Status: IBF Welterweight champion defends title this Saturday in Atlantic City vs. Argentine Walter Mattyhsse on HBO.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 147
Born On: October 22, 1979 In: Carolinas, Puerto Rico
Childhood Heroes: "Chavez, Sugar Ray Leonard and Duran."
Hobbies/Interests: "Hanging out, bowling, fishing."
Nicknames: "Killer, Kerm, Kerm the Worm, Kermie [smiles]."
Favorite Movies: "The Raging Bull."
Last Book Read: "Ring magazine - it was the other day [smiles]."
Musical Tastes: "Spanish music, Tito Rojas, and of course, R&B, rap."
Favorite TV Shows: "Don't have any."
Early Boxing Memory: "Street fights - kids used to pick on me all the time. (Why?) Who knows, I guess because I was a wuss back then, in Puerto Rico (age 5-6). I used to get beat up all the time, afraid to fight, afraid to get beat up. (When did it all change?) Ever since my mom passed away, ever since I moved here (Warminster, PA), my attitude changed. I just changed. Everything changed."
Favorite Meal: "Spanish rice and beans."
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Twist - both chocolate and vanilla."
Childhood Dream: "A pro athlete, that was my dream."
First Job: "Landscaping in Warminster (age 13)."
First Car: "1988 silver Toyota Camry."
Current Car: "Right now I'm driving the Acura MGX (pearl white)."
Pre-Fight Feeling: "Never got nervous, that's for sure. I like one-on-one sports. Wrestling was my thing in high school. Doing that for so long, I never get nervous anymore. Just think...win. I would make sure I get my win."
Greatest Sports Moment: "Winning the title (KO Mark Suarez in 2006)."
Most Painful Moment: "Losing the Margarito fight."
Embarrassing Moment: "Margarito fight."
Favorite Boxers To Watch: "Oscar De La Hoya - his style. Trinidad - him being a puncher. Sugar Ray Leonard. I grew up watching him and I always watched him fight. There was also Roy Jones Jr., but I watched more of Sugar Ray Leonard."
Favorite Fights: "Jose Luis Castillo against Diego Corrales - the first one. Trinidad-De La Hoya, Trinidad-Whitaker."
Funny Boxing Memory: "Nothing. None of that."
Toughest Man Faced: "I would have to say probably Teddy Reid. He was a hard puncher. I mean, as well as Tony Margarito, he was also a tough fighter. (What makes Margarito so effective?) Well, I lost focus in that fight after I got cut. And after it, it was just a 360 from the third round on. (First time cut?) First time I was ever cut bad like that yeah."
Favorite Vacation Spot: "Going back to my hometown - Carolinas."
People Qualities Most Admired: "Several. Being from a poor family, people that grow up and turn their lives around."
