LAS VEGAS – Frank Martin was sure whereas making ready to field Michel Rivera on Saturday night time that he had already overwhelmed a greater Dominican light-weight contender this yr.
Jackson Marinez already had two losses on his report when Martin stopped him within the tenth spherical July 9 at Alamodome in San Antonio. Marinez’s first defeat was a really controversial 12-round unanimous resolution to Rolly Romero, although, and Martin reminded reporters after he dropped and out-pointed Rivera that information aren’t at all times correct comparative instruments if you assess opponents.
Martin (17-0, 12 KOs) knocked Marinez to the canvas as soon as within the ninth spherical and once more within the tenth spherical. The Detroit native led Marinez (20-3, 8 KOs) by scores of 88-82, 88-82 and 87-83 when their scheduled 10-rounder was stopped instantly after that second knockdown through the tenth spherical.
Marinez managed to land his justifiable share of punches on Martin, nonetheless, which made Martin work on tightening his protection throughout coaching camp for the Rivera combat.
“I knew that from the leap Marinez can be the higher fighter,” Martin informed a bunch of reporters after he defeated Rivera. “It was simply folks have a look at undefeated information. You already know, it’s fighters with losses that’s higher than a lotta guys that’s undefeated. You already know, kinds make fights. You already know what I imply? We knew that Marinez was a greater like fighter than [Rivera], simply extra skilled and stuff. We knew the man I fought tonight would have extra finesse and stuff, however Marinez was the extra skilled and, you understand, sport fighter.”
The 27-year-old Martin, who was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, dropped Rivera within the seventh spherical, however their 12-rounder went the space at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Judges Tim Cheatham (120-107), Dave Moretti (117-110) and Steve Weisfeld (118-109) scored Martin a large winner of their WBA elimination match.
Martin principally befuddled Rivera (24-1, 14 KOs) along with his athleticism, protection, footwork, intelligence and pace all through their “Showtime Championship Boxing” foremost occasion.
The expert, robust southpaw emphasised afterward that having a full coaching camp to arrange for Rivera additionally led to a extra full efficiency than when he beat Marinez. Martin was imagined to oppose Panama’s Ricardo Nunez on July 9, however Marinez changed him on eight days’ discover as a result of Nunez (23-4, 21 KOs) couldn’t acquire a visa to enter the US.
“I knew that the combat with Marinez was gonna be a more durable combat than this combat,” Martin mentioned. “I can’t actually stand on that as a result of I didn’t have time to coach for him. I had time to coach for Rivera.”
Keith Idec is a senior author/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He might be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.