Wright gives Williams a fight at middleweight

LAS VEGAS (AP) — When Paul Williams tells the sad, frustrating story of his last few years in boxing, it’s clear he feels like he’s on the same lonely career path traveled by Winky Wright about 10 years ago.

Almost everybody thinks Williams is one of the most impressive fighters in boxing, and absolutely nobody wants to let him prove it on their skulls. From welterweight to middleweight, the top fighters won’t take his calls.

But it’s tough to blame them. Williams’ 6-foot-1 frame, seemingly effortless ability to switch weight classes without losing power, and a much smaller man’s mobility make him an awful matchup for a champion hoping to keep his belts.

While others move up the boxing ladder to big fights and bigger paydays, Williams (36-1, 27 KOs) has been working his way through second-tier bouts on undercards and at Indian casinos, even after beating Antonio Margarito two years ago.

“I’m tired of calling out guys and asking for the biggest fights,” Williams added, the frustration evident in his tone. “If they want me now, they’re going to have to call me out from now on.”

That’s because when Williams called Wright, somebody finally picked up the phone. Their middleweight matchup happens at Mandalay Bay tonight.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity that Winky’s giving me,” Williams said. “If I wasn’t fighting him, I don’t know if I’d be fighting at all. I know what he’s gone through, because I’ve gone through the same thing.”

Although the 37-year-old Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) had multiple reasons for taking a tremendously tough comeback fight, he sympathizes with Williams’ frustration. He fought mostly overseas for several years in his 20s, when he was perceived as a nightmare matchup for any quality 154-pounder with the sense to avoid his defensive prowess and sneaky power.

“Like Paul said, it’s tough when nobody wants to fight you, and you see all these other fighters getting fights,” Wright said. “I know how Paul feels about being avoided. We’ve got two fighters here that are grateful to fight each other.”