Cintron and Margarito on ESPN2 Boxing

Kermit Cintron defends WBO-Interim title in main event.  Antonio Margarito defends WBO title in co-feature.

Kermit Cintron and Antonio Margarito, two of the world’s finest welterweights will headline the Feb 18 edition of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights Main Events Special” from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva.  Welterweight bomber Kermit Cintron will defend his WBO-Interim welterweight crown against veteran Steve Martinez in the 12 round main event, while WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito defends his title against Carlos Baldomir in the 12 round co-feature contest.  Should both Cintron and Margarito emerge victorious, the two will square off in a highly-anticipated welterweight showdown in April.

Cintron (24-0, 22 KO’s) has knocked out 13 of his last 14 opponents.  The 25-year-old Reading, PA resident by way of Carolina, Puerto Rico captured the NABF welterweight title and the WBO-Interim welterweight title in his last bout on July 17, 2004, when he dismantled Jamaican bomber Teddy Reid in eight rounds (TKO 8).  Cintron is ranked #6 by Ring magazine and is recognized as one of the sport's most lethal punchers.

Martinez (46-5-1, 28 KO’s) has won nine of his last 10 bouts.  The 33-year-old San Antonio, TX native captured the NABF-interim welterweight title in his last bout on November 1, 2004, by stopping Grover Wiley (TKO 4).  Martinez has fought several recognizable 147-154 pounders in his 17-year pro career, such as former world welterweight champion Vernon Forrest and former NABF jr. middleweight champion Tony Marshall.

Margarito (30-4, 21 KO’s) won the vacant WBO welterweight title on March 16, 2003, when he battered Antonio Diaz for 10 rounds, forcing Diaz’s corner to throw in the towel at the 2:17 mark of the round (TKO 10).  The 26-year-old Tijuana, Mexican successfully defended his title three times before challenging champion Daniel Santos on September 11, 2004, for the WBO jr. middleweight crown.  Margarito lost a technical decision after suffering a head-butt induced cut that forced the bout’s stoppage in round nine (L 9).  Margarito is ranked #1 by Ring magazine.

Baldomir (40-9-6, 12, KO’s) has won six of his last seven bouts.  The sole blemish on the 33-year-old Santa Fe, Argentina native’s record during this time span was a 12 round draw on March 22, 2002, against Jose Luis Cruz in a WBC welterweight title eliminator (D 12).  In his last bout on March 27, 2004, Baldomir floored Alpaslan Aguzum once on his way to earning an eighth round stoppage and capturing the WBC International welterweight championship (TKO 8).

The evening of boxing is being presented by Main Events, in association with Bally’s Park Place.  The Margarito-Baldomir bout is being presented by Main Events and Top Rank, in association with Bally’s Park Place.

Tickets, priced at $75, $50, and $25, can be purchased at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Box Office, Bally's Show Desk, by calling TicketMaster at 1-800-736-1420, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets will go on sale beginning Jan 10.