Garcia, 25, took a cagey opening round on my card and was winning the second, until a hard right hand from Martinez put him on the seat of his pants and the former featherweight king couldn’t help give rye smile to his corner.
Upon getting up and taking the 10-8 round on the chin, literally, Garcia went straight back to having the upperhand and didn’t take his foot off the gas for the remainder of the contest.
Martinez was staggered in multiple rounds as Garcia boxed beautifully, and in the eighth session saw his opportunity as he pinned the champion on the ropes and dug in a sickening left to the body.
30 year-old Martinez was never getting up from what was a perfectly placed shot to the ribs and Garcia was crowned two-weight WBO king as referee Laurence Cole counted the full ten.
On this form, Garcia looks more than capable of going up to lightweight and even light-welterweight to win world championships and is certainly making a name for himself as an all-round gifted fighter.
The Californian has the power, the full range of punches and a likeable personality – that could make him Top Rank’s next big star if he continues to put away world-class operators like Martinez in this style.
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