In a ridiculous turn of events that probably just deserves to be dismissed for all intents and purposes, Paul Williams came out with a split decision win over Kermit Cintron on HBO World Championship Boxing.
In the fourth round of a fairly slow fight, just as the action was threatening to pick up, Williams fell to the canvas as the fighters tangled, and Cintron was hurled out of the ring and all the way to the ringside floor.
Williams got to his feet fine, but Cintron stayed on the ground outside. The official word for now is that doctors refused to let Cintron continue despite his own protests, but Cintron was clutching his knee and grabbing his back and lying motionless. It would seem that a "Seriously, guys, check it out, I can get up" might have helped his cause if he wanted to fight on, but who knows?
California state rules dictated that the fight go to the scorecards. Williams won on scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 36-40. Bad Left Hook had Cintron up 39-37, but it's pointless, really. That's a pretty terrible rule all things considered.
Overall, a wasted night at the fights.
Of Note: Tonight, HBO's Larry Merchant said that Kelly Pavlik would not fight Sergio Martinez in the rematch he has the contractual right to exercise. This is NOT official. Pavlik still has until May 17 to decide. Merchant may know which way someone is leaning, but it's not official yet.