After his devastating knockout loss to Sergio Martinez in November 2010, Paul Williams (39-2, 27 KOs) will return to the ring July 9 on HBO against Nobuhiro Ishida (23-6-2, 8 KOs), the Japanese junior middleweight who scored a shocking first-round TKO against James Kirkland in April.
Williams, a former welterweight and junior middleweight titlist, will be fighting for the first time since his brutal second-round KO loss at middleweight and appears to be headed, full-time, back down to junior middleweight.
The 6-foot-1 Ishida, prior to the Kirkland loss, was best known for two decision wins over fringe contender Marco Antonio Avendano and a split decision loss to Rigoberto Alvarez.
Williams-Ishida is not officially signed yet, but has been agreed upon by both sides, will be contested at a catchweight of 155 pounds and broadcast on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.
