By James Slater: A rematch that many said would not happen, in Antonio Margarito-Kermit Cintron II, thankfully takes place this coming April. I say thankfully, because the fight is a good one, and many felt it would not take place due to the one-sided beat down Margarito gave Cintron in their first meeting. Why would Cintron be willing to go through that again?, the critics asked. Well, it turns out Cintron is well and truly willing to get back in a ring with the Mexican danger man, and this time “El Asesino” is confident he will win.
A double-header with the also intriguing Miguel Cotto-Alfonso Gomez bout, Margarito-Cintron II could well be an exciting fight while it lasts. The question is, can Kermit get what he wants this time – namely, revenge? Remember how one-sided fight one was? What improvements can the 28-year-old Cintron have made since? Kermit, 29-1(27) has won five in a row since the 5th round stoppage he suffered at the hands of “Tony” back in April of 2005. In some of these fights he’s looked good – the two round destruction of Walter Matthysse, for example. While in other bouts Cintron has looked ordinary – his ten round struggle with the unheralded Jesse Feliciano last time out, for instance.
While for his part, Margarito, 35-5(25) has fought four times since April of ’05, winning three and losing one. The loss was nothing to be ashamed of, however, in that it came at the hands of the excellent Paul Williams, and only via a close decision at that. Since losing to Williams (the man Cintron was originally scheduled to have boxed next, only for a hand injury to scupper the fight – for now, anyway) Margarito has blown away the overmatched Golden Johnson in a single round.
So, while Cintron may have improved somewhat under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, Margarito certainly remains just as dangerous as ever. Can Cintron take “Tony’s” big punches this time around, has he exorcised the demons that inevitably haunted him after fight number one, and, most importantly, can Kermit dig deep and get through the physical heat that Margarito will bring this time around? All these questions are tough ones for Cintron to have to face, therefore his decision to take this return fight is a very brave one. For showing that he has serious fighting pride in wanting to avenge his embarrassing loss – the solitary one in his career, don’t forget – Kermit should be applauded. He could have taken the easier route and stayed clear of anything further to do with Margarito, as more than a few expected him to, but it turns out Kermit Cintron is made of sterner stuff.
However, while his bravery is admirable, I cannot see a second fight being overly different to fight one. “Styles make fights” may be one of the oldest adages in boxing, but it is a very appropriate one in this fight’s case. Margarito simply looks like he has Cintron’s number. The Mexican hard man has a proven chin, hits almost as hard as Kermit, is mentally tougher AND has faced better men overall.
Unless Cintron can blast Margarito out quickly ( a long-shot, surely) Kermit faces another brutal beating. Once Margarito gets through the early rounds – when he will have to take some good shots, you can count on that – the 29-year-old will begin to take Cintron’s heart. Steadily piling up the punishment, Margarito will then take Cintron’s IBF belt sometime after the 6th or 7th round.
Cintron has proved how brave he is simply by taking this rematch; but this bravery will progressively drain from him, round by round, once the bell rings on April 12th in Atlantic City, N.J.