This past Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez recaptured the WBC middleweight title as he defeated previously undefeated Mexican boxing star Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. via twelve round decision on the HBO PPV card.
For the most part, Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KOs) had his way as he consistently used a stiff jab and solid footwork to confuse the 26-year-old Chavez.
Chavez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) who had practically lost every round going into the twelfth and final round, nearly pulled out a dramatic come-from-behind victory.
In the final stanza, Martinez, 37, opened up a bit more and went for the knockout. That gave Chavez a rare opportunity which he took advantage of by landing a series of clean left hooks which sent Martinez to the canvas. Martinez rose on shaky legs as the pro-Chavez crowd went wild.
The wily veteran from Argentina, was able to stay out of harm’s way for the remainder of the round.
When the decision was announced, Martinez took home the WBC title and Chavez’s undefeated record.
Scorecards read: 118-110 (twice), 117-110.
On the undercard, Guillermo Rigondeaux survived a few rough moments to defeat Robert Marroquin via a dominating twelve round unanimous decision.
England’s Matthew Macklin annhiliated Canada’s Joachim Alcine in 2 minutes and 36 seconds.
Roman Martinez won an extremely close split decision against Miguel Beltran Jr. Many in attendance felt Beltran Jr. deserved the decision.
On the Showtime Boxing card from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mexican rising star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez destroyed Mexican-American Josesito Lopez in five bruising rounds to retain his junior middleweight title and undefeated ledger.
Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KOs), 22, proved to be far too much for the overmatched yet game Lopez (30-5, 18 KOs), 28.
Lopez suffered knockdowns in rounds 2, 3, & 4.
On the undercard, Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz pounded Puerto Rico’s Eric Morel into submission in five short rounds. At the end of round five, Morel signaled to his corner that he didn’t want to continue.
In one of the best fights of 2012, Argentina’s Marcos Maidana locked horns against Mexico’s Jesus Soto Karass. The two waged war violently for eight rounds before Maidana landed a monstrous right hand which dropped Soto Karass. Sensing the end was near, Maidana unleashed a series of punches on his stunned opponent and referee Kenny Bayless eventually called a halt to the classic bout.
In an all-Mexican clash, Daniel Ponce De Leon won the WBC featherweight title from Jhonny Gonzalez as he took home an eight round technical decision. Gonzalez wasn’t able to continue due to a bad cut over his right eye. Scorecards read: 79-72 (twice), and 77-74, all in favor of De Leon.
Photo Credit: Alvarez-Lopez (Josh Hedges, Getty Images)
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