By Rick Reeno

Sources close to the negotiations have advised BoxingScene.com that Paul Williams vs. Kermit Cintron is close to done for May 8 on HBO. The fight is probably going to take place at junior middleweight. Cintron is open to fighting Williams below 154-pounds - if Williams wants to move forward with a possible return to welterweight.

2009 was a very good year for both Williams and Cintron.

Williams dominated Winky Wright for a decision win in a middleweight contest last April, and then won a majority decision over Sergio Martinez in a candidate for "fight of the year" in December.

Cintron started the year with a controversial draw with Sergio Martinez, but then scored his biggest win in years when he pulled off an upset decision  over hot junior middleweight prospect Alfredo Angulo. Cintron ended the year with a fifth round knockout of Juliano Ramos in Puerto Rico.