Evening fight fans for what should be an interesting opening weekend of the new British boxing season, with Sky kicking off with Glaswegian Ricky Burns taking on Puerto Rico’s WBO Super-Featherweight Champion Roman Martinez on home turf in Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall. We will be bring you Round by Round coverage of the world title fight.
On the undercard, Steve Smith upset local fighter John Simpson to win the Commonwealth Featherweight Title on a split decision with scores of 116-114, 116-112 and one judge giving it 116-114 to Simpson. A tight, scrappy fight that saw the young challenger make the early running but fade badly towards the end. I wouldn’t argue either way to be honest, could easily have been a draw.
Sky is promising a ‘heavyweight’ edition of its Ringside magazine show next Thursday…wink wink, nudge nudge.
WBO Super-Featherweight Title Match Roman Martinez (c) vs Ricky Burns
Burns (28-2, 7KOs) is the reigning Commonwealth Champion, but delays in making this has caused him to fight only once in the past 15 months. Despite being on a twelve-fight winning streak, eyebrows were raised when it was first announced that Burns would fight for the world title, with memories of his disappointing performances against Alex Arthur and Carl Johanneson in 2006 and 2007. He also looked flat in his return match against Youssef Al Hamidi in May, although in Burns’ defense that seemed a match more with an eye to iron out any ring rust than impress. All this means that he is the decided underdog against the champion, with Martinez having a near perfect record of 24-0-1 (15KO). And Martinez knows all about fighting in the UK, haaving won his world title in Manchester against Nicky Cook.
Round One
Now this is a home crowd – huge cheers for Burns, big boos for Martinez. Burns has the height and reach advantage, but it should be Martinez bringing the power. And we’re off, Burns starts off trying to work the jab and keep the fight at long distance. Martinez keeps dropping down, perhaps trying to sept up the hook. Martinez tries to put together some one-two combinations but is missing. Burns pushing the action, looking relaxed. Martinez connects with a good right hand, but Burns respond with a hook. Burns is starting to hold Martinez a bit and Martinez catches him with a big right hand for the knockdown. Burns tries to put something together but Martinez has snatched that round 10-8.
Round Two
Burns has another good start to the round, with Burns looking good pushing the action when working the jab and body hook. The problem is his defense, with Martinez coming very close to landing another good right hand. Burns traps Martinez in the corner, Martinez turns away from the punch to draw the rabbit punch and force the seperation. Burns putting some good combinations together but he lacks the power of Martinez, who is catching Burns with some hard body shots. Martinez almost does enough to steal the round at the end, twice trapping Burns on the ropes and landing some hard body hooks and a good right hand. However two good uppercuts on the counter from Burns secured the round 10-9 (19-18 to Martinez).
Round Three
Another good round from Burns who is outboxing the puncher Martinez, with the challenger having particular success with a lovely short uppercut, connecting with several times throughout the round with the impact visible on the face of the champion. In the middle of the round Martinez was all at see, looking very ragged and throwing wildly. But he again comes on strong towards the end of the round, connect with a big right hand that staggers Burns. However the Scot is able to hold on and take the round 10-9 (28-28).
Round Four
Another good round for Ricky Burns starting to really impose himself on a champion that is starting to be outfought as well as outclassed. On the front foot from the beginning of the round, Burns is fighting out of his skin with his work up close just proving too much for Martinez, with his uppercut and body hook doing tremendous damage. (38-37)
Round Five
Another great round for Martinez, who pours forward pinning Martinez on the ropes with an flurry. Martinez is clinging on, with Burns connecting at will with repeated shots to the head. Martinez throws a desperation uppercut that forces Burns to close up and end the onslaught. Martinez comes back into the fight with some quality power shots but Burns ends the round the stronger, almost dropping Martinez with a thunderous left hand that has the champion off balance. Burns tries to follow up but the bell saves Martinez. Another round for Burns who is starting to hurt Martinez. (48-46 to Burns)
Round Six
Martinez is pressing forward, but he seems to be in headhunting mood and so his punches are relatively easy for Burns to avoid. Burns is fighting slightly more defensively this round, with Martinez putting him under pressure without actually connecting on anything. Lots of in-fighting this round, Burns responds with some good uppercuts and whipped in body hooks. Martinez responds with a uppercut but Burns responds with some good looking punches to clinch the round 10-9 (58-55)
As we go into the second half of the fight, the fight stats tell the story of what could be a huge upset with Burns having thown 377 punches to Martinez 253. The story is the same in terms of connecting, with Burns having connected with 108 punches while only 41 of Martinez’s have landed. Whatever this is a fantastic performance from Ricky Burns.
