The battles at the fabled “Boardwalk of beauties and bag ladies” of Atlantic City, New Jersey, opens with defending IBF strap holder Kermit Cintron facing past nemesis Antonio Margarito who administered the single loss in first meeting - a round five TKO.

This one a pier-six, donnybrook, of Katie bar the door magnitude - the former champion arrived with knockout repeat on the mind while Cintron clearly had revenge on his - Margarito would prevail - the edge evoked memories of a long ago war that went, “We did it before and we can do it again” - as in USA vs Germany circa WW1 - WW2.

Both answer opening bell at center stage looking for the knockout - Margarito with the edge - again in stanza two it’s Margarito albeit cut over right eye courtesy of inadvertent meeting of the minds.

Continues for the Mexican warrior in pressure winning candle three - and come numero cuatro it appears somewhat clear a Cintron change in strategy a must - the round a close one but still belonged to Margarito.

Then stanza five a Margarito monster round with Cintron cut over left eye from left hook - and Cintron turning to referee complaining about being hit behind the head - and gets help from Earl Brown AKA stranger in charge.

Matters not - stanza six a Margarito jab-right hand, left hook body punch with Cintron down for the count at 1:57 mark - winner and new champion Antonio Margarito.    

• Margarito (36-5, 26 KO) ~ age 30 and veteran of a now 41 kept appointments is on wrong slope of the hill considering the slam-bang style. Still, in with big puncher proved the stamina and chin is up to the task. Now looking ahead to either Cotto or Mayweather. Says here (WBO) Quintana a wiser direction for unifier.

• Cintron ( 29-2, 27 KO) ~ age 28 - only prayer in this one if Margarito aged since first meeting. The two “names” on the Cintron resume` spelled Margarito. The Cintron 29 wins with 27 by KO an old story, with others failing once stepping up to quality foes.   

• Referee: Earl Brown - decent for most part - but reacting to Cintron pleas for help by stopping the action translates to needed refresher course.

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The feature attraction pretty much played to a Miguel Cotto virtuoso performance - with pretender Alfonso Gomez the victim. The defending WBA title holder clearly sharing top billing with WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

On that note, we the viewer caught five stanzas of vintage Cotto - the recently displayed left jab addition to the power arsenal showed marked improvement - the year 2008 vintage upgraded in delivery and potency.
Gomez never had a prayer - the past Contenders movie version of pro boxing is strictly minor league - gave it his best and paid in blood and bruises - hurt in stanza two from body punch and goes down in belated fashion.

Stanza three it’s a Cotto left hook finding the solar plexus and it’s knockdown two - battered again in round four and gets no help from hack in charge Randy Neumann or his own corner.

Finally, stanza cinco and a Cotto jab drops Gomez - still no stoppage - house quack visit between five and six with a no-mas call.

Enters books as Cotto by KO end of round five.

Closing comments:

• Miguel Cotto (32-0, 26 KOs) ~ age 27 - the kid from Caguas, Puerto Rico has his act together - took mucho work to finally get earned recognition. The scalps on the unblemished résumé go Bailey, Corley, Judah, Malignaggi, Mosley, Quintana, Torres. Enough said. A Margarito unification being talked about by HBO - winner gets Mayweather Jr. If not, no loss, this kid worth the peek whoever the victim.

• Alfonso Gomez: (18-4-2, 8 KOs) ~ age 27 - in way over his head - corner should be docked some dollars for not pulling plug before medico arrived. Alfonso club fighter talent - Gatti scalp far from prime time version.

• HBO Crew: No better trio with commentary than Merchant, Steward, Lamphead in that order.

• Ring announcer: Lupe Contreras quality pinch hitter for ailing Michael Buffer. The guy is top of line material.