With his win over Alfredo Angulo in May, Kermit Cintron earned the position as the top ranked contender to WBO Junior Middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk. So, imagine the surprise of Team Cintron when they learned Saturday’s bout between #4 ranked Angulo, and #5 ranked Harry Joe Yorgey would be for the WBO’s interim title at 154 lbs.
The basis of the interim title fight taking place is the inactivity of Dzinziruk, who has not stepped into the ring since a November, 2008 defense vs. Joel Julio. However, based on the WBO’s ratings Cintron would be first in line for a crack at the interim belt. Yet, no offer was ever extended to Team Cintron to fight for the interim title, despite Kermit being ready to compete following a fifth round knockout over Juliano Ramos on October 24 in Puerto Rico.
“What sense does it make that I beat Angulo and now he gets to fight for the interim title, when I am the top contender,” asked Cintron. “I have done nothing but bide my time waiting for Dzinziruk, and now I’m on the outside looking in.”
The explanation given by those behind the interim title fight is that Cintron did not push himself for a bout with full title holder Dzinziruk earlier this year. That, however, is not accurate given Dzinziruk’s public, drawn out feud with promoter, Universum, his lack of marketability, and the absence of a mandatory notice from the WBO or a negotiating period being established.
Josh Dubin, the advisor and attorney to Cintron, is enraged by the decision of the WBO to sanction Angulo-Yorgey for the interim title and warns that he will do everything possible to ensure Kermit is treated with the respect he has earned.
“Boxing becomes problematic when fighters earn their stature outside, instead of inside the ring,” said Dubin. “Kermit earned his spot in the rankings by clearly defeating Alfredo Angulo in the ring. I am advising the WBO that we will take any appropriate action to ensure that Kermit Cintron is treated in accordance with his ranking. Two fighters below Kermit in the ratings have been elevated into greater financial opportunities and a better standing with the WBO. We will not tolerate Kermit being financially damaged by arbitrary and capricious decision making.”