Cintron Has 147 Good Reasons Not to Give Up

Kermit Cintron won a world title at welterweight. Take away two suspicious losses to the disgraced cheater Antonio Margarito and he's never lost as a welterweight. He has almost insurmountable physical gifts of height and superior strength as a welterweight. And so, after losing three of four in a disastrous 18-month stretch, what's he going to do to get his career back on track? He's going back to welterweight. "I feel that it's always been my weight," explained the former champion. "I took my last couple fights at I54 lbs. because they were good opportunities, but you know I was always a better fighter at 147. I didn't gain the weight of a true 154 pounder. I went up to 153 lbs. on fight night, while the guys I was fighting went up to 170 to 175 lbs. I feel that 147-lbs is where I belong. I'm already on weight and I have a week left. It was never a problem to make welterweight." "EL Asesino" Cintron (33-5-1, 28 KOs) will face Chicago attraction Adrian "EL Tigre" Granados (11-2-1, 7 KOs) in the ESPN Friday Night Fights televised 10-round co-main event presented by 8 Count Productions, Round 3 Productions and Warriors Boxing on Friday, March 22, 2013 at Chicago's UIC Pavilion. In the main event, Windy City favorite Donovan "Da Bomb" George will battle former world title challenger David "The Destroyer" Lopez of Nogales, Mexico in a 10-round middleweight bout Cintron says he did a lot of soul-searching after his last fight, a TKO5 loss to Canelo Alvarez in November 2011. "I didn't want to think about boxing after the Canelo fight. I just wanted to go home and spend time with my kids. My family is important to me and I think that going away for camps eight or nine weeks at a time was getting to me. I was focusing too much on what my kids were doing, wondering if they were ok. After a while, my kids started asking when I'm fighting again? They said 'we want to see you on TV.' My kids still want me fight, so here I am." Cintron, from Reading, Pennsylvania, says he decided to go back to what got him to the lofty heights of boxing despite a very minimal amateur career. "I'm training at home around family and Milton Santiago is my new trainer. I've known him since I was eight years old. If I wanted to come back, the only person I had in mind to train me was Milton. He's the true coach that brought me to the gym when I was in school. So I'm going back to my roots, back to basics, and that's what I did. We've been working together the past six months. I have my own boxing gym called the Kermit Cintron Boxing Gym in Reading, Pennsylvania where Milton trains me. On the days I need to spar, I go to Philly and get some good sparring in." Cintron says reports of his decline as a fighter and tumble from the ranks of serious contender are irresponsible. "That's how the media is. All they do is a lot of talking. I really ignore those comments from people. I'm not a shot fighter. I had a rough year, that's it. You'll see. I have lots left. I have dedicated myself to the sport once again. I'm feeling great and I've improved. You guys will see. Having signed with a new promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, Cintron says he's rejuvenated and eager to get back where he belongs: as a top 147-lb fighter. "I just want to fight. I'm excited to come back after 16 months off. I'm excited and rejuvenated and ready to go." ### Presented by 8 Count Productions, Round 3 Productions, Warriors Boxing and Blue Wave Boxing, advance tickets to ESPN Friday Night Fights are priced at $150, $100, $50 and $30 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000 ), the 8 Count Productions Offices, 312-226-5800 or the UIC Pavilion Box Office, 312-413-5740. Doors will open on the night of the event at 7pm CT with the first bout scheduled for 8:00pm CT. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine, at the corner of Harrison and Racine on the campus of the University of Illinois-Chicago. A full undercard featuring many of Chicago's best prospects and fan favorites will be announced shortly for this event.

Perry Frustrated With Opponent Withdrawals

 

Colorado Springs, CO (August 8, 2012) – Abel “Truth Serum” Perry is sick of opponents pulling out of fights and the 6 ½ months wasted because of it.

 

With a five bout winning streak intact Perry, 18-5 (9 KO’s), twice was scheduled for a potentially career-changing match against Antonio Margarito, but the “Tijuana Tornado” surprisingly elected to retire. To make matters worse, the retirement took place following an initial postponement due to an injury. After spending time in camp alongside middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin and stablemate Carson Jones, the Colorado City, CO native signed to fight hard-hitting Emmanuel Steward protégé Tony Harrison August 25 in Michigan.

