Mikey Garcia-conqueror Sandor Martin (40-2, 13 KOs) outboxed former contender Jose Felix (39-6-1, 30 KOs) over ten one-sided rounds for the vacant WBA International super lightweight title on Friday night at the Palau Olímpic Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. In his first fight since pulling off last October’s 2021 upset of the year, Martin was in total control against the faded Felix, winning 100-90, 100-90, 99-91.
In a slugfest, unbeaten super flyweight and 2016 Olympian Samuel Carmona (7-0, 4 KOs) had all he could handle against former world title challenger Joel Cordova (13-6-2, 3 KOs). Good action all the way. Cordova relentlessly punished Carmona in round eight. Carmona dropped Cordova in round nine but was then openly holding and running from Cordova after that. The scores after ten rounds were 97-93, 96-93, 96-94 for Carmona, which seemed like a little home cooking’.
Light heavyweight Ricards Bolotniks (19-6-1, 8 KOs) hammered out an eight round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten 2016 Olympian Hrvoje Sep (11-1, 8 KOs). Bolotniks, who recently gave highly regarded Joshua Buatsi a tough fight, won by scores of 78-75, 78-75, 77-75.
In a clash of unbeaten middleweights, Jhon Jader Obregon (10-0, 4 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Kyle Lomotey (10-1, 2 KOs). Scores were 80-71, 78-73, 77-73. Lomotey deducted a point in round five.
Female super bantamweight Jorgelina Guanini (10-4-2, 1 KO) defeated previously unbeaten Stevi Levy (5-1, 0 KOs) over eight rounds. Scores were 80-73, 79-73, 79-75.
Quietly, Bolotniks is probably one of the greatest overachievers in the sport in the last… I don’t know how many years. That guy has had an awesome career.
Sandor Martín technically is the current best boxer in Spain. Looking forward he can fight soon against the biggest names in 140 pounds although is one of the most tough category. Anyway I believe Sandor will be very difficult opponent for any one, ask Mickey Garcia.
Martin was just too slick for Felix. Felix has long arms but he throws sweeping punches that rarely connected solidly. He was headhunting most of the time and often just ignored the body. That was a mistake. He had the most success when he threw straight punches right at the chest or the belly.
Martin, on the other hand, threw straight punches that were precise and hard. He will be a hard man to beat because of his excellent footwork and efficient offense.
In the co-feature fight, Carmona was fortunate to last the entire ten rounds. He was holding on for dear life and was reduced to throwing single shots that had desperation written all over them in the last few rounds. It was a learning experience for him but he took a beating in the second half of the fight. He moved entirely too much and wasted a lot of energy in the first half of the fight.
Cordova is a tough pressure fighter and was relentless once he got going after the first 3 rounds. This was really a step too far for Carmona because he looked overwhelmed for much of the fight. That knockdown in the 9th round really helped him, but I thought he was fortunate to get the decision. Cordova looked like the winner at the end while Carmona had a cut above the left eye and looked battered at the end. The verdict was a lot closer than the official cards indicated.
Carmona didn’t win that fight! Cordova was robbed in Spain! Carmona fights like an amateur. Not to mention the ref did nothing about Carmona holding
Boy, this Martin guy is not one to sleep on. What is most impressive is that in spite of a lack of power to get respect, he keeps punchers off of him with superb boxing.
I’ll always be a big fan of Sandor Martin after he removed Mikey Garcia from PPV status. Mikey pulled a standing tank job against Spence by being in survival mode all night long and literally ripping off PPV buyers who shelled out big bucks to see him actually “fight.”