As Walter Matthysse lay prone in the center of the ring while doctors and other officials rushed to his aid, Kermit Cintron was releasing a series of primal screams.
He stood in one corner and then ran to another, each time climbing to the second rope, raising his hands in triumph and screaming at the top of his lungs in sheer joy, ear-piercing joy.
Joy from having knocked out the highly-regarded and very dangerous Matthysse (26-2, 25 KOs) in less than two rounds; joy from successfully defending his IBF welterweight title and joy from knowing he’s now a real player in the well-stocked welterweight division.
Cintron of Reading, Penn., is the biggest benefactor from Saturday night’s welterweight triple-header televised by HBO. Not far behind is Alfonso Gomez, who battered Arturo Gatti into retirement with a seventh-round TKO at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Paul Williams, meanwhile, dethroned Antonio Margarito, winning the WBO welterweight title by unanimous decision in Carson, Calif.
What’s inspiring about all three fights is they’ll lead to even more meaningful fights the next time each boxer steps in the ring. Here are the match-ups we’d like to see:
Cintron vs. Shane Mosley. This fight was set for last February before promotional problems in the Cintron camp ruined the deal. After destroying Matthysse, Cintron (28-1, 26 KOs) was calling out Mosley, a former welterweight champ who is in need of a title fight to reaffirm his standing as one of the sport’s elite fighters.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton. Talks are underway for a bout that would feature a clash of styles: the slick hard-to-hit Mayweather against the head-hunting Hatton. A fight at 147 seems doable, though the Hatton camp would like it at 140.
Williams vs. Miguel Cotto. Margarito was eyeing a unification bout with Cotto, the WBA welterweight champion, had he gotten past Williams, but there’s no reason Williams can’t step in to face the body-crunching Puerto Rican. Williams (33-0, 24 KOs) was calling out Cotto after jabbing his way to a decision over Margarito. Be careful what you ask for. Margarito couldn’t elude Williams’ long jab and arms, but Cotto is more skilled at getting inside and doing damage.
Alfonso Gomez vs. Julio Caesar Chavez, Jr. Gatti was set to fight Chavez Jr. later this year, but that was before it became clear he was no match for the unheralded Gomez (17-3-2, 8 KOs). Now the star of the Contender television series is a real contender and willing to challenge the unbeaten son of the Mexican legend. Gatti may be shot, but don’t discount Gomez’s impressive performance. “He would have given Gatti trouble in his prime,” Emanuel Steward said of Gomez.
The best news of all was Gatti announced his retirement on HBO immediately after being dominated by a hard-punching Gomez. His decision to quit was applauded by his promoters.
“He needed closure,” said Kathy Duva of Main Events. “Everybody needed closure. It’s time to stop. He knows that and that makes me happy as I can be under the circumstances.”
Gatti, 35, ends his career at 40-9, with 31 KOs and millions of admiring fans.