Fernando Martinez won a world title and about a million fans on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Martinez outslugged longtime IBF 115-pound titleholder Jerwin Ancjas to win a wide unanimous decision in an early Fight of the Year candidate on the Chris Colbert-Hector Luis Garcia card at The Cosmopolitan.
The final scores were 118-110, 118-110 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-111 for Martinez, whose late father had predicted he would become a champion.
“It hurts so much that my father’s not here for this great moment in my life but I know he oversaw this,” Martinez said.
The fighters tossed defense out the window before the opening bell, exchanging punches toe-to-toe the entire fight.
Both landed hard, accurate punches. Martinez simply landed many more of them.
So many, in fact, that referee Jack Reiss told Ancajas’ corner that he was taking a lot punches. That meant he wasn’t going to allow the Filipino to take too much punishment.
Ancajas was able to finish the fight but was never able to keep pace with Martinez.
The now-former champion was making the 10th defense of his belt, making him one of the longest-running titleholders. And he could have the opportunity to win it back: There was a rematch clause in the contract signed by the fighters.
Will Ancajas take it?
“Yes, I’ll do it,” he said. “But I’ll do everything next time to achieve my goal.”