By Sammy Rozenberg
Redemption was earned in the West Palm Beach Convention Center, in West Palm Beach Florida. Kermit “The Killer” Cintron (27-1, 25 KOs) pounded his way to a fifth round stoppage over Mark “Poison” Suarez (25-3, 13 KOs) to capture the vacant IBF welterweight title that was vacated by Floyd Mayweather, jr. a few months ago.
The fight was built up as power punching war that would never see the final bell, and it delivered as both men were throwing bombs in the first round. Suarez, riding a seven fight win streak that saw him stop all seven, including two undefeated prospects in his last two outings, was game, but could not match the speed or skill of Cintron.
Now under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, current trainer of champions Jermain Taylor and Wladimir Klitschko, Cintron showcased patience, defense and combinations. Three qualities that were missing when Antonio Margarito stopped him in five rounds last April.
After a few rounds of both fighters landing their signature power punches, Cintron began to open up in the fifth round with combinations that had Suarez on unsteady legs. Sensing he was in trouble, Suarez took a knee to give himself some time to rest, but it was not enough as Cintron jumped on him with power punches as soon as Suarez made it to his feet at the count of nine.
A vicious assault of punches against the ropes gave the signal to the referee to stop the fight in order to save Suarez from taking any more punishment. Suarez had never been stopped prior to the bout with Cintron.
Bobby Bostick, promoter of Cintron, said that he is currently talking with Main Events about a possible bout against Arturo Gatti down the line. If Gatti was unable to handle the power of Carlos Baldomir, I don't see him being able to handle the power punches of Cintron.
The welterweight division is wide open with enough potential money bouts to keep Kermit Cintron busy for quite some time.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is the biggest money machine at the weight. He faces Carlos Baldomir next Saturday for the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas. Mayweather follows the money, and has his sights set on Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya if he wins.
WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito defends his title against tough challenger Joshua Clottey on December 2. On the same night, Miguel Cotto moves to the welterweight division to challenge Carlos Quintana for the vacant WBA welterweight title.
Shane Mosley is a possibility, if a fight with Mayweather does not go through for February. Mosley has not fought at the welterweight limit since 2005 and there is no answer as to how long it would take him to get back down to the 147-pound limit.
One fighter that brings a lot of money to the table without the biggest amount of risk is Arturo Gatti. Gatti was overpowered a few months ago when he faced Carlos Baldomir, and could easily be a very vulnerable opponent if Cintron brings the right strategy to the ring.
Undefeated Paul Williams is starting to build his name, but the money would have to be right for Cintron to step in the ring with this dangerous puncher. Currently the mandatory to Margarito's title, he wants to the winner of Margarito-Clottey in 2007 before he makes any other decisions.
Former champions like Zab Judah and Luis Collazo would be marketable bouts against very tough fighters with name recognition. Other possibilities include less recognizable names like Joel Julio and Oktay Urkal, who are far easier opponents at this point than Judah or Collazo.
Someone from 140-pounds like Vivian Harris could move up for a title shot, or a very marketable opponent like Ricardo Mayorga could move down from 154-pounds to 147.
At 27-years-old, Cintron is one of the younger talents in the welterweight division, a position only rivaled by Miguel Cotto who is age 25. If Cintron is brought along the right way and properly matched, he could be in the mix with the upper-tier welterweights for a long time.
