World Boxing News 2010-2013

Frank Stea Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez 25-1-1 (16KOs) won a split decision over Mexico’s Miguel Beltran 27-1 (19KOs) in a war to win the vacant WBO super-featherweight championship. With large Mexican support behind him, Beltran stalked Martinez in round one landing hard combinations. Martinez was shook by a hard right hand delivered by Beltran in the closing seconds of the round. Martinez walked Beltran down in the ropes in round two landing some good shots in the round. Both fighters mixed it up in round three and after a tie up, both fighters landed punches to the back of each other’s head.  A nasty right hand by Beltran had Martinez seemingly in trouble in round four, but Martinez used great head movement and defense to prevent any further trouble to close out the round. Juan Manuel Marquez arrived in the building!! A thunderous chant for the Mexican superstar erupted inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Both fighters traded v...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Burns wins world featherweight title in shock win Scotland’s Ricky Burns inflicted Puerto Rican Roman “Rocky Martinez’s first defeat to claim the WBO Featherweight Title at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow on Saturday Night. Burns improves to 29-2-0 after controlling most of the fight, despite being down in the first, Ricky landed almost twice as many punches at the previously unbeaten champion to claim a unanimous decision. Martinez (24-1-0) seemed to lose his game plan after the first round knock down and just threw wild punches in the hope of getting the fight stopped early and taking the title back to Puerto Rico. Ricky had the home crowd in rapture’s by almost knocking Martinez down for the first time in his career on more than one occasion and had to cover up himself a few times after a couple of power punches from the former champ. The three judges at ringside scored the contest 115-112, 115-112, 115-113 to make Ricky Burns the WBO Featherwe...