Paul Williams Hopes Kermit Cintron Steps Up

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WBO welterweight champ Paul "The Punisher" Williams (33-0, 24KOs) is hoping that his IBF counterpart, Kermit Cintron, steps up to the plate as promised to unify their titles on Feb. 2. Talks for the bout have been ongoing, but Williams' tells the Aiken Standard that he is not sold until the contract is signed. Williams feel that after beating Antonio Margarito, one of the most feared welterweights in the division, none of the other champions want to fight him.

"I respect him [Cintron]. He's a champion, a big puncher, but I've been in the ring with a lot of big punchers," Williams said. "(I'll) look out for his right hand, and make the fight my fight."

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George Peterson, Williams' manager and trainer, told the paper that everyone is running scared from his fighter and refuse to sign on the dotted line. If Cintron does not sign a contract for the fight, they will face someone else on the date, which is scheduled to be televised by HBO.

"As Paul has achieved, what's happened is that everyone in his weight class is freezing him out, which makes it hard to get opponents," Peterson said. "They're running from us like we have the plague. The reason for that is because (Paul)'s a serious threat. Anyone in the boxing community knows he's the most-feared guy out there. He beat the guy that was a champion for eight years."

"We've heard rumors from Cintron and (his trainer) Emanuel Steward saying that they want to challenge Paul Williams, but they've been saying that for (months)," Peterson said. "Why is the contract not signed? Sign (it) and get it overwith. They're blowing smoke.

"(In February) we'll be fighting someone in California or Nevada. By that time, if one of these champs doesn't come up, we'll fight someone (on HBO), we don't care who it is. What will happen is that it'll give us the chance to call (the titleholders) out on HBO, and 20 million people will know the real story."

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Comments

onechampWed Nov 28, 2007, 11:33 PM UTC

Cintron Does anyone watch these fights? Can you tell me that Cintron isn't the biggest puncher in the division? Everyone is handing the fight to Williams but yet he slapped his way to a decision over Margarito and Cintron trained about 3 weeks for that Margarito fight and it was years ago. Trainers can make a big difference for a fighter and especially when you have a young guy thrown to the wolves to early but now with the right team just look how improved he is. PLUS people need to watch that Feliciano fight again and realize that he listened to his corner and they had to go inside because he had hurt his right hand in the first round. Instructions were to go inside and let him tire and then stay away and go for the KO which he did perfectly. I guess when you have a guy going to the wrong corner at the end of the 9th and the telecast thinks he is taunting Cintron people get a different perspective. It was a tough fight but that Williams fight is a pick em. Two good fighters going at it in their prime. I hope it happens and his hand is ok. Paul Williams is a good fighter who fought a great fight but in no way should be handed an easy win. Cintron KO in the 10th.

Jim_JeffriesWed Nov 28, 2007, 5:55 AM UTC

Who cares about Clottey, Cintron has a paper championship and he is a bigger name. A TKO win over Cintron and another belt will look very good on Williams' resume. Williams/Cintron, Mayweather/Cotto, and the winner of those two face each other to unify, that's what I want.

WLAD_OWNSWed Nov 28, 2007, 5:26 AM UTC

I'd rather see Williams/Clottey now. Who cares about Clottey, Cintron has a paper championship and he is a bigger name. A TKO win over Cintron and another belt will look very good on Williams' resume.

sonofisisWed Nov 28, 2007, 5:22 AM UTC

WBO welterweight champ Paul "The Punisher" Williams (33-0, 24KOs) is hoping that his IBF counterpart, Kermit Cintron, steps up to the plate as promised to unify their titles on Feb. 2. Talks for the bout have been ongoing, but Williams' tells the Aiken Standard that he is not sold until the contract is signed. Williams feel that after beating Antonio Margarito, one of the most feared welterweights in the division, none of the other champions want to fight him. details] I'd rather see Williams/Clottey now.

Gareth_IvanovicWed Nov 28, 2007, 5:17 AM UTC

I hope Cintron's hand isn't too badly messed up because I think him and Williams would be an exciting fight. Plus if Williams wins he will have two belts and that could be added incentive to face him. Because he's at this point for the big names in the division a high risk low reward.

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