This writer had the pleasure of connecting with former IBF Welterweight champion Kermit “The Killer” Cintron recently on my article about all-around boxing man Rich Ormsbee (cut man for Kermit for several fights) that he commented on adding much to the article. Cintron was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico in 1979 and came to the US in Warminster, PA.
Marshall Kauffman: In February of 1999 I put a pair of gloves on Kermit for the very first time. He came to the gym to train with a kid from my church named Tom Williams who also fought amateur. Kermit caught on very fast and was a natural athlete with power in both hands. He had his first 8 amateur fights with me than had another 16 with Terry Nye of Lancaster as it was too far for Kermit to travel from Lancaster to Reading a few times a week, which he did. Terry Nye wanted to turn him pro in 2001 which I thought was a mistake at the time and especially under Terry Nye, so Joe Pastore asked Kermit to come back to Reading and sign with us so we could guide his career which we did.
We then took him to 12-0 before signing him with Main Events where Kermit became prospect of the year and went on to become my first world champion. After going 24-0 under Joe Pastore and I his next 5 fights were with Kronk’s Manny Steward (I arranged the fights with Mark Suarez and David Estrada). His next 9 fights were with trainer Ronnie Shields. Next 8 fights with Joe Pastore (I promoted him then).
Rich Ormsbee (cut man): I worked his corner in his early days as a pro. I didn’t work his corner when he went to Detroit with Manny Steward. I didn’t work it when he fought Tyrone Brunson due to a health reason of mine. He was a good boxer but not a fighter. He was too nice of a guy in the ring and didn’t want to hurt anybody though he had all the skills to be one of the best in his times.
Jeff Jowett (writer Seconds Out): Good action fighter. He always gave the fans a good fight with a mix of defense and offense. He didn’t try to win by shutting down the action. Even though it’s not a major city, Reading has had a good amateur program with quite a few active gyms for years, as the smaller Lancaster, PA, and they’ve produced some good fighters. Kermit is the best of the lot.
Robert Brizel (Real Combat Media): I always feel Kermit was a brilliant fighter and still has amazing potential. But, his last few fights he was well trained and in top condition but I don’t feel he had the same “eye of the tiger” like he had earlier in his career. I always enjoyed watching Kermit’s fights and spending time with Kermit. He has one of the nicest personalities and brightest that I have ever seen in professional boxing. He is a wonderful husband and family man. I don’t think boxing was his top priority in the past few years. His trainer Joe Pastore was always kind to me. Kermit Cintron is extraordinary. He has never used performance drugs where drugs of any kind. They are being used everywhere. Kermit is looking for a big fight and I think Sergio Martinez would be a great fight to finish his career. I think it’s a fight Kermit could win but he has to be willing to do the work and make the sacrifice. His heart has to be in the ring. He also needs to find a trainer that understands what he needs and where he needs to go and take him one more notch higher than Joe Pastore took him. He has to take the Martinez fight very seriously because it’s a serious fight. I only have nice things to say about how Marshall Kauffman and what he’s done for Kermit. Marshall has offered Kermit every opportunity to advance his career and the rest is up to the fighter. Marshall has a genuine interest to help Kermit advance his career and has been not just a promoter but a real friend to him. Probably Kermit should have one tune-up fight to get his skills back to where they need to be. If Martinez has made a full recovery since his fight with Cotto he will be a serious threat.
Per www.boxrec.com Cintron had a 24-4 with 17 knockout amateur record. As a pro he won the interim WBC Youth title in 2002 and the NABF title in 2004. He held the WBO interim title from July 2004 to April 2005.
Cintron won all 24 of his first professional fights with the last one for the NABF and WBO interim title over Teddy “Two Gun” Reid, 22-5-1, stopping him in 8 rounds. It would be some nine months of inactivity before getting a fight with WBO champion Antonio Margarito, 31-4, being stopped in the fifth round in 2005, in Las Vegas.
Cintron two fights later showed the mark of a real champion stopping “King” David Estrada, 18-2, in the tenth round in an IBF title eliminator earning a shot at the vacant IBF title. He would win the title stopping Mark “Poison” Suarez, 25-2, (who stopped James “Spider” Webb, 18-0 in an eliminator in his previous fight), in 6 rounds. In Cintron’s first defense he scored a sensational knockout over Argentina’s Walter Matthysse, 26-1, in two rounds in Atlantic City, NJ.
Cintron followed up with a stoppage of Jesse Feliciano, 15-5-3, in ten rounds in L.A. Then he had a repeat loss to Margarito. Once again he bounced back holding interim WBC Super Welter champion Sergio Martinez 44-1-1 (only loss to Margarito) to a draw, but no rematch.
“I see that he is coming back, and I would like the opportunity to face him. We have some unfinished business since our 2009 fight, and this is the time to do it. There were various opinions on that fight. If the fight needs to be in Spain, Argentina, or wherever, my passport is up-to-fate and I am ready to travel,” said Cintron.
“This would be a great fight. It’s two world champions looking for that last shot at something significant. The winner would have that. I will reach it out to his representatives and try to make this fight happen,” said Marshall Kauffman. The quotes from Cintron and Kauffman were made in June of 2020.
Cintron would next score a sensational win over previously unbeaten Alfredo Angulo, 15-0, in a WBC light middleweight title eliminator fight that unfortunately never brought about a title fight. Next in his first fight in his homeland of Puerto Rico stopping Brazil’s Juliano Ramos, 15-2, in five rounds was a “welcome home!” Next in falling out of the ring in a TD loss to Paul Williams his career was never quite the same including a WBC Super Welter title loss to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 38-0-1, in Mexico that followed.
Cintron was trained by Marshall Kauffman, Manny Steward and Ronnie Shields. He was managed by Kauffman and Joe Pastore while promoted by Main Events, DiBella Entertainment and King’s Promotions. Cintron agreed to a Q&A with this writer.
KEN HISSNER: You had quite a career posting a 39-6-3 record with 30 big knockouts and always a Reading favorite. Was there one fight that stood out?
KERMIT CINTRON: Walter Matthysse from Argentina (26-1, WBO Latino and WBC FECARBOX champion, Kermit ko’d 2 in IBF defense in Atlantic City)
KEN HISSNER: Before turning to boxing at age 19 didn’t you have a wrestling background in high school?
KERMIT CINTRON: I wrestled at William Tennent H.S. and in college at Stevens Tech.
KEN HISSNER: From 2003 to 2014 you had no fights at home or in the near areas defeating Bethlehem’s Ronald Cruz, 20-2, in Bethlehem. Was it good returning home?
KERMIT CINTRON: I felt good coming back home but I broke my hand in the first round.
KEN HISSNER: In fighting in Reading eight times and nearby ten times only a draw and no contest in your final fight were the results. Did you always feel the home crowd was a big asset for you?
KERMIT CINTRON: I don’t think so.
KEN HISSNER: Since your last fight in 2018 have you been doing anything in boxing?
KERMIT CINTRON: Not really. As far as boxing again that’s up to Marshall (Kauffman, his promoter).
KEN HISSNER: Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions.
KERMIT CINTRON: Appreciate it.