By James Slater: Fighting last night in Carson, CA and Atlantic City, N.J respectively, former rivals Paul Williams and Kermit Cintron both endured a hard night of boxing. Williams managed to pick up a win, but by most accounts he was fortunate to have done so, while Cintron lost a wide decision in his fight.
Both former champs were returning to the ring for the first time in a number of months (over a year out for “The Killer”), and both were widely expected to make an “I’m Back!” statement. Instead, “The Punisher” barely limped past Cuban hope Erislandy Lara and Cintron lost in an upset to Mexico’s Carlos Molina. The question is, what now for both men?
Williams is reportedly still hoping for a third fight with middleweight king Sergio Martinez; who he is currently 1-1 with. But in light of how easy he was to hit last night against Lara, and whilst recalling how savagely he was KO’d by “Maravilla” in his last fight, a Williams-Martinez III has the distinct look of a mismatch; one that the Argentine southpaw would win in crushing fashion.
Busted up and beaten up last night, Williams had the look of a fighter who has seen his best days go by. Maybe the first gruelling fight with Martinez ruined Williams? Even before last night’s majority decision win over Lara, Williams and his team were talking about retiring after two or three more fights. The lanky southpaw can never be accused of ducking and dodging opponents, anymore than he could ever be accused of lacking raw courage. However, if he does get back in there with Martinez, Williams’ career is almost sure to go out with a bang. A painful bang.
Bottom line, it’s Williams call, and he has the right to go out with the fight or fights he wants. But it really is tough to see the former 147 and 154-pound ruler waving goodbye with a win over an elite fighter. Williams escaped with a gift last night; but will there be any more out there for him?
As for Cintron; before last night’s loss, the last we saw of him was when he literally flew out of the ring during his TD loss of a fight with Williams. Coming back against Molina, the former IBF welterweight champ and former interim WBC light-middleweight champ was hoping to get a win and put himself in position for future big fights. But now, having lost his last two, Cintron’s immediate future looks non too promising. A return with Molina could perhaps happen, but like Williams, Cintron’s best days look to have passed him by.
Also like Williams, Cintron deserves to take whatever option he sees fit. A crazy idea maybe, but what about a return between the two who gave us that bizarre fight last May? Such a fight may not be what either guy was hoping for, but it seems both former champions are running out of options right now.