Paul Williams / Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

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Joseph R. Holzer of Pugilism 101 previews tomorrow night's junior-middleweight clash between Paul Williams and Kermit Cintron.

While welterweights capitalize on star power to sell pay-per-views and super middleweights are showcased in the World Boxing Classic, the 154-pound weight class is dismissed as a training ground for up-and-coming middleweights and purgatory for aging ex-welterweights.

But a closer look would reveal a talented and competitive division at least a dozen-deep. On Saturday, two of the top-10 will square off when Paul Williams faces Kermit Cintron in a non-title bout on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Williams (38-1, 27 KOs), whose fitting nickname is The Punisher, may be the most avoided fighter in the sport. Lanky and capable of sustaining a 100-punch-per-round output, the unorthodox southpaw boasts he can make weight from 147 to 160, possibly even adding his name to the 168-pound mix. He's coming off a December 5 fight-of-the-year candidate against newly crowned middleweight champ Sergio Martinez, a bout he won by majority decision.

Cintron, who has compiled back-to-back wins against Alfred Angulo and Juliano Ramos, hopes to continue his success in his fourth-consecutive fight at junior middleweight. Prior to returning to the win column, Cintron (32-2-1, 28 KOs) had his own war with Martinez, a controversial draw. Cintron appeared out-classed and seemingly knocked out in the seventh, only to have the fight continue by protesting that he had clashed heads with Martinez.

Styles make fights, but performance against common opponents could be a telling factor. Williams overcame a strong first half against Martinez to eke out a decision. In his closest bouts -- versus Martinez and Antonio Margarito -- Williams would not be deterred by the boxing prowess of the former or the powerful onslaught of the latter. His lone defeat to Carlos Quintana was emphatically avenged by a first-round knockout in the rematch. He's willing to make adjustments during and between bouts. Williams is a mentally tough fighter.

Cintron, on the other hand, has demonstrated hints of mental frailty in his two knockout losses to Margarito and in his complaining during the Martinez debacle. Williams has had a more difficult time against slick southpaws than orthodox fighters who are willing to trade. Cintron, a heavy-handed boxer-puncher, is tailor-made for Williams, who has taken hard shots from the likes of Margarito and remained upright to usually have his hand raised in victory.

Though it's doubtful he would, Williams can't take Cintron lightly. A desperate fighter is a dangerous one, and The Killer is in danger of acquiring gate-keeper status with a loss. With nothing tangible on the line, he is fighting for pride and to stay in the mix. A different Cintron showed up against Angulo. He was determined, focused and accurate. He needs to summon the same Kermit to have a chance Saturday. Any moment of discouragement opens the door for a Williams win. Cintron must be confident in his abilities.

Considering his track record against higher-level competition, it's difficult to see Cintron absorbing the punishment. A mid-rounds knockout by Williams would not be surprising.

e-mail Joseph R. Holzer