In a weird night at the Home Depot Center in Carson CA, Paul “The Punisher” Williams gained a technical decision victory over Puerto Rican Kermit Cintron after three and a half rounds. Cintron was unable to continue due to doctor stoppage as midway in the fourth round he fell out of the ring into nearby tables. The action was just about to pick up as Williams, who had a slow first and second rounds began to land meaningful shots to his opponent. As Williams missed with a hook, Cintron ducked under and the two briefly tangled up. The momentum of both fighters swung them around causing them to fall in opposite directions. Doctors immediately rushed to the aid of Cintron, whom after examining determined he could not continue. According to California State Athletic commission rules if a fight is stopped due to doctors orders after three rounds the fight must go to the judges. The judges had the fight scored 39-37 (Williams), 40-36 (Cintron) and 40-36 (Williams).
“I didn’t want it like that,” said Williams after the fight, “It was about to get heated up, but the game plan was to go slow.” The first two rounds were certainly not your typical Williams rounds, with Cintron landing good counter shots and shutting out Williams’ jab. Unable to find his range until the start of the fourth, Williams became more active in the third throwing more shots, but also missing a majority of them.
“It was unfortunate what happened tonight,” said Dan Goossen, Williams promoter. “We certainly wanted Paul to shine and it looked like he was just getting into gear there in the fourth round. We can do it again if they want to or Paul can go on and fight Pacquiao or Mayweather. We are ready to move to welterweight and take on either fighter.”
“We were both throwing punches and we got tangled and he fell out of the ring. I saw him try to get up. I know he wanted to fight. I know I wanted to fight. I don’t know what to say. It is a strange way to get a win. I will try to get a better one next time. I definitely don’t want to see a fighter get hurt like that. I wanted to hurt him with a punch, not by him falling out of the ring. But I wish the best for him and his family.”
