By Ian S Palmer
WBO Junior Lightweight Champion Orlando Salido of Mexico will be defending his title this Saturday, April 11 in when he takes on former two time world champ Roman ‘Rocky’ Martinez of Puerto Rico in the challenger’s homeland. The bout will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan and will be shown on pay-per-view in America, Canada and Puerto Rico. This is another installment of Puerto Rico vs Mexico and it should produce some fireworks.
Salido is a two-time champ at 130 lbs while Martinez has won world belts in the 126 and 130 lb divisions. The 34-year-old Salido climbs into the ring with a record of 42-12-2 with 29 Kos while the 32-year-old Martinez is 28-2-2 and has 17 Kos to his name. Salido won this current belt back in September of last year when he stopped Terdsak Kokietgym in the 11th round. That was one of the most dramatic fights of 2014 as Salido was dropped three times and Kokietgym hit the deck on four occasions.
Salido said he’s expecting a war against Martinez since the challenger is aggressive and likes to come forward. Salido has never lost to a Puerto Rican boxers in five previous bouts. He beat Carlos “Topo” Gerena by decision in 2002 in Texas and two years later he stopped Omar Adorno in the fourth round in Puerto Rico. Salido headed back to the island in both 2011 and 2012 and knocked Juan Manuel Lopez out in the eighth round and then the 10th in the rematch. Then in 2013 he stopped Orlando Cruz in Las Vegas.
Martinez won his titles via a fourth-round TKO over Nicky Cook in England 2009 and by a split decision against fellow countryman Miguel Beltran Jr. in 2012 in Las Vegas. His last outing was a second-round stoppage over Herbert Quartey back in December. He’s in for a tough test against the aging veteran Salido, who’s been known to bend the rules once in a while. Salido has a good chin, but has been dropped numerous times in his career and has been stopped five times, all between 1996 and 2000. In fact he was knocked out in the fourth round in his pro debut. Martinez was beaten by Ricky Burns in 2010 by decision and stopped by Mikey Garcia in eight in 2013.
Neither of these guys will shy away from a brawl and if they hit the canvas they get back up and carry on. Perhaps a slugfest s anticipated by everybody involved and that’s why the bout’s on pay per view. The champion doesn’t mind fighting on the road, especially in Puerto Rico where he’s been so successful. Salido stands 5-foot-six and has a 67-inch reach while Martinez 5-foot-8 and also has a 67-inch reach. Salido has 381 rounds under his belt since turning pro in 1996 with Martinez turning pro 2001 in and going 214 rounds.
Prediction
This should be an exciting fight with both guys giving and taking and leaving nothing in the ring. There’s no point in trying to analyze it as there likely won’t be too many boxing tactics involved as each man goes for a stoppage. If past history is anything to go by there could be a few knockdowns here. However, unless all the wars suddenly catch up to Salido, he should retain the title by late stoppage or decision.
