Sunday, April 24, 2005
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Margarito punishes Cintron, keeps title

WBO welterweight champion starts fast, forces fight to be stopped in fifth round

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Antonio Margarito knocks down Kermit Cintron for the second and final time in the fifth round Saturday at Caesars Palace. Photo by K.M. Cannon. Antonio Margarito knocks down Kermit Cintron in the fifth round of their WBO welterweight championship fight Saturday at Caesars Palace. Margarito retained his title with a fifth-round technical knockout. Photo by John Locher.

What had been expected to be a close, bruising fight turned into a one-sided mauling as Antonio Margarito outclassed Kermit Cintron on Saturday at Caesars Palace.

Margarito opened a huge gash on Cintron's right eyelid with an uppercut in the third round and knocked him down twice in both the fourth and fifth rounds to easily retain the WBO welterweight championship with a fifth-round technical knockout.

After the second knockdown, which came from an accumulation of power shots, Cintron trainer Marshall Kauffman climbed the steps to throw in the towel, forcing referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight.

Cintron had a reputation as one of boxing's hardest punchers, but he never wobbled Margarito. The most action from the Cintron camp came from his co-manager, Joe Pastore, who raced out of the ring, ran over ESPN Pay-Per-View stage manager Ron Harmon and attacked a Margarito fan who taunted Cintron. Harmon injured a hip and was removed on a stretcher.

"I had the perfect plan and I knew it would work," Margarito said. "I was very confident. When I felt that right hand and it was nothing, I knew I would be all right."

Margarito has a reputation as a slow starter, but he never allowed Cintron to get into the fight. Cintron offered little resistance -- he landed just eight of 146 jabs -- and his vaunted power was never a factor.

Cintron could not explain his performance.

"My trainer (Kauffman) was telling me what to do, but I didn't execute," he said after his first loss in 25 professional bouts. "I don't know what it was. I was trying the best I could, but I'm not sure what went on."

The first two rounds were largely uneventful, though Margarito made somewhat of a statement by taking a straight right from Cintron in the first, smiling and moving forward.

Cintron ducked after throwing a shot in the third and was raked by a vicious uppercut that opened the cut on his eyelid. From that point, the rout was on.

"The blood was going into my eye and it was hard to see," Cintron said.

Margarito, 31-4, has been largely anonymous in the talent-packed welterweight division despite having the WBO belt. He had said he thought he was the equal of either Oscar De La Hoya, who is moving down to welterweight, or Shane Mosley, who returned to the division Saturday with a victory over David Estrada.

Margarito said he's on a mission to be recognized as one of the sport's premier fighters and that he saw nothing from Mosley that would worry him.

"I'm ready for those guys," Margarito said of De La Hoya and Mosley. "I didn't see anything (from Mosley) to be concerned with. I think either one would be good for me."

Things certainly were good for him Saturday in perhaps the biggest win of his career. He had been a slight betting favorite, but said he never had any doubts.

"He's a strong kid, but he hadn't been in with two many experienced guys," Margarito said. "I was so sure of myself tonight. I knew how it would work out."