In a bizarre ending to a fight that was just starting to heat up, former welterweight champion Paul "The Punisher" Williams scored a split decision over Kermit "The Killer" Cintron after just four rounds of action at the Home Depot Center in Carson City, California. The fight started off tactical, with both men being cautious. Cintron was having his moments, landing effective counter punches on the taller man. In the fourth round, however, Williams began to turn up his workrate, landing crisp left hands that got Cintron's attention. Towards the end of the round, as Williams was coming forward, both men stumbled to the canvas and Cintron literally rolled out of the ring, bounced off of a table and landed on the floor. Check out exactly what happend in FightHype's round-by-round results.
ROUND 1
Cintron comes out pawing with his jab. They trade jabs...Cintron's looked stiffer. Left hand lands for Williams. Nice left hook lands for Cintron. Woooooo...nice uppercut lands for Cintron. Williams lands a left to the body. Two nice left hooks land upstairs for Cintron. Williams lands a nice left of his own. 1-2 lands for Cintron. Another right lands for Cintron. Williams answers with an uppercut. A tactical round that was won by Cintron.
Williams 9 Cintron 10
ROUND 2
Now Williams comes out firing his jab. Left to the body lands for Williams. Stiff jab lands for Williams. Cintron looking to land that right hand. Williams lands a left. Cintron answers with a 1-2. Williams lands a left upstairs. Cintron digs a right to the body. Two right hands land for Williams. Cintron catches Williams with a nice right hand as Williams leans in too far. Another tactical round, but this one won by Williams.
Williams 19 Cintron 19
ROUND 3
Cintron digs a right to the body. Jab lands for Cintron. Another right lands to the body for Cintron, but he eats a left from Williams. They trade jabs. Right hand over the top lands for Cintron. Stiff jab lands for Williams. Uppercut lands for Williams, but he eats a right from Cintron. They trade jabs. A few boos from the crowd, who are getting bored with the lack of fireworks. Left hook lands for Cintron. Right and a left lands for Cintron. Williams digs a 1-2 to the body. Cintron lands a left hook upstairs and slips away. Round to Williams.
Williams 29 Cintron 28
ROUND 4
Williams looks like he's turning up the pressure now. Nice left hand lands for Williams...another....and another. BIG right hand lands for Cintron and the head snaps back of Williams. Both men starting to trade shots now. Williams lands a left hand and charges forward. Cintron slides to the side and both men fall down. Cintron tumbles out of the ring, onto a table and then onto the floor. Cintron is still on the floor holding his leg. He looks hurt. A stretcher comes out. Wow. That's going to be it. Wow. Crazy. Cintron appears to be in serious pain, although the tumble onto the table didn't look as bad in slow motion.
According to ringsiders in attendance, Cintron hit his head and shoulder when he fell to the ground. Although he said he wanted to continue, the ringside doctor would not allow him to. Due to the rules of the California State Athletic Commission, because the fight went three rounds, they go to the scorecards. I give that last round to Williams.
Williams 39 Cintron 37
Official judges scorecards: 39-37, 40-36 (Williams), 40-36 (Cintron)
THE WINNER BY SPLIT DECISION...PAUL WILLIAMS
COMPUBOX NUMBERS
Williams total punches: 27/207
Cintron total punches: 29/126
Williams power punches: 20/76
Cintron power punches: 19/63
POSTFIGHT:
Cintron is taken out on the stretcher. "I just hope Cintron alright. I mean, it started getting heated up in there...we were both throwing some big punches," stated Williams. "I thought he probably would have got up and continued, but...I don't know what to really say...a win is a win for me...I was just getting warmed up," he continued. As for his future plans, Williams added, "Right now, the top of the list is Mayweather...if I can't get Mayweather, I want Pacquiao."
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