On Saturday, 14th February 2009, the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, hosted the Sergio Martinez vs Kermit Cintron bout. The show was promoted by Don King and Gary Shaw, with Frank Santore Jr. serving as the referee and was the main supporting bout to Nate Campbell vs Ali Funeka for the unified world lightweight titles. Martinez and Cintron were competing for the WBC Interim World Super-welterweight Title, with this being Martinez's first defense of the title. The match was broadcasted on HBO Boxing After Dark.
Sergio Martinez, hailing from Quilmes, Argentina, entered the ring with a record of 44-1-1, while Kermit Cintron, a Reading, Pennsylvania resident via Carolina, Puerto Rico, had a record of 30-2-0. Both fighters were within the required weight limits, with Martinez weighing in at 153¼ lbs and Cintron at 154 lbs.
The fight began with Martinez employing quick combinations to gain the upper hand. Cintron appeared sluggish, likely due to entering the ring at a middleweight size. However, the third round saw Martinez further establish his dominance as he continued to outmanoeuvre Cintron.
A controversial moment occurred when Cintron suffered a cut over his left eye early in the fight. Referee Frank Santore Jr. ruled that the cut resulted from a punch, but HBO's replay clearly showed that it was produced by an accidental headbutt. This call would later play a significant role in the match's outcome.
In the seventh round, Martinez seemed to have scored a knockout, but the referee ruled it a slip, allowing the fight to continue. This decision, along with the earlier ruling on the cut, would become central points of contention among observers and analysts following the match.
Ultimately, the bout concluded in a majority decision draw, with neither fighter claiming victory. Despite the controversial rulings.
Scores: Tom Kaczmarek 116-110, James Ged O'Connor 113-113, Peter Trematerra 113-113.
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