By Jim Amato

 

Antonio Margarito retained his WBO welterweight by halting the highly regarded Kermit Cintron of Puerto Rico. Cintron came into this fight with an unblemished record. Although Margarito was the favorite there were many, myself included who felt Kermit would win. Margarito took control in third round when he cut Kermit's left eye. Antonio put Cintron down twice in the fourth round. Margarito was all over Cintron in the fifth and after two more knockdowns the referee halted the bout at 2:12 of the round.

 

Cintron is game but he seemed to be overmatched. Kermit drops to 24-1. He's had 22 knockouts. Margarito upped his ledger to 31-4. This was his 22nd kayo win.

 

Sugar Shane Mosley is back to basics and showed in his performance as he defeated an up and coming David Estrada over ten rounds. The former champion Mosley worked the body well in the early rounds and then boxed sharply in the later rounds. Esrtada had his moments but for the most part he was in over his head against the quick handed and sharp punching Mosley.  Shane who is a force to be reckoned with at 147 pounds won by scores of 98-91 twice and 97-93.

 

Calvin Brock is the new heavyweight prospect to watch. He's also 25-0 and on the cusp of a high world rating. Calvin took a unanimous decision over Jameel McCline. This is same giant who lost in two separate championship attempts to Wladimir Klitschko and Chris Byrd. It was a slow bout for the first half but then it heated up in the later rounds. Brock went down in the seventh but it seemed to serve as a wake up call. Brock outfought McCline down the stretch to win by margins of 96-94, 96-93 and 97-93

 

Jameel drops to 35-5-3 and his title hopes look dim at this time.

 

Wladimir Klitschko put himself back into thick of the heavyweight picture by halting previously unbeaten Eliseo Castillo in the fourth round. The bout took place in Germany and Klitschko was in control most of the way. Working behind a very stiff jab Wladimir kept Castillo at bay. Then in the fourth Klitschko connected with wicked right hand that ended matters for Castillo. Wladimir moves to 44-3. It was his 40th knockout victory and a springboard back to the big time.