Boxing News 24/7 Robert Delgado – Los Angeles
The ease in which reigning WBC super welterweight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez defeated challenger Kermit Cintron at the Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City on Saturday, November 26 is testament to the fact that promoter Oscar de la Hoya now needs to increase the level of calibre of opponent that he matches one of his star fighters with. Cintron wilted under the pressure this evening and was no match for Alvarez’s power.
Delgado’s scorecard
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Canelo |
10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cintron |
9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Judges verdict: N/a.
With a masterful knowledge of distance, Alvarez found the perfect range to land his two to three punch combinations as early as the first round. His two-shot flurries included the left hook to the temple of Cintron followed by a right cross. Kermit, seemingly unfazed at the prospect of boxing in the lion’s den – his popular opponent’s territory, jabbed well in the opening stanza and there was little to really separate the two prizefighters in what was a competitive start.
In round two, Cintron began lagging behind Saul as he failed to attach anything to his lead jab and such a fact was not lost on his corner, who later implored their guy to throw more as he was showing the defending champion too much respect. In the third, it had become apparent that Canelo Alvarez’s power had perturbed Cintron to the extent that he did not take heed of his corner’s advice and was still too cautious over Saul’s strength.
Alvarez’s variety of punching was highlighted in the fourth, as he landed double hook punches and two punch moves that included the hook and the uppercut. Later, he succeeded with body blows. Right fists then backed Cintron up and Kermit was forced to take a knee yet, when he returned to his feet, Alvarez followed up with a left hook to the chin. Cintron was on his knee again but the referee ruled it a slip and so no second knockdown was given. Kermit did well to last the round, but as the bell sounded it took him at least 20 seconds to actually find his stool because of how staggered and dazed he was.
In the fifth, Alvarez continued his assault of Cintron, yet Kermit was determined to act like a true fighter and box his way out of danger. He even momentarily had Alvarez hesitant as the Mexican temporarily clinched, however, when it came to effective aggression, power and strength and ring generalship it was Saul who had the clear edge in every department.
Before the round could be completed, the referee deemed Cintron to be taken too much punishment and so stepped in to award Canelo the teekayo. Saul was cool in his celebration, mounting a turnbuckle and calmly touching his chest with his glove before saluting his fellow nationals in attendance.
Cintron ultimately paid too little attention to defending himself against Alvarez’s right hand, most notably the overhand. With victory, Alvarez rose to 39-0-1, 29ko. Golden Boy Promotions founder de la Hoya proclaimed earlier in the month that should Saul look scintillating in defeating someone of Cintron’s ilk, then the bigger fights would come in 2012. It is now time to deliver on that pledge and only players like James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara, the winner of Miguel Cotto versus Antonio Margarito or Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at a catchweight will suffice…
For all of boxing’s biggest stories click here
onthebeak@gmail.com
One Response to “Alvarez overcomes Cintron with ease, de la Hoya now needs to step him up”