More Lem's latest: Williams-Ishida; Lara-Hearns; Russell Jr.

Former two-time welterweight beltholder Paul Williams will return to the ring in a Showtime-televised junior middleweight bout on Feb. 18 against Nobuhiro Ishida at a site to be determined, RingTV.com has learned.

Williams (40-2, 27 knockouts) will be ending a seven-month absence from the ring against Ishida (24-6-2, 9 KOs), a 36-year-old veteran from Japan, who upset James Kirkland last April with a stunning first-round KO.

Williams, who split fights with left-handers Carlos Quintana and Sergio Martinez before struggling to a disputed majority decision over Erislandy Lara last July, has been known to have trouble with southpaws, and in fact, his promoter, Dan Goossen, has said in the past that he'd like to find an orthodox opponent for Williams. The good news for both of them is, Ishida is a right-handed fighter.

LARA-RONALD HEARNS  WILL BE ON THE VICTOR ORTIZ-ANDRE BERTO UNDERCARD

RingTV.com announced on Dec. 20 that Lara will meet Ronald Hearns (26-2, 20 KOs) in a Showtime-televised undercard bout to a main event featuring the rematch between RING No. 3-rated welterweight Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs) and RING No. 4-rated RING No. 4-rated Andre Berto (28-1, 22 KOs) on Feb. 11 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The opening bout will display featherweight Gary Russell (19-0, 11 KOs), THE RING's Prospect of the Year, opposite an opponent to be determined.

HYLON WILLIAMS-RANCES BARTHELEMY FACE OFF IN A CLASH OF UNBEATENS

Junior welterweights Hylon Williams (15-0, 3 KOs) and 25-year-old Rances Barthelemy (14-0, 11 KOs), of Miami, will meet in a battle of unbeaten fighters in the 21-year-old Williams' hometown of Las Vegas on Feb. 3.

Photo by Craig Bennett, Goossen Tutor Promotions

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com