BIG STAGE FOR MARGARITO, CINTRON.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Boxing

It was a little more than five years ago - Dec. 14, 1999 - when Antonio Margarito took on Efrain Munoz in the main event at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello.

In the second round, Margarito knocked out Munoz, a terrible fighter who retired 0-16-1 in 2001. But it was obvious that Margarito had talent, hunger and power. At that point, he was 20-3 with 12 knockouts.

However, if he was fighting at a small venue with more than 20 fights under his belt, one had to wonder where Margarito was going, if anywhere.

Margarito ended up going a long way. And April 23, fight fans will be able to see him defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt against the formidable Kermit Cintron at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Margarito-Cintron will be the main event on a card that will include ``Sugar'' Shane Mosley in his return to the welterweight division. The former lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight champion will square off against David Estrada in a 10-round bout.

Included on the card will be Juan Diaz in a defense of his World Boxing Association lightweight title against Ebo Elder. Also, Calvin Brock and Jameel McCline will duke it out in a 10-round heavyweight attraction.

Although many will be tuning in or buying tickets to see Mosley-Estrada, the fight of the night should be Margarito-Cintron. Margarito, who will be making his fifth defense, is still hungry at 27.

Cintron (24-0, 22 KOs) has been good for a while, so in regards to winning his first major title, he must be famished.

During a conference call last week, Margarito talked about the rougher days, when first he was fighting in his native Tijuana, Mexico, then at the Quiet Cannon, the Pond of Anaheim and the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio.

They are known as club venues. Those who regularly fight on club cards are known as club fighters. It's a stigma anyone aspiring to be a champion does not want to be saddled with.

``When you are in Mexico, you want to come fight in the United States and make a name for yourself and I think that's how I began,'' Margarito said. ``I knew I had to win all of the fights that I had and they were all important moments of my life.

``As a boxer, it would lead me to the championship, which is what I wanted. I knew the fights were important because the fans would follow my career. People that liked the way I fought.''

It's hard not to like what Margarito does in the ring. With a record of 31-4 and 22 knockouts, he is a nice combination of power and savvy.

``Early on I didn't have the experience to show the people what I could really do,'' Margarito said. ``After time, the experience took over and that's why you see a different fighter today.''

But will his experience and overall talent be enough to defeat Cintron, whose moniker is ``The Killer''? Like Margarito, Cintron, of Reading, Pa. via Puerto Rico, is solid in the punch, chin and courage departments.

``If you have seen my fights, you know I don't back down from anyone,'' Margarito said. ``I will leave all my heart and everything that I have on the table.''

For Cintron, 25, it's time to make the world take notice. Not just in this fight, either.

``I've been ready to step it up for a while,'' Cintron said. ``I stepped it up against Teddy Reid and I'll step it up against Margarito. And after I win against Margarito, I will step it up even further. Shane Mosley or Zab Judah, I will be ready to fight whoever thinks they are the best.''

Beating Mosley may not mean much at this point, but a win over Judah, who holds the other three welterweight belts, would mean plenty.

``Just bring them on. I am a competitive guy,'' Cintron said.

--Bowe should get serious: Former two-time heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe can do one of two things: He can decide to get serious about his comeback and lose at least 30 pounds, or he can be smart and go back into retirement.

The man called ``Big Daddy'' really is a sweetheart of a guy, so we don't want to see him get hurt. Bowe, at a flabby 280 pounds, looked awful against Billy Zumbrun on Thursday at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula.

Although most in attendance booed the split decision awarded Bowe, the Daily News and many other publications scored the fight a draw.

Regardless, Bowe took way too many head shots from someone who mostly has toiled on the Pacific Northwest circuit, which is only one rung higher than the ridiculously bad Midwest circuit.

What Bowe should do is get into shape, say down to 250. If he can do that, then goes out and has another fight and still isn't sharp, then he should hang 'em up.

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Photo:

Antonio Margarito has come a long way to arrive at his title defense April 23 at Caesars Palace.

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

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