After Bob Arum announced yesterday that former welterweight champion Kermit Cintron had signed a promotional deal with Top Rank, speculation quickly turned to who he will be matched against.
Given that Cintron fights both as a light middleweight and welterweight, naturally the first name on many fans’ minds was Top Rank’s current crown jewel, Filipino welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
While Arum did confirm that Cintron was a possible opponent in an interview with Mike Marley later that day, there is still a lot that has to happen between now and November for that to happen.
For one thing despite the fact that Cintron would very much like to fight Pacquiao and make several million dollars for his troubles, he hasn’t fought since his calamitous May bout against Paul Williams last year.
In said bout, a fourth round tangle of legs resulted in Cintron tumbling through the ropes and sustaining an injury, leading to the bout then being called off.
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The four rounds were then scored in Williams’ favor by the ringside judges, and Cintron’s subsequent appeals for a non-contest were unsuccessful.
Before even thinking of putting Cintron in against Pacquiao then he will need a decent win to rebuild his profile with the fans and more importantly to shake off any ring rust he might have after sitting out for a year.
Given that his return bout is rumored to be on the undercard of Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito in September, it could also be the case that Arum has other plans for Cintron, such as a bout with the winner.
Should Miguel Cotto avenge his loss to Antonio Margarito, a fight between himself and Cintron in Puerto Rico would undoubtedly prove to be a massive hit. Advertisement
If on the other hand Margarito once again overcomes Cotto, then Cintron could get his chance at revenge. Two of Cintron’s three career losses have come at the hands of Margarito, and he has been vocal in his belief that on at least one occasion, Margarito’s gloves were loaded.
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Cintron’s inclusion on the short list to face Pacquiao however also potentially has other interesting implications.
Lightweight champion and former Pacquiao opponent Juan Manuel Marquez is currently on the verge of free agency, and has alternated between rumors of signing with Top Rank and remaining with Golden Boy.
Signing with Top Rank would mean a third encounter with Pacquiao. Golden Boy however have the more interesting options at either lightweight or light welterweight, possibly including a showdown with the recently rejuvenated Erik Morales.
Cintron being the front runner as Pacquiao’s next opponent makes it more likely that Marquez stays with Golden Boy, which given his age probably takes a third fight between the pair off the table permanently.
Cintron’s signing also of course could mean that the likes of Andre Berto (so long as he gets past Victor Ortiz this weekend) and Sergio Martinez (apparently penciled in to fight James Kirkland’s conqueror Nobuhiro Ishida) are once again out of the running, despite their arguably more impressive credentials.
Larry Hopkins, Reading: “Cintron needs a big win to make people notice him again, him vs. Cotto would be a great fight”
Bret Peterson, Pitt: “Pac would be too much for Cintron, he hasn’t even fought in a year and hasn’t has a decent win since Anguelo”
