"In Mayweather vs. Ortiz fight, Mayweather will stop him. Pacquiao and Marquez is a fight that needs to happen. Marquez is one of the only fighters that's really given Pacquiao hell, so it's time for that feud to end. Many think that Marquez won that one, so this fight should be good. Marquez has a lot of experience, is a hell of a fighter and it's going to be a good fight. Cotto-Margarito, Cotto wins. In their first fight, Cotto outboxed him 6 rounds and then it changed, but Cotto will avenge that loss," stated former welterweight champion Kermit Cintron, who shared his predictions on a number of big fights coming up throughout the year. Check out what else he had to say!
CM: Kermit, there are so many stories about what happened in your May 2009 fight against Williams. Will you please tell me and your fans directly what happened?
KC: I started the night with confidence. I was keeping him [Williams] off balance and I could tell he couldn't get his groove on. I was eager and I wasn't going to let him go for longer than 6 rounds. I was pressuring him with my right elbow, threw a right hook, he ducked and I missed. The momentum from that moment was so strong, he stumbled backwards, and I fell into it also and fell through the ropes. I rolled on the table and I hit the monitor. It took my breath away. Doctors wanted me to stay still, and little did I know that I only had five minutes to recover and get back into the ring.
CM: In 2009, you stayed busy facing stiff competition. In February 2009, you fought Sergio Martinez in a bout that ended in a majority draw that Martinez and his camp called a travesty. Can you tell me about that?
KC: Ah, I made him who he was. People really didn't even know him. Lou Dibella called and wanted me to fight Martinez and I didn't even know who he was. I took that fight at the last minute with three weeks notice, just like I took the Margarito fight. Martinez is a good fighter that moves a lot, but the fight was a draw. It came down to those last couple of rounds.
CM: You have fought many notable names. You fought Margarito and that was your first loss as a professional boxer. How did it feel getting hit by Margarito?
KC: After the fight, I told my wife and team, "I have never felt knuckles like I did tonight."
CM: I know you have been with several promoters from Main Events, Lou Dibella, and now Top Rank. You clearly won a world championship under another promotion, but I can argue that Top Rank's marketing is second to none. Do you think that this will make a difference in your career being with Top Rank?
KC: I hope so. Many promoters can't advertise and promote fighters and fights the way that Top Rank can. I like Top Rank. I'm happy to be with them and I hope they don't judge my future ability by the fight in July. There's no way I was going to look like Floyd Mayweather coming back. I didn't train while I was off for fourteen months, but I'm back, ready to train and fight.
CM: Why did you take another fight within a month after your fight with Molina a couple of months ago?
KC: I was embarrassed by the way I looked and I knew I needed to keep busy. It wasn't about the money. I basically fought for nothing, but I needed it for myself. I needed to fight; I needed it mentally. I'm glad I took the fight.
CM: I recall one of the commentators on Friday Night Fights saying that you had a new strength and conditioning coach. Is that true? Your body seemed to look different and better than ever, in my opinion.
KC: No, I'm still with Brian Caldwell in Houston. He is my strength and conditioning coach. Ronnie Shields is still my trainer. I hit the weights more now. In the past, When Manny Steward trained me, I didn't work with weights. Manny is old school and didn't like me hitting the weights, but Ronnie does. I went from Marshall Kaufman to Steward to Shields and my punch stats tripled.
CM: What happened to your jab in the Molina fight?
KC: I couldn't get my rhythm; I wasn't stepping into in. The key for me is the jab. I've always been a power hitter, but now I am working on throwing combinations to improve my game and its working.
CM: There are some good fights coming up this year, like Mayweather-Ortiz and Pacquiao-Marquez? Can I get some predictions from you?
KC: In Mayweather vs. Ortiz fight, Mayweather will stop him. Pacquiao and Marquez is a fight that needs to happen. Marquez is one of the only fighters that's really given Pacquiao hell, so it's time for that feud to end. Many think that Marquez won that one, so this fight should be good. Marquez has a lot of experience, is a hell of a fighter and it's going to be a good fight. Cotto-Margarito, Cotto wins. In their first fight, Cotto outboxed him 6 rounds and then it changed, but Cotto will avenge that loss.
CM: I read where it was reported that you had struggled with your weight for the Molina fight. Is that true?
KC: No way. Weight was contracted for 150; I came in 149.5 for both of my last fights
CM: It was reported that you had plans to move back to the junior middleweight division. Is this true?
KC: I don't have any plans. I will do what my team thinks is best and what I need to do for the next best fight that comes in. My team and my wife think I look best at 154, but we'll see what happens.
CM: Do you think you made the last fight harder than it had to be?
KC: Yes, but I felt like I was smothering because that ring was so small. I think the ring was 17x17. Every time I stuck to the plan staying on the outside using my jab, I felt like I was on the ropes because the ring was so small
CM: I have had a few boxers say they have grown to hate the sport? Do you hate boxing now?
KC: No way. A lot of people have jobs they hate, but they have to work. I love my job. I love boxing.
CM: Would you get in the ring to fight Paul Williams again?
KC: That fight has been discussed and it was recently offered. I accepted, but Williams declined.
CM: What's next for you?
KC: Whatever my promoter wants. I want to fight, stay busy, and get back into the swing of things. I'm ready to do what I have to do. I would love to fight on the Cotto-Margarito undercard at Madison Square Garden later this year.
CM: Ultimately, who would you really like to fight?
KC: I would really like to fight Miquel Cotto. It's nothing personal. I like him and all, but I think because of our styles, it would be a good matchup and a great fight for fans.
CM: Speaking of fans, do you have anything else you want to say to them before I let you go?
KC: I appreciate all of my fans. Thank you. I appreciate my fans waiting on me to come back. I want to bring them great fights with a new version of myself. Thank you for all of the support.