[1] They last fought in December 2009 with Williams winning a controversial 12-round majority decision at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Dan Goossen hoped to line up a big fight for Williams at welterweight, where he used to hold a title, against an opponent such as Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley.

[3] When promoter Lou DiBella ran out of patience waiting for the Williams side to accept the fight in mid-August, DiBella cut off talks and offered the fight to junior middleweight contender Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo, a network staple in recent years.

However, when Angulo turned down $750,000, a career-high purse by more than double, Martínez's camp made another run at Williams and this time accepting the fight on November 20.

[5] Martínez was later stripped by the WBC after HBO declined to broadcast a bout between him and "Interim" champion Sebastian Zbik.