The Boxing Weekend: Paul Williams Vs Kermit Cintron Headlines
By Geno McGahee
Puncher’s Chance on HBO
Paul “The Punisher” Williams, 38-1, 27 KO’s, coming off his victory over Sergio Martinez in his last fight will be taking on former IBF Welterweight Champion, Kermit Cintron, 32-2-1, 28 KO’s, in a twelve round battle on HBO.
Williams has long been considered the “most avoided man in boxing,” due to his freakish size and great punch output. He seems to improve with time and has traveled from welterweight to middleweight without issue. He brings power, but his power is in the amount of punches he throws. There aren’t that many fighters that can deal with him. His only defeat came against Carlos Quintana in 2008. In the rematch, Quintana was left in a heap on the floor in one round. He has beaten Antonio Margarito, Winky Wright, and Verno Phillips, and had an unexpected war with Martinez, a bout that he won by majority decision.
When you look at the common opponents, the outcome of this Saturday’s showdown doesn’t seem in doubt. Antonio Margarito stopped Cintron on two occasions. Williams outpointed him. Martinez had a draw with Cintron in a fight that he should have won by KO and most certainly by decision, while Williams legitimately picked up a win. What Cintron has going for him is a very big punch. He can knock Williams out if he can land it.
Cintron won impressively over Alfredo Angulo via decision in one of his most recent fights, using movement and power shots to take the fight, but can he employ these tactics against a fighter like Williams or should he? I expect some rocky moments for “The Punisher” but Cintron is a big underdog going into this fight and will be looking to hit the lottery with one big punch to send the towering Williams to the floor.
Latin Fury
Despite the fact that former Welterweight Champion, Antonio Margarito, 37-6, 27 KO’s, has been proven to be a fighter that will do anything to win, including putting the lives of his opponents at risk by using plaster of Paris in his hand wraps, will be allowed to fight again this Saturday night on this Latin Fury PPV card, against Roberto Garcia, 28-2, 21 KO’s. The bout will be held in Mexico since Margarito is banned from boxing in the USA.
Immediately after it came out that Margarito used loaded gloves, Bob Arum began spouting nonsense about it being a race issue…that Margarito would not have been banned had he been white. It was announced that he would be welcomed to fight in Mexico. In a sport that is very dangerous as it is, we don’t need this nonsense and for this fight to even be happening is a black eye for boxing. I would not rule out seeing Margarito back in the states soon.