Paul Williams, of Aiken, SC, scored an unsatisfying four-round technical decision over Kermit Cintron, Reading, PA, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Returning to a building where he has never disappointed, Williams had scored a TKO win over Walter Matthysse here in 2006, as well as won the WBO Welterweight title here against Antonio Margarito. Williams, however, was hesistant to mix things up with Cintron, who himself spent the first three rounds trying to counter punch. Neither fighter landed more than 10 punches a round for the first 3 rounds. When the action finally picked up in round 4, it ended as quickly as it began. Williams landed a sharp combination, and Cintron answered with a right-hand counter. The two then became entangled moments later, and wrestled to the canvas. Williams fell against the ropes, and Cintron tumbled right through them. Cintron landed on his head and shoulder, and while the fall did not look drastic, the Doctor advised that the bout be stopped.
According to California rules, once the fourth round started, the bout goes to the scorecards, with the uncompleted round scored. Due to the lack of action, the bout was scored with a wide variance. Jerry Cantu had it 40-36 for Cintron, while Fritz Werner scored it 39-37, and Dr. James Jen-Kin scored 40-36 for Williams. Promoter Lou di Bella was livid at the press conference, saying that the California rule was "stupid" and that no fight is decided after 3 1/2 rounds. He did comment that Cintron was ok, and voiced his desire for a rematch. While Williams was willing to do so, Promoter Dan Goossen was not, stating that "nothing had happened in the 3/12 rounds to make the public want to see this again". Williams said his lack of action early was a strategy devised by his trainer, and that he wanted to go to war, but "Mr. Peterson had me on a choke chain". Cintron falls to 32-3-1-28 KO's, while Williams moves to 39-1-27 KO's.
Junior Lightweight Martin Honorio was upset by Argenis Mendez over 12 rounds in the co-main event. Mendez captured the USBA title in a close bout that did not feature much accuracy from either fighter. After Honrio got off to a faster start, Mendez gradually landed the snappier counters. By the middle rounds both fighters defense was better than the other's offense, making it a difficult affair to score. While the bout was fairly even, and Honorio has fought locally many times, it was Mendez who captured two of the judges favor, winning 116-112 on their cards. The third read 114-114. Honorio, of Mexico City, falls to 28-5-1-14 KO's, while Mendez, of the Bronx by way of the Dominican Republic, improved to 16-1-9 KO's.
Walter Sarnoi won a tough majority decision over Adrian Aleman in a 122lb match-up. Sarnoi largely controlled the action, but Aleman landed crisp counters throughout. One judge had it even at 38-38, but the other's scored for Sarnoi by 39-37, and a bit wide 40-36. Sarnoi, of Los Angeles, improves to 6-0-2 KO's, while Aleman, of Indio, CA falls to a sub-500 6-7-2-4 KO's
Undefeated Stan Martyniouk, of Sacramento by way of Estonia, had his hands full with Brian Ramirez, of Los Angeles, by way of Chihuahua, MEX. In 130lb action, Martyniouk was dropped late in round one, and struggled early. Stan "The Man" was more than willing to engage, and closed the show stronger, but the decision was in doubt, due to Ramirez's prowess early on. All three judges scored the bout 57-56. Two in favor of Martyniouk, who captured a split decision. Martyniouk rises to 9-0-1 KO's, while the tough Ramirez falls to a misleading 5-3-3 KO's
Michael Ruiz, of Fresno, impressed the crowd with a second-round KO over Jose Pacheco, of Cudahy, CA in a Bantamweight bout. Pacheco was dropped with two straight left hands in the second round, and rose on unsteady legs. Only moments later, Ruiz landed a hard right hook which flattened Ruiz. Referee David Denkin waved it off without a count.
Unbeaten Jeremiah Wiggins won a six round unanimous decision over Juan Diaz in a Junior Middleweight fight. Wiggins, of Newport News, VA was in command throughout a busy slugfest, busting up his opponents skin as the bout progreessed. Diaz, of Neza, MEX, drops to 9-10-6 KO's, while Wiggins improves to 8-0-1-3 KO's.
Welterweight prospect Mike Dallas Jr. of Bakersfield, CA scored a rare knockout, stopping Daniel Gonzalez of Billings, MT in two rounds in the opening bout of the card. Dallas simply had too much quickness and power for the 40-fight veteran, who was rescued by the referre at 2:03 of the 2nd. Dallas, who is managed by Jackie Kallen, moves to 14-0-1-5 KO's, while Gonzalez drops to 9-29-2-3 KO's.
Many celebrities were in attendance including actress Mena Suvari, comedians Cedric the Entertainer and Corey Holcomb, and many from the boxing world, such as Jack Mosley, Bobby Chacon, Sergio Martinez, and newly signed Goossen-Tutor fighter, WBA Light Heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov.
Chris Strait
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Photo Credit: Steven Arredondo
