Román Martínez’s Three Championship Reigns
On March 14, 2009, Román Martínez stopped Nicky Cook in the fourth round in Manchester to capture the WBO super-featherweight championship.
Román “Rocky” Martínez’s world-title career came in three distinct runs. He won the WBO super-featherweight belt in England, lost it in Scotland, then twice fought his way back to the top. His last reign included a bruising rivalry with Orlando Salido and ended against one of boxing’s most accomplished amateurs, Vasyl Lomachenko.
Three times back to the top
Martínez’s first title arrived on March 14, 2009. He stopped England’s Nicky Cook in the fourth round in Manchester to become WBO champion at 130 pounds. After two defenses, he traveled to Glasgow to meet Ricky Burns. Burns took the belt with a unanimous decision on September 4, 2010, handing Martínez his first professional defeat.
Martínez returned to championship level in 2012, when he outpointed Miguel Beltrán Jr. by split decision in Las Vegas for the vacant WBO title. That second reign lasted until November 2013, when Mikey Garcia stopped him in the eighth round. Once again, Martínez had to rebuild after losing the championship in the ring.
His third reign began in Puerto Rico on April 11, 2015. Martínez beat Orlando Salido by unanimous decision, dropping the Mexican twice on the way to reclaiming the belt (WBO official result). Their rematch five months later was another close, physical contest: the judges split between Martínez, Salido and a draw, so the WBO champion kept his title.
That reign ended on June 11, 2016, when Lomachenko knocked Martínez out in the fifth round in New York. The result was a sharp contrast with the long route Martínez had taken to become a three-time champion: he had been stopped by a younger fighter with a remarkable amateur record, but his own career had shown repeated resolve after setbacks. His title history is defined as much by the returns as by the losses.
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Sources and further reading
- WBO: Román Martínez career profile
- WBO: Martínez wins his second title against Miguel Beltrán Jr.
- WBO: Martínez regains the title against Orlando Salido
- WBO: Martínez retains the belt in the Salido rematch
- ESPN: Lomachenko stops Martínez in his junior-lightweight debut
Sources
Article Tags
Román Martínez, Boxing, Boxing History, Championship Fights
