doesn’t have to if he would just focus on using his jab more.

Right now, the best chance that Williams has at making any kind of money is in a third fight with Martinez. Williams needs this fight so that he can get a good payday, while at the same time getting his name back by beating Martinez. Williams has to be smart next time around, though. He can’t just go in there thinking he can slug with him because that obviously won’t work.

It’s too dangerous to punch with Martinez, so Williams needs to fight tall and focus on his jab. He would really help himself if he got a new trainer like Emanuel Steward. That’s who Williams needs.