 

Shortly after agreeing to face Harrison, Perry’s manager Bobby Dobbs received an offer for unbeaten Alex Perez in New York City. Out of respect, Dobbs turned the Perez fight down because he’d agreed for Perry to fight Harrison.

 

Although he’s not recognized at the level of Margarito, Harrison, 9-0 (8 KO’s) is very highly regarded and Perry was training hard to hand him his first career defeat. To his total disgust, Harrison decided that he wanted an easier opponent and backed out of the fight.

 

“This is so frustrating because I signed the contract and was ready to go,” said Perry. “Harrison comes from Emmanuel Steward’s stable so I thought he would’ve taken fight. He is a talented guy from a world class camp but I would be the best opponent he’s ever faced. Maybe he was worried because of my experience.”

 

Even with the recent letdowns, Perry’s still confident something big will happen in the near future.

 

“I’m committed to making a name for myself and hope to get back in the ring as soon as possible. I want to step up and take on more tough opponents in meaningful fights. I want to show people in the fight community that I’m worth keeping an eye on.”
 

Fans can interact with Abel by going to http://www.facebook.com/abelperry or HDboxing.net.

 

Perry frustrated with Margarito’s untimely Retirement

 

Big Bear Lake, CA (June 11, 2012) – When junior middleweight Abel “Truth Serum” Perry received word that he’d be facing Antonio Margarito May 26, the Colorado City native was confident that a victory over the former three-time welterweight champion would lead to the kind of opportunity he’s dreamed of since day one.

 

With many ups and downs during his 6 ½ year pro career, Perry, 18-5 (9 KO’s), won five straight bouts and believed that May 26 would be his sixth. This was until Margarito injured his Achilles 12 days before fight night and the bout was postponed until July.

 

“Everything was rescheduled for July 7 to my knowledge and I actually saw on the internet that the fight was going to take place on the 21^st,” said Perry. “To be honest, I assumed he wasn’t training because he looked heavy in recent photos.”

 

He also viewed the delay as something that would only benefit him leading up to the fight of his life.

 

“I was actually grateful for the postponement because many of my fights came on short notice or without a proper training camp. For the Margarito bout, my manager Bobby Dobbs sent me to a training camp in Big Bear Lake, CA where I was working with Carson Jones and Gennady Golovkin. I was sparring world class guys and the extra time would only give me a bigger advantage. This was the perfect situation.”

 

To his unpleasant surprise, Margarito announced his retirement on June 8, canceling the fight altogether while leaving Perry without the career-changing opportunity.

 

“It left a sour taste in my mouth. I felt wronged because they changed the date multiple times and I committed so much time preparing for this fight, while I could’ve been looking for another fight. Everybody was writing me off and they expected Margarito to run right through me. If he’s retiring because he doesn’t have what it takes to fight top guys any longer and I’m supposedly a “safe opponent,” why not face me in a farewell fight?”

 

“This was a major letdown and Margarito handled this like anything but a professional,” stated Dobbs. “My fighter was in camp getting ready to pull off the upset, only for Margarito to cancel the bout after agreeing to reschedule it. I understand that he’s taken a ton of punishment during his career and didn’t want to fight again, but since this is the case, why even sign to face Abel?”

 

While Dobbs explores other suitable options, Perry will remain at Big Bear as a sparring partner for Jones and Golovkin.

 

Fans can interact with Abel by going to http://www.facebook.com/abelperry or HDboxing.net.

PAUL WILLIAMS & NOBUHIRO ISHIDA, TAVORIS CLOUD & GABRIEL CAMPILLO, CHRIS ARRELOA & ERIC MOLINA, PROMOTERS DAN GOOSSEN & DON KING

Final Press Conference Quotes & Photos

From American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (Feb. 16, 2012) – A packed crowd attended the final press conference on Thursday at American Bank Center Arena to witness the jarring between promoters Don King and Dan Goossen and the fighters participating in Saturday’s SHOWTIME Championship Boxing event, live onSHOWTIME^® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). 

In the main event, former world champion Paul Williams (40-2, 27 KOs), of Aiken, S.C., will face Nobuhiro Ishida (24-6-2, 9 KOs) of Osaka, Japan. Ishida has won his last two bouts via first-round stoppage, including an upset over then-undefeated James Kirkland in April of 2011, while Williams owns victories over Sergio Martinez and Antonio Margarito. 

