By Rick Reeno BoxingScene.com was informed by promoter Lou DiBella that a deal has been reached for WBC interim-junior middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (44-1, 24KOs) to face Kermit Cintron (30-2, 27KOs) on February 14 with HBO televising. DiBella promotes both fighters. The fight will be part of a tripleheader with Alfredo Angulo vs. Ricardo Mayorga and Nate Campbell's defense of the WBO/IBF lightweight titles against mandatory Ali Funeka. Cintron, a former welterweight champion, was in line to fight IBF champion Joshua Clottey. DiBella was trying to work out a deal with Top Rank to place the fight on the Miguel Cotto/Kelly Pavlik split-feed pay-per-view on February 21. In the end there was not enough money to go around. "There was no money in the Clottey fight so Cintron accepted more money to move up in weight to fight Martinez on HBO. It's a Top Rank pay-per-view. Bob Arum was working with his own budget. Cintron against Martinez is an explosive fight," DiBella told BoxingScene. Martinez was scheduled to fight Joe Greene on January 17. Greene pulled out for medical reasons. HBO moved Martinez to the February 14 date to give DiBella more time to find a suitable opponent. It appeared that Martinez would face WBA champion Daniel Santos and the fight was actually announced by Santos' promoter Don King, but the fight fell apart a few days later when Santos disclosed that he never agreed to the deal and needed more time to get in shape. Martinez and Cintron have three losses between them, and all three are to Antonio Margarito. Cintron will be Martinez's toughest opponent since the Margarito loss in 2000. ----------------------- Interesting.
That's sorta how I feel when it comes to buying that card. I'd have much rather seen Clottey-Cintron.
Every time Lou uses the word "explosive" to describe an upcoming fight, it turns out to be an utter shit fest. Gotta love the story behind this fight - Cintron passes on a fight at his preferred weight class in Puerto-Rican friendly NYC to instead move up in weight to face a tough fighter in a fight that for the moment has a date but no home.
Are there even any candidates for where this card could wind up? Chicago was mentioned early on....I guess that's not likely anymore. I guess I should mention that while I'd have preferred Clottey and Cintron clash, it's great that HBO's going to be televising a triple-header (and that it's being discussed for the Kirkland-Julio card).
My guess is, with Berto-Collazo this weekend, King (who promotes Collazo) will be in town trying to hustle the folks @ Beau Rivage to pick up the tab for the Feb 14 show. They hosted what was supposed to be Campbell-Guzman, so not too sure what the relationship remains between them and King. The 2/14 card was destined for this fate all along - between King and Shaw, it's either casino or bust. If it's somewhere where they actually have to promote, they land a deal at the last minute, yet act clueless as to the reason why ticket sales are shit.
Yeah, it's pathetic the way they put together the venues...though I was sorta hoping it'd find it's way to the West Coast. Maybe they can call up their friends the Maloofs and bring it Sac...and fill Arco to the brim with tens and tens of fans.
....it is a little odd when a PPV card can't generate enough money to 'go around', whereas a triple header non-ppv event can
WOW!:bears::bears: I'm LOVIN this triple header! But I think of the three matchups.. I'm most interested in Martinez-Cintron. Martinez's speed vs Kerm's power... it'll be interesting to see which will win out. Feb 14th will be a great night of fights!
Who has Martinez faced that was better? Looking at his resume since Marg, I hardly see anyone as good as Cintron. Certainly none of them possesed Kerm's power. The way I see this fight, Martinez figures to be too fast, and skilled for Cintron, but... if Kerm lands his right hand flush, I dunno how Martinez is gonna take it. Thats what makes it an interesting matchup.
You don't know how Martinez is going to take it? What, is Martinez chinny and when was it ever proven Kerm has some kind of great punching power? Kerm is still overrated:doh:. The guy has good not great punching power and at 154 he'll probably wind up just being average. Some myths never die.
Greene, then Santos now Cintron... will they be able to find another one next week??? Can't they just shut the fuck up until everything's figured out... stupid morons...
Greene pulled out cause he "claims" to have kidney stones. Santos pulled out cause he couldnt make the weight in time(fucker probably weighs 185 right now). Cintron was offered it, and accepted, he even has an interview up on btalk where he's discussing the fight. Cintron is a better fight than Greene. Joe Greene blows, and Martinez woulda beat him extremely easy. At least with Cintron's power, its gonna be a compelling fight.
He's fast and skilled, but he does drop his hands. And I can't say I've seen that much of him, but I wonder a little bit about his stamina.
of course i'm not complaining... it'S getting better and better i just hope there won't be a 3rd change... because it won't be Vernon Forrest or Sergey Dzinziruk next. :nono:
