A DEBUTAR EN NUEVA YORK ROCKY MARTÍNEZ EL 19 DE ENERO EN PRIMERA DEFENSA DE TÍTULO JUNIOR LIGERO OMB ANTE JUAN CARLOS BURGOS

El campeón junior ligero de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), Román “Rocky” Martínez, debutará en “La Gran Manzana” el sábado, 19 de enero de 2013, cuando exponga por primera vez su cetro ante el mexicano Juan Carlos Burgos en un cartel que se efectuará en el Madison Square Garden y será transmitido por la telecadena HBO y su programa “Boxing After Dark”, en una presentación de Top Rank.

Martínez (26-1-1, 16 KOs), que hará además su debut en HBO, se medirá en uno de los choques coestelares de la velada a Burgos (30-1, 19 KOs), el primer clasificado de la OMB en las 130 libras. El programa tendrá dos combates mundiales adicionales. El monarca pluma de la OMB, Orlando “Siri” Salido (38-11-2, 26 KOs) se enfrentará a  Miguel Ángel “Mikey” García (29-0, 25 KOs), mientras el campeón mediano de la AMB, Gennady Golovkin (24-0, 21 KOs) peleará ante el descendiente de puertorriqueños Gabriel “Gabe” Rosado (21-5, 13 KOs).

“Es una gran oportunidad de Rocky, primero porque tendrá la oportunidad de pelear por primera vez en Nueva York y además porque estará combatiendo por HBO, donde lo hará también por primera vez”, dijo Peter Rivera, vicepresidente de PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP), compañía que representa a Martínez junto a Top Rank.

Martínez, el único campeón mundial nacido y desarrollado en Puerto Rico actualmente, ganó por segunda ocasión el cetro junior ligero de la OMB cuando el pasado 15 de septiembre en Las Vegas derrotó al mexicano Miguel Beltrán Jr. por decisión dividida. Anteriormente, el boricua había reinado en esta categoría entre 2009 y 2010.

Aunque cuenta con solo 24 años, Burgos es un peleador de mucha experiencia cuya única derrota fue hace dos años cuando cayó ante el japonés Hozumi Hasegawa por el título peso pluma del CMB en 2010. Además, fue el responsable de quitarle el invicto al también puertorriqueño Luis “El Artesano” Cruz el año pasado.

Mientras tanto, Martínez, de 29 años y natural de Vega Baja, se mantiene trabajando fuerte en el Gimnasio Municipal de Dorado bajo las órdenes de su entrenador Raúl “Papo” Torres.

Por Aleudi Rosario

There could be major fireworks on the undercard of the Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. bout on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Roman “Rocky” Martinez will battle Miguel Beltran, Jr. for the vacant WBO Super Featherweight title.

Both men are hard-punchers, but Martinez especially seems incapable of having a boring fight.

The Puerto Rican ex-champion is 25-1-1 with 16 KOs and he usually trades bombs with his opponents.

Beltran, Jr. is a little more of a technical boxer, but he has some power as well. He’s 27-1-1 with 17 KOs. This will be the first time Beltran, Jr. has ever fought outside of Mexico as a professional. He’s from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Beyond the ever present Puerto Rican-Mexican boxing rivalry, this fight also pits two fighters with pleasing styles against each other for a title.

That is genuinely a mix that creates an exciting bout.

Here are the particulars for catching the action, analysis for each fighter and a prediction:

When: September 15, 9:00 p.m. ET

Where: Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas

TV: HBO PPV

Live Stream: HBO GO, Pay Service

The Book on Martinez

Roman-martinez-to-take-on-miguel-beltran-for-the-130-pound-title-boxing-news-178915_originalimage from blogs.bettor

Martinez is the former WBO super featherweight champion. He lost the title in his only professional defeat in a 2010 bout against Ricky Burns.

He dropped Burns in the first round of the fight, but was out-pointed for the remainder of the bout.

He seems to have taken to the old adage: Take two shots just to land one. It has worked for him thus far, but his defense is a real concern. He keeps his hands very low, and he doesn’t move his head enough.

That said, he has a very solid chin and he throws power punches with tremendous leverage.

Take a look at this video of Martinez fighting Nicky Cook. Martinez won the title in this fight, but you can see examples of both his pros and cons in the clip.

A great chin is a great quality to fall back on, but Martinez’s style leaves him in harm’s way a little too often. Though he is an accurate puncher, he isn’t exceptionally quick, and sometimes he takes heavy shots in exchanges.

His skill-set makes for exciting fights, but he’s vulnerable to heavy-hitters and fighters with great mobility and a solid jab.

 

The Book on Beltran, Jr.

Beltranmigueljrarte410nf1_original
image from notifight

 

There isn’t a ton of footage available for Beltran, Jr., and I have never seen him live. My assessment of his skills are based on two fights I watched to prepare for this article.

That said, his boxing skills are apparent. He has solid head movement and overall defense. He displays a quick and accurate jab. Beltran has excellent hand speed and sharp reflexes.

He had a shot at IBF Super Featherweight champion Juan Carlos Salgado, but their fight was ruled a no-contest in the second round. A head butt and subsequent cut from Salgado caused the fight to be halted.

Beltran, Jr. was clearly landing clean shots against Salgado, and judging by that round alone, it could have been a tough night for the champion.

There are two things you have to consider with Beltran, Jr., though. He hasn’t proven that he has great stamina and big fight experience.

He’s been in only three fights that were scheduled for 10 or 12 rounds. Only two of them went that far, and one of them accounts for his only loss.

That came via 10th-round TKO in 2010 at the hands of Joksan Hernandez. He certainly has the skill-set to handle Martinez, but the question is whether he has the stamina and poise.

By: Brian Mazique

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1333595-rocky-martinez-vs-miguel-beltran-fight-time-date-live-stream-tv-and-more

Date: September 15, 2012

WBO Jr. Lightweight Championship Title Bout

Location: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Promoter: Top Rank, Lou DiBella Entertainment, PR Best Boxing

Result: Martinez won by split decision.

Referee: Russell Mora

Judges: Clark Sammartino (114-113), Duane Ford (114-113), Lisa Giampa (111-116).

Supervisor: Luis Perez