In the co-feature, undefeated Tavoris Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs), of Tallahassee, Fla., will risk his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight title for a third time when he faces former world champ Gabriel Campillo (21-3-1, 8 KOs) of Madrid, Spain.

For the first time in network history, preliminary boxing bouts will be televised LIVE on SHOWTIME EXTREMEat 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  American heavyweight contenders Chris Arreola and Eric Molina will square off with hopes that a victory will move the winner one step closer to a shot at a world title.  In another heavyweight matchup on SHOWTIME EXTREME, Malik Scott will take Kendrick Releford in an eight-round bout. 

While Williams, Ishida, Cloud and Campillo kept the proceedings mostly respectable and calm, Arreola, Molina, King and Goossen had plenty to say about who they think will be the last man standing on Saturday night.

DAN GOOSSEN:

“From top to bottom, it’s going to be all action.  Paul Williams is nothing but action.  Saturday we’re going to have a special treat in the Triple Threat.  And we’re happy to showcase some other guys on SHOWTIME EXTREME, which is available in more than 99 percent of homes that subscribe to SHOWTIME.

“One thing I don’t have to worry about with Chris is that he’s a fighter - he was born to fight.  He’s exciting.  He likes to go for the knockout by breaking you down.  And that’s what Chris is going to do on Saturday night.  Break Molina down and knock him out. 

“Paul has consistently gone out there and took on any challenger.  No one wants to fight this guy.  Paul is all excitement – he throws punches and he doesn’t stop. 

DON KING:

“It’s going to be super sensational on Saturday night.  In the glory of the Alamo, Eric Molina has come here to persevere and knockout out Chris Arreola.  In the spirit of Texas, this young man will rise to the occasion.  The underdog will come and knock out Arreola.  Eric has the heart, he has the desire, he has the will to win.  And he has that Texas spirit. 

“Everybody avoids Cloud.  He is the embodiment of the sport of boxing.  This cloud is coming in with devastation.  He’s coming out to seek and destroy. 

PAUL WILLIAMS:

“I’m going to go out there and do what I do best, get the job done and put on a hell of a show.  To Ishida, a win over me would mean everything.  It’s all or nothing for him.  If you want it, you got to go through hell to get it.  Whatever he throws I’m going to throw five times more.  I’m going to show him how American boys do it.”

NOBUHIRO ISHIDA:

“I know Paul is one of the best fighters in the world but I’m going to put on a great show on Saturday night.  This is a great opportunity and I’m here in Corpus Christi to win.  I didn’t come here to for second place.”

ERIC GOMEZ, Vice President and Matchmaker - Golden Boy Promotions

“This is going to be a great event - it’s going to be very exciting.  We want to thank Dan and Paul Williams for giving us an opportunity.  After he knocked out James Kirkland people were asking, ‘What’s next?’  We’re happy to take on a fighter like Paul Williams.”   

TAVORIS CLOUD:

“I’ve been in camp for a long time.  I didn’t take my opponent lightly and come Saturday night there’s going to be a lot of excitement in the ring.  Gabriel is a good fighter, but I just don’t think he can take my title.  But we’ll see on Saturday night.”

 GABRIEL CAMPILLO:

“I’m very happy to represent my country of Spain and win a title on Saturday night.  This is a great opportunity and I plan on giving Tavoris Cloud his first loss.  I was a champion before and I’ll be a champion again.”

SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ, Campillo’s Promoter

“Campillo is the underdog.  But the underdog will thrive and be the new champion.  He will surprise everyone with an upset and a victory.”

CHRIS ARREOLA:

“I never disrespect anyone but my job is to take those dreams away from Molina, those dreams of beating me and moving on to a world title. 

“Don King has been talking trash and it’s going to be a great honor to shut his (Don King’s) mouth on Saturday.”

ERIC MOLINA: 

“I feel so close to home.  This is the best camp we’ve put together and I feel more confident that I ever have.  I love being the underdog.  I’ve had 18 wins in a row since losing my first fight in the first round.  After that loss I dreamt of getting a chance like this. It took a lot of work to get here after that loss and all that work is going to pay off against Arreola on Saturday.”

The event is presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions.  The Williams-Ishida bout will be promoted in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions.  The Cloud vs. Campillo bout will be promoted by Don King Productions in association with Sampson Boxing, LLC.

Tickets for the event are priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and are available at the American Bank Center box office and on Ticketmaster.com. VIP packages are also available by calling (817) 296-4546.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.