By Mark Vester

Glasgow, Scotland - Ricky Burns (29-2, 7KOs) shocked previously undefeated Roman "Rocky" Martinez (24-1, 15KOs) to capture the WBO super featherweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision. The scores were 115-112, 115-112 and 115-113.

A very good start for Burns in the first round. The style of Burns was giving Martinez some problems. But all of a sudden Martinez came on in the final minute with a big right hand that sent Burns down. The Scot made it up and managed to get to the bell. Burns started doing well again at the start of the second. This time Burns kept his good work going by boxing and being defensive when needed. In the third, Burns was landing very good combinations to shake Martinez up. Burns was using angles to land good shots. In the final minute, they boxers were slugging away toe to toe and it seemed that Burns was stunned in the final ten second.

Burns was on a roll at the start of the fourth. He was boxing the ears off Martinez, who quickly came back with his hard shots. Then Burns started working Martinez over against the ropes. Burns went back to landing good shots in the fifth. A left hand from Burns stunned Martinez and pushed him against the ropes. Burns started working him over but not strong enough put him away. Martinez fought his way off and backed Martinez off. Burns went back to work in the final minute with his quick combos. The right eye of Martinez began to swell. Martinez was once again stunned with a combination in the final ten seconds.  The sixth was an inside fight. Both fighters were landing good shots at close range.

Burns was doing good work at the start of the seventh. Near the final minute, Martinez stunned Burns and tried to finish him off. Burns fought his way out of trouble. Martinez started going back on the attack and worked Burns over on the ropes. It was a close eight, as both had their moments and landed goods punches. The ninth round saw good work by Burns in the first two minutes, but in the final thirty seconds Martinez stunned Burns bad and started working him over with hard combinations against the ropes. Time ran out in the round to save Burns.

Martinez came out swinging in the tenth. Burns came back with his own punches. Burns landing hard body shots and put on the pressure. But them Martinez stunned Burns with an uppercut and started working him over again with hard shots. Burns started fighting back to get out of trouble. Martinez was looking for a big shot and Burns landed decent counters.

Burns did not allow Martinez to set anything up in the eleventh round. He kept Martinez off and never stopped throwing good shots. Martinez tried for some big punches but he couldn't land them. In the final ten seconds, Martinez stunned Burns but it was too late.

In the twelfth, Martinez came out with knockout intentions on his mind, but it was Burns who stunned Martinez with a combination to the head and body. Martinez appeared to be badly hurt. Burns poured on the punches. The two of them were slugging away in the final minute. Burns was getting the better of the trades. A low blow by Martinez gave Burns some time to recover from punch when the referee called time.

In a tough featherweight battle, the new Commonwealth champion Stephen Smith (11-0, 6 KOs) captured the title and managed to keep his unbeaten record in place, with a twelve round split decision over a tougher than expected John Simpson (21-7, 9 KOs). The scores were 116-112 and 116-114 for the new champion, and 116-114 for Simpson.

Alex Arthur raised eyebrows when he claimed to still be the best boxer in Scotland a fortnight ago.

He still has some way to go to prove his point, but got back to winning ways at Kelvin Hall with a points win over Peter McDonagh.

Athur always looked in control in taking a 79-74 win, but has not quite yet rediscovered the spark of old.

The former world champion would never have dreamt a couple of years ago that he would be boxing second on the card against a man with a losing record over eight rounds.

But after losses against Nicky Cook and Nigel Wright, Arthur finds himself in unfamiliar territory back down in the foothills.

The victory over McDonagh, the 28th of his 10-year professional career, at least puts him in the frame for a British or European title shot at lightweight.

A fight against John Murray, the current European champion, would certainly sell well, even if Arthur would not begin as favourite.

Only when he returns to championship class will it be clear whether the 32-year-old still has the ability that initially propelled him to title glory.

Former British champion Paul Appleby was also on the comeback trail after losing his title to Martin Lindsay 18 months ago.

He made short work of Yordon Vasilev, a Bulgarian import with quite possibly the worst haircut seen in a British ring.

Appleby dropped him twice in the first with viscious body shots, before halting him in the second.

Still only 23, Appleby looked a class act, and it surely won't take long for him to fight for another belt, although his future lies at super-feather.

Liam Smith got the evening off to a poor start for the house boxers, losing to Terry Carruthers over four, while Stephen Ormond pounded out a points win against a show-boating Johnny Greaves.