No doubt about it - the California Boxing Commission has once again qualified for background music starring yesteryear stand up comic Red Buttons - with his Hidee-Hidee-Hhidee-Ho, "Strange things are happening" openings. 

Latest insult to legitimate rules changes was on display during stanza four of the Paul "Punisher" Williams vs Kermit "Killer" Cintron battle of former welterweight strap holders. 

Williams enters the heavy favorite while sporting rap sheet of 38-1, 27 KOs to Cintron at 32-2-1, 28 KOs - on paper he also enjoyed the lefty vs. orthodox edge, along with height and reach advantage. Toss in the past proven busier of the two and Cintron was now left with the proverbial (right hand) puncher's chance. 

Opening bell sees neither the "Punisher" nor "The Killer" living up to their sobriquets - my unofficial handed the slightest of edges to Cintron - again in numero dos a replay of mutual counter punching in style - and I had it Cintron 2-0. 

Now it's Williams picking up the tempo - although nothing that could be described as a winning punishing style. Still, he gets my vote - and it's now Cintron 29-28 in points. 

Then the bell for number four - nearing halfway mark with pretty much a replay of the prior three stanzas - Williams comes alive with straight left hand - Cintron counters with right hand just short of the mark and we instantly see both entangled ala typical righty-lefty style. 

Rest of the story, instead of a mutual unraveling, they end up tripping one another - first seen is Williams sitting on his derriere - second camera catches Cintron stumbling awkwardly into and through the top and second strands. 

The transplanted Puerto Rican now calling Texas home looked more like a cowboy being thrown by his pony - finally the bouncing about stopped and he would lay motionless before the medics arrived with the neck brace and stretcher. 

Eventually we have Michael Buffer with the decision - advises that under California Commission rules when a fighter cannot continue after three rounds due to injury it goes to the scorecards. 

The scoring then went Williams 40-36, 39-37; Cintron 40-36 for a Williams by technical decision 4. A bit strange that scoring reflected a full round four when it was in reality three and a half rounds with Cintron leaving the joint on a stretcher. 

Worse yet, not a voice mentioned the failure of the safety-first California Commission of clowns to have one of its lower level hacks to test the four ring strands prior to the nights ring action began. Replays clearly showed the strands give way the instant Cintron grabbed them in attempt to prevent falling. 

Win-lose or draw the early rounds was disappointment with a zero exchange with neither "The Punisher" or "The Killer" as yet abandoning the counter punch approach in style - guess is the non-action would have eventually reverted to both fighters usual "M.O."