The HBO Saturday Special twin-bill went as expected with both favorites delivering the proverbial goods - Paul “Punisher” Williams showcasing his skills round after round, in a lopsided decision win over a game, yesterday multi-champion Ronald “Winky” Wright in the main event, while undefeated heavyweight contender Cristobal Arreola  moved up a rung after a stanza four blitzing of former talent Jameel McCline. 

Show opens with Arreola the quicker out of the gate finding the target with big right hands - then stanza two it’s Arreola scoring with left hooks to the body coupled with straight right hands to the head. 

Then the veteran McCline surprises during an action round three, as he rocks Arreola with power punches to the head - big left hook and right hands to get back in the game - but then come candle four with the age 38, at 6' 6” 270 excess poundage, McCline had little left in the tank. 

The show would close at 2:01 mark of numero four courtesy of Arreola combo that went right hand, left uppercut, right hand - referee Tony weeks counted the full ten with McCline on the canvas and finished for the night. 

Rest of story: 

• Cristobal Arreola (27-0, 24 KO) ~ age 28 - 6‘4“ at 255 lbs. The dream is being first Mexican heavyweight champion. Showed improvement in skills department from prior appointments. Mucho courage, good power and the addition of a jab and uppercut helps the cause. Cristobal improved on defense as well - found it better to pick off some of the incoming with his gloves instead of his face. Problem is a title fight with the bros. Klitschko at this time would translate to being rushed. One could feel the promoters, media, alleged brain trust, are ready to make it a happening - and Arreola clearly wanting it as well.

• Jameel McCline (39-10-3, 23 KO) ~ age 38, enters as yesterday’s news - tried from beginning - but found the handwriting on the wall when having a big stanza three, but unable to stem the Arreola tide.

………………………………................................................................................................

The main event a middleweight non-stop action affair with the tall at 6’ 1’ Paul “Punisher” Williams having the better hand than “Winky” Wright, who displayed the heart of a champion as he opted to meet fire with fire. 

Maybe grabs opening stanza in an action round - but the combination of Williams size and the younger at eight years, 27 versus 35 , would tilt the playing field in Williams favor. 

While Wright showed valor, he could not match the Williams output - the size and hand speed boggled the mind - with the assorted incoming arriving from both starboard and portside, and Wright never a big puncher, it was surprising he was still around come the proverbial championship rounds of 10-11-12. 

Battered but only wounded, Winky the veteran, would refuse to die with his boots on. 

Scoring went Williams 119-109; 119-109, 120-108 - my unofficial saw it Williams 117-111 in points, and 9-3 under the yesterday round by round method. 

Post Scripts:

• Paul Williams (37-1, 2737-1, 27 KOs) ~ the jump from welter to middleweight off last noche, hints in size, hand speed off the port side, coupled with solid stamina, the step up to jr. middle, middle a reasonable one. Toss in, not a bit bashful when things stray from the Queensberry rules.

• Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs) ~  age 35 and short on punching power the problem - can still share the squared circle but can no longer be valid title threat.

                   Referee report cards: Tony Weeks (Arreola-McCline) outscores Joe Cortez in a landslide. Maybe dropping the “I‘m firm but I‘m fair” infamy for a slapping, chatterbox lunacy as replacement hasn‘t helped.. Another hack in need of a pencil with eraser and seat at ring apron. 

                   Commentators: Larry Merchant along with Manny Steward far the best doing color commentary - count Lamphead out - better qualified for a gig doing commercials. 

 

GEL -