Garcia KO's Martinez to take WBO super featherweight title
Mikey Garcia (33-0) got off the deck to stop Roman Martinez (27-2-2) and capture the WBO super featherweight title on Saturday night at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
A right hand to the head knocked Garcia down in the second round. But from the third round on Garcia started dominating the contest, hitting the champion frequently with harder shots.
At the start of round 8, Garcia hurt Martinez with two solid right hands to the head that backed him up to the ropes. Then a left hook to the liver sent the Puerto Rican down in severe pain and referee Laurence Cole counted to ten.
Also on the card, in a featherweight contest Nonito Donaire (32-2) stopped Vic Darchinyan (39-6-1) in the 9th round. Donaire had knocked out Darchinyan in the 5th round when the pair first fought 6 years ago, though in this fight after 8 rounds, Donaire was trailing on two of the judges scorecards. However, he rallied in the 9th, catching Darchinyan with a left hand to put him on the canvas. After Darchinyan got back to his feet, Donaire fired away until the referee stepped in to halt the bout.
Demetrius Andrade (20-0) decisioned Vanes Martirosyan (33-1-1) and won the vacant WBO light middleweight title. Martirosyan knocked Andrade down in the opening round but Andrade battled back strongly and seemed to control the rest of the contest as his opponent faded late on.
The judges scored it 114-113, 117-111 for Andrade and 115-112 for Martirosyan.
WBA featherweight champion Nicolas Walters (23-0) of Jamaica knocked out Mexico's Alberto Garza (25-6-1) in the 4th round to retain his title.