Kermit Cintron: “Paul Williams would be a huge victory for me”

Geoffrey Ciani Regarding when he plans to get back in the ring: “We actually have a fight on May 8 against Paul Williams. We’re still negotiating on that and trying to get the venue and stuff like that, but it seems like it’s a done deal financially. We’re just waiting on where the fight will be at.” On how he feels campaigning at 154 pounds: “The weight is fine. I’m a bigger welterweight, I can hold 154 fine, I feel comfortable at it. I’m just looking at whatever weight can get me the best opportunity between 147 and 154..” His views on Paul Williams’ fight with Sergio Martinez: “It was a close fight. I had Paul Williams up 115-113 and I felt like he won the fight. It was a great fight, it was a really close fight, but I think Paul Williams pulled it out at the end.” Regarding his controversial draw with Sergio Martinez: “It was a hard fight for both fighters. He had dropped me in the seventh round. You know, I’m in the fight, I’m not outside looking in the ring—I was in the fight and I felt like I got hit with a head butt, that’s how hard I got hit. But it was a great punch and I went down. I saw the replays a couple of time, and I stood up at the nine count, and the bell rang and I was saved by the bell.” On the upcoming fight between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr.: “It’s going to be a great fight. It’s two guys who are really, really smart in the ring. They’re both legends as fighters and great champions, as well. It’s going to be a tough fight for both fighters. I guess it’s going to be whoever the smarter fighter is that night and right now—I have Mayweather. I think he has the edge just because of the youth and because he’s really smart with great defense.” Regarding his two knockout losses to Margarito and the subsequent hand wrap controversy: “If he got caught once, I won’t doubt that he’s done it before. I’m a fair fighter. I go in there well prepared for fights and I don’t try to cheat. There’s a lot of fighters and there’s a lot of dirty trainers as well who try to do things like that. If he did, he did. I know that I went in there clean and I gave it all that I had t hose two nights that I fought him.” On how he intends to neutralize Williams’ height and work rate: “Well, he’s only two inches taller than me. The height doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just going to have to go in there and just make sure I am very well prepared and fight a smart fight. I have to stick to my game plan and take it one round at a time.” On what a victory over Paul Williams would mean to him: “It would be a huge victory for me. It is very important that I win this fight. It will get me back on top and even more on top than back when I was IBF champ. My name will definitely grow, for sure.” His views on Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight with Joshua Clottey: “I think that Manny Pacquiao is something else. He has so much energy and doesn’t get tired. He’s real busy and he can punch as well. Clottey’s the type of fighter who kind of chokes at the end of rounds and Manny doesn’t stop punching. It’s going to be an interesting fight, but I think it’s going to be a shutout.”