By Mark Vester
IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (28-1, 26 KOs) crushed Walter Matthysse (26-2, 25 KOs) out of Trelew, Argentina in two-rounds by way of a vicious knockout at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The fight began with both men winging plenty of leather in the first round. Towards the end of the first, a big right hand that was followed by an uppercut sent Matthysse down for the first time in his career in the final seconds. He made it to his feet as the round came to a close.
At the start of the second, Cintron sent Matthysse down again with some hard punches off the jab. Moments later a vicious combination sent Matthysse down and motionless as the ref stopped the fight.
Following the win, Cintron called out Shane Mosley.
"I heard Shane Mosley wants to fight a world champion. I'm a world champion. Come and get it," Cintron said.
On the undercard;
Unbeaten prospect Pawel Wolak (15-0, 10 KOs) stopped Edgar Reyes (18-8, 3 KOs) in the second round.
In a middleweight battle, Giovanni Lorenzo (25-0, 17 KOs) walked through Sherwin Davis (18-5, 12 KOs) by knocking him down four times on route to a third round stoppage.
Flyweight Raul Martinez (20-0, 13 KOs) stopped Everisto Primero (15-11-1) after Primero quit on his stool after five rounds of action.
Welterweight prospect Henry Crawford (16-0-1, 8 KOs) destroyed Josh Hammock (8-6-3KOs) with a single right hand in just 35 seconds of the first round.