Román Martínez (boxer)

Román Martínez
Martínez in 2008
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Rocky
Rated at	Super featherweight
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Reach	67 in (170 cm)
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Born	January 31, 1983 Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	34
Wins	29
Wins by KO	17
Losses	2
Draws	3

Román "Rocky" Martínez (born January 31, 1983) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He is a three-time and current WBO super featherweight champion.

Career

On December 22, 2001, Martinez began his professional career, beating fellow Puerto Rican Wilfredo Ramos with a fourth round knockout on the undercard of a bill headed by Irving Garcia in Manatí, Puerto Rico.^[1] After defeating Ricky Piedra by knockout, he won his first decision against Israel Galarza.^[2] During the next year, Martínez defeated Richard Boyd, Adisone Sengaroun and Joe Johnson by knockout and Israel Coraliz by unanimous decision, before scoring the first draw of his career against Jose Leonardo Cruz. After six months of inactivity, he returned to action on April 23, 2004, defeating Celestino Rodriguez by technical knockout. Martínez fought once more in 2004, defeating Johnny Walker by unanimous decision. On January 27, 2005, he fought Mario Lacey, defeating him by knockout after scoring three knockdowns in the fourth round. After defeating Derrick Moon by unanimous decision, Martínez fought to ten rounds for the first time in his career, defeating Jose Luis Soto Karass by unanimous decision. This fight was followed by eleven months of inactivity, when he returned to action by defeating Wilfredo Vargas by technical knockout in three rounds.

Super featherweight division

On November 17, 2006, Martínez fought in the super featherweight division for the first time, defeating Baudel Cárdenas by technical decision in the tenth round.^[2] With this victory, he won the vacant WBO Latino super featherweight title, a regional championship sanctioned by the World Boxing Organization.^[2] Three months later he competed for his second professional championship against Francisco Lorenzo. Martínez won the contest by split decision and received the WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title. After defeating Genaro Trazancos by technical knockout in a non-title fight, he participated in a unification match against Daniel Jimenez. Martínez won by knockout in the twelfth and final round, retaining the Inter-Continental super featherweight title and winning the WBO NABO super featherweight championship.^[3]

On February 23, 2008, he defended the first of these titles against Jose Anibal Cruz, winning by technical knockout in the third round. This was followed by a preparatory fight against Cristian Favela in the lightweight division, which he won by unanimous decision, with scores of 97-93, 98-92 and 99-91. On August 30, 2008, Martínez defended the NABO super featherweight title against Santos Benavides, winning the contest by technical knockout in the sixth round. He entered this fight ranked third in the WBO and expected to receive a championship opportunity against then-champion Alex Arthur if he won. On September 9, 2008, Nicky Cook defeated Arthur and inherited Martínez as his first contender. A fight between both pugilists was scheduled for March 14, 2009, as part of a card organized in Manchester, England. Early in the fight, Cook began his offensive by throwing jabs. Martínez responded by approaching his opponent to fight inside.^[4] Both connected solid body punches in the first two rounds. Cook closed the second stanza by injuring Martínez with a left hook, which he followed with a combination before the bell.^[4] During the third, they continued exchanging body punches, displaying tentative behavior throughout the period.^[4] In the fourth round, Martínez scored a knockdown, which was quickly followed by a hook that left Cook partially unconscious.^[4] The referee intervened immediately, awarding Martínez a technical knockout victory and his first world championship.^[4] In his first defense, Martínez competed against Feider Viloria. The first stages of the fight were slow, being used as study rounds by both pugilists.^[5] In the second round, Martínez began pursuing the offensive, forcing Viloria to employ a defensive strategy.^[5] This continued during the following chapter, when a previous injury re-opened under the challenger’s right eye. In the fifth round, both boxers traded combinations, with Martínez scoring the best punches.^[5] Viloria countered by employing multiple combinations during the following chapter, winning the round. Consequently, Martínez was more aggressive during the latter part of the fight. In the ninth round, he scored a combination that left Viloria unconscious, winning the contest by knockout.^[5]

On May 29, 2010, Martínez made his second defense after eight months of inactivity.^[6] His opponent was Gonzalo Munguía of Nicaragua. The contest opened with Gonzalo Munguía, who was physically stronger pursuing direct exchanges, while Martínez employed an uncommon strategy of technical sidestepping and counterattacks.^[6] During the second, Munguía employed his offensive to the body, but received a left hook that staggered him to close the round. The following round opened with both boxers exchanging, Martínez was able to gain control after thirty seconds.^[6] Munguía lowered his offensive output in the fourth round leaving openings in his defense. Martínez was able to exploit this, scoring a knockdown.^[6] Munguía was unable to stand up before the referee’s protective count concluded and the contest was stopped by knockout.^[6]

On September 15, 2012 during a fight at Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.A., Martinez defeated the Mexican Carlos Beltran, Jr. winning the WBO Jr. Lightweight vacant title. The fight end as a split decision 2-1: judges Clark Samartino and Duane Ford voted 114-113 for Martinez, and judge Lisa Giampa 116-111 for Beltrán, Jr.

On November 9, 2013, Martinez was challenged by former WBO Featherweight champion Mikey Garcia for Martinez's title. Martinez knocked Garcia down in the second round with a counter right hand. Martinez could not press his early advantage and Garcia recovered and dominated the rest of the fight. A heavy Garcia left hook to the body in the eighth round left Martinez floored and unable to get up before the referee counted to ten. The victory meant Garcia is the 130 lbs WBO champion.^[7]

Professional boxing record

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions

References

1. Boxrec. "Roman Martinez". Boxrec Fighter Page. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
2. Herminio Nieves (2008-12-08). "Román "Rocky" Martínez Bio" (in Spanish). PR Best Boxing. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
3. Carlos González (2007-08-26). ""Rocky" Martínez sobrevivió una batalla campal" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
4. Mark Vester (2009-03-14). "Martinez Knocks Cook Out in Four, Captures WBO title". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
5. "Boxeo-PUR-Súperpluma: Boricua 'Rocky' Martínez retiene corona súperpluma de la OMB" (in Spanish). Terra.com. 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
6. José A. Sánchez Fournier (2010-05-30). "Deportes". Retiene Rocky Martínez (in Spanish). El Nuevo Día.
7. Scott Christ (November 9, 2013). "Martinez vs Garcia results: Mikey Garcia adds 130 pound title with body shot KO". Bad Left Hook.
8. "Román Martinez Professional boxing record". BoxRec.com.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Román Martínez from BoxRec