Roman Martinez edges Miguel Beltran Jr. in a Super Featherweight war

By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com

Las Vegas, NV- The fight before the main event featured a slug fest between Mexico's Miguel Beltran Jr 27-1-0-1 (17 KOs) and Roman Martinez 25-1-1 (18 KOs) of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.

Beltran who enjoyed support from the predominantly Mexican crowd here at the Thomas & Mack Center ended the 1st with a left hook that landed big on Beltran. The Mexican scored with left and right hooks on the 3rd as Martinez bravely put up a strong effort to match his foe. Beltran pushed back Martinez against the ropes in the 5th but the Puerto Rican once again won't give in as he matched his foe with punches of his own.Martinez scored strongly in the last minute of the 5th as Beltran slowed his pace.

The heated battle continued in the second half of the fight, that to the appreciation of the close to nineteen thousand fans here at the arena.

Both fighters figured in back and forth exchanges that wowed the sold out Thomas & Mack Center.

The action reached a boiling point in the 9th with both pugilists landing big shots and both taking them well. The intense battle earned cheers and appreciation once again as the arena erupted with every big shots that landed for both fighters.

Beltran landed successive left hooks on Martinez on the 10th round but the Puerto Rican took it well. Martinez then retaliated by launching left hooks of his own to even up the battle.

The 11th saw another wild exchange from the two warriors of the ring. Both warriors engaged in vicious punching until and after the bell was rung to end the round.

In the end, two judges had it a slim 114-113 score for Martinez and one judge had it for Beltran at a score of 116-111.

Martinez wins the war and the vacant WBO Super Featherweight belt with a close Split Decision victory over Beltran.

Source:  philboxing.com/news/story-75087.html