By Jack Sumner @Jack_Sumner_
Roman ‘Rocky’ Martinez makes the second defence of his WBO
super featherweight title on Saturday, entering the Venetian Hotel and Casino
to defend his crown on foreign soil against Las Vegas native Diego Magdaleno.
Of course the Puerto Rican would be on foreign soil you
might say and what’s the big deal about him fighting in the world’s boxing
capital? But Magdaleno won’t enjoy home advantage either on the night, as the
fight will not be taking place in Sin City.
The 130-pounders have travelled across the globe to Macau,
China, where they will meet in the ring at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel.
Martinez-Magdaleno will be part of a stacked card in Top Rank’s first promotion
in China, which they hope to be the first of many after signing Chinese junior
flyweight Zou Shiming, a triple Olympic medallist who makes his pro debut in a
four-rounder.
The card also features Brain Viloria’s flyweight title
defence against Juan Francisco Estrada and former super bantamweight
titleholder Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in with Japanese fighter Yasutaka Ishimoto. But
it’s the super featherweights who arguably make for the most intriguing battle,
pitting the powerful and aggressive Martinez against the fast, skilled
Magdaleno.
After winning back his WBO title with a split-decision
victory over Miguel Beltran Jr last September, Martinez (26-1-2, 16 KOs) was
again pushed close in the first defence of his new reign when he fought to a
draw with Juan Carlos Burgos in January. Many observers felt that Burgos had
done enough to get the verdict, but Rocky retained his title and the only
defeat on his slate remains the 2010 loss to Ricky Burns.
In Magdaleno (23-0, 9 KOs) he can expect another tough
night’s work as the unbeaten southpaw will be full of confidence from the fine form
he has shown in his recent outings. He might not be a puncher but the
Mexican-American has collected six of his nine stoppage wins in his last eight
fights and has typically blown away those opponents with hand speed and accurate
punching, with the versatility to either box on the back foot or press forward
and attack.
Whilst he may have been dispatching his opponents in
impressive fashion however he has not fought at Martinez’s level before.
Magdaleno’s biggest scalps are former world title challengers Fernando Beltran
and Antonio Davis, but Martinez has contested six world title fights and had
his hand raised all but once.
The Puerto Rican has built a reputation for being an
exciting slugger and given Magdaleno’s lack of power and the fact he’s tasted
the canvas more than once before the challenger would be well advised to keep
this fight at a distance. He’s a great mover around the ring and he’ll need to
be as Martinez attempts to cut the ring off, where he’ll be much more at home
on the inside.
Both men have a high punch output, which bodes well for an
entertaining clash, but this will ultimately be a battle between boxer and
puncher, with a close affair deciding who reaps the benefit of Macau’s Eastern
promise.
No comments:
Post a Comment