Cintron

Posted on | April 14, 2008 | No Comments

Atlantic City Boxing Results – 4/12/08

Cotto Punishes Gomez; Margarito Destroys Cintron;

By Tony Penecale (Ringside)

The welterweight division is boxing’s hottest right now. On Saturday Night, in front of a raucous crowd in Atlantic City, Miguel Cotto defended the WBA welterweight title by punishing former “Contender Series 1” star Alfonso Gomez, forcing a stoppage after five one-sided rounds. On the same card, Antonio Margarito thrust himself back into the picture by brutalizing defending IBF welterweight titlist Kermit Cintron before knocking him out in the 6th round.

Cotto, 146, Caguas Puerto Rico, electrified the large continent of Puerto Rican fans with his dominating performance against an outgunned Gomez, 147, Tustin California by way of Mexico.

Cotto, known for his punching power and body attack, opened the bout by boxing and moving. Gomez steadily moved forward in pursuit but was unable to land any meaningful punches, while Cotto snapped his head back with several searing jabs, easily winning the 1st round and causing some early damage to Gomez’s right eye.

The action picked up in the 2nd round as Cotto started to unleash his famous body work and each shot to Gomez’s ribcage thundered throughout the arena. Late in the round, a right hand deposited Gomez on the canvas and another combination at the bell sent him stumbling across the ring.

Unlike Gomez’s last appearance in Atlantic City, when everything went perfectly in his win over Arturo Gatti, nothing seemed to go right for him against Cotto’s relentless attack. That attack paid more dividends in the 3rd round when a double left hook from Cotto sent Gomez to his knees.

Whereas Cotto was gaining momentum, Gomez was losing his will in the 4th and 5th rounds. Without the fear of Gomez’s offense, Cotto attacked without concern and another short hook sent Gomez sprawling again early in the 5th. At the end of the round, Gomez slumped back in his corner a beaten man, his face a grotesque mask of blood and swelling. The ringside physician advised Gomez’s corner to stop the fight as he had taken an overwhelming amount of punishment.

With the victory, Cotto retains his title and improves his record to 32-0 (26) while Gomez falls to 18-4-2 (8).

In the chief undercard bout, Antonio Margarito again proved too much for Kermit Cintron, annexing his IBF title in the process.

When they first met in 2005, Margarito was too experienced and after surviving Cintron’s best, he took control and battered him for a 5th round stoppage. Since that time, Margarito looked to be on the downside, losing to Paul Williams and struggling with Joshua Clottey, while Cintron was on the rise, teaming up with legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward andwinning five straight bouts by knockout. Going into the rematch, Cintron was favored to avenge his only professional loss.

Cintron, 146, Reading Pennsylvania, tried seizing control early by attacking Margarito, 146, Tijuana Mexico, with power punches. Margarito, a notorious slow starter, started much faster, landing several jabs and finding the range on his overhand right.

Both fighters stood toe-to-toe in the 2nd round and began exchanging power punches with Margarito getting the better, repeatedly landing his right hand over Cintron’s low left and digging body shots. Margarito kept pressing in the 3rd and by this time Cintron was now retreating, his only respite was when an unintentional headbutt caused a cut over Margarito’s left eye.

The blood seemed to inspire Margarito as he pursued Cintron, firing booming right hands and head-snapping uppercuts that kept finding their mark as Cintron was clearly in retreat mode. Cintron was wobbled in the 5th and blood started leaking from his right eye.

By the 6th round, it was clear that the body punches had drained Cintron’s energy as he found himself against the ropes, taking punishment. Margarito put an exclamation point to his performance, deflating Cintron with a devastating left hook to the liver, which left him in a crumpled heap where the referee counted him out 1:57.

Margarito improves his record to 36-5 (26) while Cintron falls to 29-2 (27), with both losses coming against Margarito.

It has been announced that Cotto and Margarito will meet July 26 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, with not only the WBA and IBF titles at stake, but also a chance to be next in line for a mega showdown with Floyd Mayweather.

In other bouts:

Jesus Rojas, 122, Caguas Puerto Rico, destroyed Andres Ledesma, 123, Cartagena Columbia, dropping him twice for a 4th round TKO. Rojas had Ledesma hurt on several occasions before dropping him with a big left hook and follow up combination early in the 4th. After Ledesma rose on unsteady legs, Rojas had no mercy, attacking Ledesma and finished him with another booming left hook.

Rojas remains undefeated at 11-0 (9) while Ledesma falls to 14-9-1 (9).

Omar Coffi, 165, Caracas Venezuela, and Don Mouten, 164, Houston Texas, fought to an entertaining split draw. Mouten tried to neutralize Coffi’s height and reach advantage by attacking with wide punches but left himself open to precise counter punches. Mouten finally found success by staggering Coffi in the 3rd round but it was Coffi who landed better punches in the 4th. At the end of bout, Coffi was favored on one card 40-36, Mouten on another 39-37, while the deciding judge had it a stalemate at 38-38, while this reporter favored Coffi by the score of 39-37

Omar, making his pro debut, now has a record of 0-0-1 and Mouten is now 3-2-1 (3).

In a mismatch, Ronny Vargas, 159, Bronx New York, dominated Roberto Irrizarry, 162, New York New York, winning by TKO in the 3rd round. Vargas used his advantages in reach and athletic ability to keep Irrizarry at bay and punish him with a variety of punches, including booming right hands, before Irrizarry’s corner threw in the towel, signaling surrender.

Vargas ups his record to 5-0 (4) while Irrizarry drops to 2-4.

Luis Cruz, 125, Las Piedras Puerto Rico, was able to keep Olvin Meija, 126, Laredo Texas at bay, using his six-inch reach advantage, over six rounds. Meija had a good opening round landing straight lefts but Cruz dominated over the last five rounds, landing a variety of impressive punches and staggering Meija on several occasions. The judges awarded Cruz the decision, all three scoring the bout 58-56.

Cruz is now 5-0 (3) while Meija falls to 3-2-1 (3).

In an entertaining opening bout, Richard Pierson, 161, Paterson New Jersey, outboxed Angel David Gonzalez, 163, Guaynabo Puerto Rico. Pierson, a very skilled boxer used some excellent footwork and angles to control the pace and pick his shots, often counterpunching the wide open Gonzalez. Both boxers were staggered in the 5th round and Pierson coasted in the 6th, knowing he was well ahead on the cards, despite the boos and catcalls from the crowd. Pierson was victorious on the cards by scores of 59-56 (twice) and 59-55.

Pierson improves to 7-1 (4) while Gonzalez dips to 6-5-1 (3).