MORE TO WEEKEND THAN FLOYD REPLAY & CINTRON-WILLIAMS
New York, NY- Weekend boxing action begins on Friday with a crossroad light heavyweight (175 lbs) showdown on ESPN, followed by the return of a controversial thug on PPV on Saturday, which is counter programmed by a world-class throw down featured on HBO.
BOXING?S UNCHARGED FELON MARGARITO RETURNS
Before we delve in Friday?s fights, the real action is Saturday when former belt holder Antonio Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) throws hands with heavy hitter Roberto Garcia (28-2, 21 KOs) over ten proposed rounds in the welterweight (147) division, live from Mexico on PPV at 9 PM ET Saturday.
ONCE THE MOST FEARED FIGHTER, BUT WAS IT BECAUSE HE CHEATED?
After tremendous success at the highest level of the sport, one of boxing?s most avoided fighters was moments away from a career defining fight. Minuets before going to war with Shane Mosley, brilliant boxing trainer Nazeem Richardson entered Antonio Margarito?s dressing room to observe the wrapping of Margarito?s hands. Richardson spotted Plaster of Paris being administered to Antonio Margarito?s hand wrap and brought the matter to the supervising officials attention. Being that Plaster of Paris is an obvious banned substance, officials forced Margarito to re-wrap his hands. The fight went go on, and Mosley beat on Antonio like a rock drummer (L TKO 9). After an investigation over the illegal wraps, Margarito stood trail in the court of law, and was suspended from Boxing. After much debate, Antonio, to the surprise of many, has been granted reinstatement. In the aftermath of one of the sports biggest controversies in years, Margarito returns to redeem the once established creditability he has lost from legions of fans worldwide.
SHOW DON?T TELL
30-fight veteran Roberto Garcia is an aggressive power punching slugger who started his career by winning his first 13 scraps with 9 by knockout. Since losing his 14th bout by points decision, Garcia has gone an impressive 16-1 with 12 KO?s. In wake of his previous triumphs, Roberto will look to ?keep the ball rolling? and attempt to shock the world in hopes of meeting and defeating the tough, but possibly ring rusted former champion in Margarito.
HBO KEEPS THE HITS COMIN?
For the fifth consecutive weekend in a row, HBO presents an eventful card of intrigue when Paul ?Punisher? Williams (38-1, 27 KOs) trades leather with Kermit ?Killer? Cintron (32-2-1, 28 KOs) over 12 rounds or less in the jr. middleweight division (154) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, on HBO at 9:45 PM ET.
PUNISHMENT
Paul?s difficulty of getting people into the ring has him rendered as ?the fighter that no one wants to face?. Despite his woes, Williams has managed to compile a stacked resume of wins against the ?who?s who? in two weight classes. Williams busted out on the scene showcasing an explosively versatile style by beating down (the then invincible) Antonio Margarito over 12 rounds for a unanimous decision. In his next outing against Carlos Quintana, Williams was upset on points. Paul would then quickly rebound from the setback and avenge his loss against Quintana with a sensational first round knockout in the rematch. Fresh off a victory in a spectacular war of attrition against newly crowned middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (W UD 12), proven warrior Paul Williams also has wins over Winky Wright (UD 12), and Verno Phillips (TKO 8), and Sharmba Mitchell (KO 4).
KILLER BACK ON THE LOOSE?
Starting his career with an electrifying 24 straight wins accompanied by 22 devastating knockouts; Kermit Cintron had the boxing world buzzing. In his 25th professional contest, Kermit met ?suspect? Antonio Margarito. In slug-fest of promising future stars, Margarito battered Cintron into submission (L KO 5). Cintron went out to win his next five, all by knockout, landing him a rematch with his nemesis Margarito. In the return bout, Cintron fought valiantly, but eventually fell short of revenge, and once again succumbed to the violent blows from Margarito (L KO 6). Since his disappointment at the hands of Margarito, Cintron fought to a disputed draw against Sergio Martinez and overall has won three out of his last four, earning one win by knockout.
ESPN FRIDAY: UP & COMING PUG VS DOWN & OUT SCRUB?
After a two-week hiatus, ESPN?s popular fight series returns with an unusual affair pitting highly experienced, but ?seen better days? Richard Hall (29-7, 27 KOs) against inexperienced, heavy handed upstart Yordanis Despaigne (5-0, 4 KOs) in a scheduled 10 round encounter at the Isleta Casino and Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Friday on ESPN 2 at 10 PM ET.
BEEN THERE DONE THAT, SO WHY DO IT AGAIN?
Despite boasting an impressive knockout percentage of over 75 percent, Richard Hall has failed at bids for the title on numerous occasions. In his biggest bouts to date against Roy Jones Jr. (L TKO 10) and Dariusz Michalczewski (L TKO 11, L TKO 10), Hall was starched by some of the best in the light heavyweights division.
UPSTART LOOKING TO GET THERE
With a boxing ?born on date? of only about a year, Cuban born Yordanis Despaigne has already had five fights under his belt with four early round stoppages. In front of a national audience underneath the hot lights of Friday Night Fights, Despaigne will look to continue his campaign of carnage and make a name for himself.
