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“Hey you know, I’m just up to the challenge, you know. You know I believe that I have heart and I just want to fight the better guys. Through fighting and training, just because I don’t have the experience, you know, doesn’t mean I’m not going to win. I’m learning every time. When you watched me fight in the past, in my opinion, I do continue to get better at my boxing. I deserve to be where I’m at because I’ve worked hard for it you know.” Those were the words Kermit “The Killer” Cintron told this boxing writer from his training base of Reading, PA, during a conference call hosted by Main Events, when asked why, with the limited opposition that he has faced as compared to Antonio Margarito, does he feel he is ready for such a fight. And when asked if Margarito would stand in there with him and trade some leather, Cintron said, “the more he stands there, the more damage he is going to get (laughing). I’ve been training hard and have been preparing myself really good for this fight. Come April 23, may the best man win.”
Read on for more answers to questions from our very own Sergio Martinez as well as the rest of the Margarito-Cintron conference transcript.
I asked Margarito that since a lot has been made about Cintron’s power, does he feel that if he can get past the first three or four rounds, he can finish him late in the fight since Cintron is not accustomed to long fights? Margarito responded through his interpreter Ricardo Jimenez, from his training headquarters in Los Angeles, CA: “of course, we always are prepared to go twelve rounds with anybody we fight . We are ready to win. Knockout or decision, we will win. Also, I think that a lot is being made about his power. He does have a punch I guess, but I have faced big punchers in the past and know that I can take a punch. We are getting well prepared to neutralize his power.”
Several other boxing scribes participated in the call and here are some questions and answers:
Keith from the Herold News: After seeing Margarito fight up close in February, what did you walk away impressed with and what were you not impressed with in his performance? Also, did you walk away thinking more of him as a fighter or less of him as a fighter?
Cintron: Well, when I watched Margarito, I walked away… He’s a great fighter and great world champion. Lujan came in and brought it to him the first couple of rounds. Margarito adjusted and eventually started picking him (Lujan) apart. I walked out with the impression that Margarito is a great champ. I just have to, you know, train hard and, you know, be prepared.
Keith: Did you think more of him or less of him?
Cintron: No not at all. Like I said, to me he is number one in the welterweight division. What does that tell you? He is a great fighter with great heart.
Keith: did you see anything that you can exploit in that fight?
Cintron: You know, every fight is different. I saw the fight and, yes, Margarito did get hit a lot in that fight, but he can show you something different.
Michael Dobbs: I talked to Floyd Mayweather during a press conference with Gatti and him and he told me that you were going to get knocked out. (Carl Moretti interjects saying, “step off with that.”) Michael continues: do you care to say anything about that?
Cintron: Who’s Floyd man? Come on man. My opinion is that I have a great chin. I’ve been tested with Teddy Reid. People still have questions about it. Let them come, pay their tickets, ringside tickets, and see for themselves that I do have a chin. And Floyd Mayweather, he is going to be surprised having Arturo Gatti, who is a tough fighter, who is going to bring it to him every round. In my opinion, if Chop Chop Corley can hurt him…. Be surprised Mayweather, just be surprised.
Carlos Arias from the Orange County Register: Everybody knows about the big rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican fighters. You’ve had some bad luck in the past against Puerto Rican fighters. Does that play in your head at all, or how do you approach that?
Margarito: There has always been that rivalry. The only Puerto Rican I have fought is Daniel Santos and you know how that has gone. I’m ready for this fight and I’m ready to give it all.
Carlos Arias: It seems like Kermit is the same as Margarito in that everyone is trying to get away from these guys not wanting to fight them. How does he see taking on such a challenge in a young fighter like Kermit?
Margarito: Well, I really like it because he is a good fighter. An undefeated fighter who is hungry and is looking for the big purses for him. It is good that this fight was made so that the public could see what one is made of so that better things can come to the winner. I need to win this fight and that is why I am training hard.
Franklin McNeal from the North Star Ledger: You’ve been off what will be nine months by the time you step into that right. Can you tell how being off being this long has been advantageous to you?
Cintron: Actually, the layoff has made me hungrier to step in the ring and train harder. You know, I want to fight. I think it did a good thing for me you know. I’m hungry and wanna fight.
Franklin McNeal: Everyone is talking about power and all that stuff, but I want to talk about your jab. Will that be a factor at all?
Cintron: You know I’ve been using my jab a lot and having been training hard and preparing good for this fight you know. Come April 23, you will see that I’ll be using my jab more and will be boxing more. You know, it’s gonna be good. I finally get to use both of my hands especially my right hand you know.
Primero Gonzalez from La Opinion: Margarito was being put as like the new generation of champions from Mexico and, but unfortunately, the last three fights that he has had, he didn’t look so good. You know, there is a lot of people behind him, especially the Mexican people. Can you ask him why he didn’t look so good and why he has not been improving like he should be?
Margarito: Style makes fights and some are harder to adapt to than others. This up and coming fights, Cintron has the perfect style to match with mine. I have been training hard and I have no doubt that I will win. I think that I have faced tougher opposition and you will see a better Margarito. I believe that fights are won in the gym and you adjust and how you prepare and I believe that I have prepared very well for this fight.
David Gonzalez from Match Boxing: The right hand has been a big question as far as rehabilitating and getting it ready, and condition. Have you been training more carefully? Are you padding up extra in your gloves? Or where is your status going into the fight?
Cintron: My status is high you know. Like I said you know before, I’ve being doing pad work, mitts. I’ve been sparing and hitting a lot with my right hand. My hand is in great shape. There is no question that come April 23, I’m going to let go of my right hand like the way I want to throw it.
David Gonzalez: Would you define this fight as the fight of your life?
Cintron: Definitely you know, it’s for a world champ. A lot of people want to be at the position where I’m at. As for as Margarito you know, this fight is going to tell us you know who will be standing at the end.
David Gonzalez: Same as I asked Kermit. How would you define this fight?
Margarito: All fights are important, but more this one because the winner will move on to bigger and better things and that is why we want to make progress. I think a lot of the doors will open and a lot of opportunities. I think it’s a good fight for me. A good fight at this time. Kermit is a great boxer and is undefeated. For me to beat him would be a good thing and then I can take advantage of the opportunities.
Sergio’s final thought:
In this writer’s humble opinion, Margarito sounded very relaxed, while Kermit sounded annoyed at times and like if he feels that he has something to prove. We will see if he can prove it on April 23.
Sergio Martinez can be reached at srg_mrtnz@yahoo.com
