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Philippines, 28 Feb 2026 |
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Alberto Puello Defeats Sandor Martin by Split Decision By Dong Secuya PhilBoxing.com Sun, 02 Mar 2025  In the second pay-per-view bout of the night on the undercard of the Tank-Roach main event at the Barclays Center in New York Saturday night (Sunday in Manila), undefeated Dominican star Alberto Puello (24-0-0, 10 KOs) takes a solid hold of WBC super lightweight title by edging Sandor Martin (42-4-0, 15 KOs) from Barcelona, Spain. Puello got the nod of the two judges 115-113 and 116-112 losing to the third judge 113-115. Puello earlier won the Interim WBC belt against Gary Antuanne Russell on June 15, 2024. The fight showcased a clash of tactical strategy, with Puello’s precision and adaptability pitted against Martin’s relentless pressure and versatility. From the opening bell to the final moments, both fighters traded momentum in a bout that kept the Barclays Center crowd on edge. Round-by-Round Breakdown Round 1: Puello set the tone late in the opener, landing a hard left hand that marked the first significant strike of the night. Martin, typically a counterpuncher, surprised observers by applying early pressure, though Puello’s backfoot boxing kept him at bay. Round 2: Martin found his rhythm, landing a counter right hook after Puello overreached with a left. The Spaniard closed the round strong with a pair of left hands to the body and a sharp right hook, signaling his intent to challenge the champion. Round 3: The fight heated up as Martin admitted to double vision in his left eye following a Puello right hand. Undeterred, Martin fired back with uppercuts on the inside, while Puello responded with a right hook-left hand combo, electrifying the crowd. Round 5: Martin carried momentum from a strong fourth, opening with a right hook and body attack. Both fighters swung wildly with hooks, but accuracy eluded them in a competitive stanza. Round 6: Puello regained control with a right hook, though Martin’s elusiveness shone through as he countered with a left uppercut-right hook to the body combo. The Spaniard’s bodywork stood out, but Puello landed a late left hand to steal the closing seconds. Round 8: Frustration crept into Puello’s game as Martin’s crisp, short punches dominated inside exchanges. The challenger’s versatility—effective both inside and out—tested Puello, though the champion landed a late right hook to stay in the fight. Round 9: Puello found success with a left hand and a powerful right, prompting a nod of respect from Martin. The round closed with a flurry of traded punches, including a Puello right hook met by a Martin left. Round 10: A tight round saw Puello land a clean right uppercut, only for Martin to respond with punishing body shots. The Spaniard’s pressure intensified, but Puello’s resurgence in the later rounds kept the scorecards close. Round 11: Puello’s counter left hand and body shot briefly staggered Martin, who quickly recovered to trade right hooks with the champion in the final seconds. Puello’s range work gave him a slight edge in the penultimate round. Round 12: Martin came out firing, landing a body shot and a right hook that clipped Puello. Sensing the fight’s closeness, Martin hunted for a decisive finish with single power shots, while Puello pushed back with his left hand. The final minute saw the fighters tie up, with Martin’s left hand closing the action as the last significant strike. After 12 grueling rounds, the judges delivered a split decision in favor of Alberto Puello, who retained his WBC super lightweight crown. The 115-113 and 116-112 scores reflected Puello’s effective counters and late-round resurgence, while the 113-115 card underscored Martin’s persistent pressure and volume. With this victory, Puello solidifies his standing in the super lightweight division, while Martin’s valiant effort ensures his name remains in contention. The Barclays Center faithful left buzzing, having witnessed a classic battle of skill and heart. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.  |
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