By Keith Idec
NEW YORK – Dropping Orlando Salido twice and Salido’s subsequent point deduction for repeated low blows enabled Rocky Martinez to defeat Salido by comfortable margins on all three scorecards in one of the most entertaining action fights of 2015.
While his championship win was gratifying, Puerto Rico’s Martinez would rather knock out Salido in their scheduled 12-round rematch Sept. 12 on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto undercard at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (Showtime Pay-Per-View; $74.95 in HD). The last thing the 32-year-old Martinez wants is another grueling slugfest with the stubborn Salido that goes the distance.
“I definitely feel I can go ahead and finish off Orlando Salido,” Puerto Rico’s Martinez said Monday during a conference call to promote the Mayweather-Berto card. “Orlando is a very valiant fighter, a very courageous fighter. But if I have the moment, if I have the opportunity, if it is there, then I will certainly oblige and finish off Orlando Salido.”
Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) floored Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs, 1 NC) in the third and fifth rounds of their 12-round fight for the WBO super featherweight title April 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Referee Jose Rivera deducted a point from Mexico’s Salido for holding in the 11th round and Martinez won by scores of 116-109, 115-110 and 114-111.
“In the first fight I feel like I didn’t start strong,” Martinez said. “In this fight, I’m going to apply the pressure from the outset. I do have a lot of confidence that I could hurt Orlando Salido. But in this fight, it’s all about starting fast, stronger and really going ahead and putting the pressure on Orlando Salido early.”
Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.