Round Seven
Burns pushes the action early on, throwing some good jabs while he walks in close to work on Martinez up close with some good short uppercuts and right hands. Burns is caught by a big right cross that visibly affects him, with Martinez trying to follow up with an uppercut. Burns looking to get back in the action but Martinez is able to trap him on the ropes and puts together several big punches to the head and body of of Burns. Burns isn’t answering and the referee is looking closely at the two. Burns throws a nothing punch to stay in the fight and spoils to ride out the round. 10-9 Martinez (67-66 to Burns)
Round Eight
Damage control from Burns, looking to avoid taking any more damage after a terrible seventh. Works the jabs early on, keeping the hands high to ensure that he isn’t caught. There’s some in-fighting in the middle of the round with Burns working well with some short rights and uppercuts. Martinez is looking sluggish after a revival in the last round and his head visibly snaps back when caught with another short uppercut at the very end of the round. Good comeback from Burns who takes the round 10-9. (77-75 to Burns)
Round Nine
Both fighetrs are very tired but Burns is keeping it all together better. Martinez is swinging wildly, throwing a huge left hook that misses and allows Burns to counter with a nice liver punch. Burns traps Martinez in the corner, putting together some lovely short punches to the head of Martinez. Its getting very scrappy and Martinez captializes in a lapse in concentration to throw some big one-two combinations after trapping Burns on the ropes. Burns does not respond smartly, standing in the centre of the ring instead of spoiling. Martinez putting together some strong punches together and Burns is starting to look dead on his feet. The bell comes not a moment too soon. 10-9 to Martinez (86-84 to Burns)
Round Ten
A round that was raz0r-close with Burns bringing the quality with several combinations in close but Martinez bringing the power, troubling Burns whenever he lands cleaning. Burns is tiring, with the punishment his taken throughout the fight starting to take its toll. Martinez is stronger towards the end, landing an uppercut is probably the best punch of the round. But I’d give the round to Burns for his smart rock at the beginning of the round where he repeatedly trapped the champion. 10-9 to Burns (96-93)
Round Eleven
Excellent round from Burns who sees the round out of in a gutsy display. Martinez is looking very leaden, with both his legs and hands looking sluggish. Burns plays it safe, working the jab and keeping the fight at a safe distance. Martinez offers a left hand in opposition at the end but its not enough to take the round, which is Burns 10-9 (106-102 to Burns)
Round Twelve
Burns is just a few minutes away from being a world champion. Burns pours forward, almost dropping Martinez early on but the champion is able to stay on his feet. Burns would be well advised to sit on his lead, but he is boxing aggressively in what has been a thrilling start to the new season. Martinez hits a lowblow and we have a short lull in the action. Martinez has half a minute to land the equalizer but he cannot find the space and the bell tolls. I have it 116-111 to Ricky Burns in what is one of the fights of the year and should be a tremendous upset.
The judges scorecards read 115-112, 115-112, 115-113 for the NEW WBO Super-Featherweight Champion Ricky Burns. What an absolutely brilliant performance from the Scot. An absorbing fight, fought at a frenetic pace that was hard to keep up with. After the year’s delay and the WBO recieving so much criticism for giving him the title shot, this is just an absolutely wonderful story. Came back from being knocked down by the puncher Martinez and just overwhelmed the champion with not just relentless action but sheer class. A great start to the new British boxing season!
