By James Slater – Right after the most bizarre ending to one of the most bizarre fights of last year – Paul Williams Vs. Kermit Cintron – Williams’ trainer George Peterson personally told this writer he was “offended” when I brought up the subject of a possible return fight between the two light-middleweights. Peterson, along with many other people who witnessed the May fight, felt strongly that Kermit had deliberately dived through the ropes in that 4th-round, because he felt he was on his way to being defeated, maybe even KO’d, by “The Punisher..”
Since that weird fight, which was won by Williams by way of an entirely unsatisfying Technical Decision win, a lot has happened – to Williams, anyway. Brutally KO’d in the 2nd-round of his middleweight rematch with the 2010 Fighter Of The Year, Sergio Martinez, Williams has been on vacation ever since that fateful November evening. Williams, still one of the bigger names of the sport, deserves his rest, but soon he will have to fight again. And, due to his being a marquee name, chances are the lanky, extremely talented southpaw will wind up with no real choice but to fight a big name in his comeback bout.
Enter Kermit Cintron.
HBO, who televise Williams’ fights, have reportedly expressed interest in not only a rubber-match between Williams and fellow lefty Martinez, but also in a Williams-Cintron II. It’s easy to see why. Okay, Williams-Cintron I was a dud, and it had that awful conclusion which in reality was no real conclusion at all. But: the fight was just beginning to catch fire in that 4th-round, with both guys opening up and landing punches. Cashing in on the sense fans have had ever since of what might have been, HBO would almost certainly be able to sell the rematch; as a curiosity event if nothing more.
But a return fight between the two big punchers would be much more than that. Both men would have to know their top level career was on the line, and as such there would be none of the negativity we saw in fight-one. Advertised as a guaranteed Bombs Away-type fight back in May of last year, it’s entirely possible a rematch would deliver. A risky fight for both men to be sure, the winner of Williams-Cintron II would be able to at least call out for another title shot. Of course, both fighters have met Martinez before – Williams winning on points in that great fight of 2009, then being taken out in that awesome KO; Cintron escaping with a draw down at 154, also in 2009.
Maybe, just maybe, the two will clash in their own rematch, before the winner goes on to either a rematch or a rubber-match with the world middleweight king (if, of course, Martinez can get past Dzindziruk in March).
Mr. Peterson, as “The Punisher” respectfully refers to his trainer, was almost disgusted with the idea of his warrior fighting Cintron for a second time when I spoke with him in May. But now, his fallen warrior doesn’t have quite as many options as he had back then. Look out for Williams-Cintron II this summer!