Kermit Cintron Wins Vacant Ibf Title

Cintron stops Suarez in five to win IBF welterweight title

Comebacking Kermit Cintron (27-1, 25 KOs) from Puerto Rico won the vacant IBF welterweight title Saturday night at the Palm Beach Convention Center from Riverside, California’s Mark Suarez (25-3, 18 KOs), forcing referee Frank Santore Jr. to call a halt to the action at 2:53 of round five.

Although both fighters had their moments, especially early on, Cintron pretty much controlled the action and the judges’ scorecards from the opening bell.

Since his devastating loss to Antonio Margarito in April 2005, Cintron has won his last three bouts. The victory over Suarez ends the Californian’s seven-fight win streak.

In undercard results, junior flyweight Mauricio Pastrana (33-7-2, 21 KOs) scored a first-round KO at 2:29 over Osvaldo Cedeno (13-8-2, 8 KOs). Cruiserweight Ramon Garbey (18-4, 13 KOs) scored a unanimous six-round decision over James Brock (13-37-3, 4 KOs). Middleweight Aaron Pryor Jr. (7-0, 5 KO), son of the hall of fame fighter, stopped Timothy Hall (4-3, 3 KOs) at 1:55 of the sixth round.