"A PROMOTER'S NIGHTMARE" By Elisa Harrison

Boxing fans -even the savviest ones- usually know little about promoters. Don't get me wrong, there is almost always name recognition, and in most instances, the faces -and hairdos- are familiar as well... But when it comes to doing business with promoters, boxing aficionados are never privy to the wheeling and dealing that promoters engage in for a living.

It has been my experience that some promoters see themselves as a totally different breed of people. I have found some to be self-serving, self-absorbed and for the most part, they see themselves notches above the rest of us earth links. Legendary trainer Alton Merkerson once called them the "pimps" of the sport of boxing.

Most promoters are power brokers who make and break careers, who protect their fighters caring little -if at all- how they can destroy the careers -and in some instances- the lives of so called "opponents." Promoters seem to be abutting the managerial field with increasing frequency nowadays, an issue of ethical concern. This past Friday, August 29th, Main Events set up such a situation between their up and coming good guy Kermit "The Killer" Cintron and an opponent whose only claim to fame was the fact that in 29 professional bouts he had never been kayoed.

The opponent came into this match with the dubious distinction of having won 2 of his last 10 matches. However, in their quest to validate Cintron's reputation as a "killer" Main Events brain thrust went to great lengths, and expense, to make the fight against -what most would have considered a shot opponent- happen.

Cintron's team had lots to say during pre-fight press conferences, assuring the fans that Kermit would make a KO happen within the distance of six rounds. Cintron's team never doubted the win, it was the knockout that they were going after.

To compound the situation, the fight took place in the Puerto Rican's hometown, and at a venue where the youngster once toiled as a teenager. The scenario had all the makings of a fairy tale ending. But the beauty of this sport we love so much is that when two men step into the ring, all the hype ceases, and the truth usually skims to the top.

The "opponent" looked drawn and soft, it was obvious that his conditioning was faulty; he had the look of a fighter who had lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time. His corner was far from professional, (did they even have a much needed endswell!?!), but the opponent's heart was ticking and his determination was definitely there.

Kermit Cintron came within seconds of visiting the canvas at least twice in this mismatch, and although the record books indicate that he remains undefeated, his stock didn't rise behind this performance. Kermit, who had a considerable size and reach advantage, looked confounded at times, and he certainly didn't fight in his customary aggressive mode. He had countless opportunities to jump on an opponent who stood in front of him throughout ten rounds, failing to capitalize or deliver even one telling blow. The rangy jab was seldom used, the combinations did little to slow down the competition and over all, in this writer's humble opinion, Kermit Cintron did not look like a killer this past Friday night.

Main Events has been criticized in the past for rushing guys like Fernando Vargas and Panchito Bojado. Bojado has rebounded from his only loss, and has formed a great partnership with one of the best trainers in the sport, Floyd Mayweather, Sr. As for Vargas, he has never again been viewed as the dominant fighter he was shaping up to be, and yes, he does sell out venues, but that's not the topic of this discussion. To put it in don Felix Trinidad's words, "they ruined an excellent fighter."