Kudos to HBO
 By Benny Henderson Jr (July 11, 2007) Doghouse Boxing
Every once in a blue moon boxing fans are treated to a delicious delicacy of destruction, a fight that is well worth the cause and our time, and most importantly…free! So with this weekend’s triple-header that HBO Boxing is offering up to the boxing public all I can say is…kudos to HBO!
This Saturday, July 14th HBO serves up a triple header of welterweight action that features two championship clashes and one human highlight reel in a two city one night of broadcasting.
First up in the night of fight festivities via the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, two once beaten hard hitting warriors will collide as Kermit Cintron 27-1 (25) makes the first defense of his IBF welterweight strap when he squares off against the power punching Argentinean Walter Dario Matthysse 26-1 (25) in a scheduled twelve round welterweight clash.
Cintron, the Puerto Rican born power puncher has banged out three consecutive knockout victories since dropping his one and only loss two years ago from the hands of Antonio Margarito. In his last outing Cintron earned the IBF strap he will be defending this weekend by stopping the tough contender Mark Suarez in the sixth round to claim his hardware.
The challenger, the Argentina born boxer Matthysse is coming off a confidence building win over Jorge Perez, which Walter won with a second round TKO. The only blemish on his resume came just fourteen months ago when he was stopped in the tenth round by the undefeated Paul Williams.
With the two heavy handed fighters knocking out just about everybody they have faced it is safe to say that somebody may be tasting canvas soup before the night is through. One thing for sure, the fight fans shall get a show for as long as it lasts.
One thing for certain the main event should be as explosive as well as the human highlight reel Arturo Gatti 40-8 (31) makes his twenty-first appearance on HBO Boxing as he takes on the whole hearted former ‘The Contender’ contestant Alfonso Gomez 16-3-2 (7) in a scheduled ten round 147-pound clash.
In all honestly if you have been around the ‘sweet science’ for any period of time the past sixteen years you have had to
come across the name Arturo Gatti, the ‘Thunder’ does not need any introduction. From the blood and guts chilling and thrilling trilogies with Mickey Ward, the blood bath with Angel Manfredy to any other Gatti bout, the fans were served up a heaping helping off wholehearted action. Win, lose or draw, the fighter known as ‘The Human Highlight Reel’ has awed the masses.
Is he taking to big of a step or is he catching Gatti at the right time? Either way the little upset specialist known as Alfonzo Gomez is ready to wage war. The little known Mexican fighter made his way to the boxing reality series ‘The Contender’, in what most called a series ending call when Gomez challenged the then unbeaten Peter Manfredo Jr., then beat ‘The Pride of Providence’ unanimously. Gomez once again went head to head with Manfredo losing out unanimously in a seven round bout, but since then has four wins battling to only one draw.
You can label this bout as nuts and guts and a whole lot of action when the two step in together this Saturday night. Will Gatti find victory in his home away from home, or will Gomez ring in another upset?
After everything wraps up from Atlantic City, HBO travels west to the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA to witness a highly anticipated mach-up against the hard hitting Mexican fighter Antonio Margarito 34-4 (24) who defends his WBO welterweight strap against the undefeated rising star Paul Williams 32-0 (24).
Margarito, number two on Ring Magazine’s welterweight rankings hasn’t lost a bout in three years since dropping an L to Daniel Santos after an accidental head butt cut Margarito’s eyebrow. Since then the Tijuana born boxer has banged out four consecutive wins over the likes of Kermit Cintron and recently Joshua Clottey.
His opponent, the South Carolina born 6’1” stinging southpaw Paul Williams burst on the scene seven years ago, and since his jump in the professionals has banged out a spotless record beating out the likes of Terrence Cauthen, Walter Matthysse and Sharmba Mitchell. This showdown is projected to be a hellacious one, Margarito, taking on the young Williams in what should be a hell of a scrap.
All three bouts should have their moments, and most certainly entertain the on hand fans and the ones witnessing the action at home. Networks always battle head to head, and this round goes to HBO. So I say if all goes as planned and the action is what I think it will be…Kudos to HBO!
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